History

Our history from NRIM and NIRIM to NIMS

NIMS was merged of two National Research Institute in April, 2001, and started as an Independent Administrative Institution (IAI). you can see the introduction from the National Research Institute age to present in the chronology form on this page.

History of NIMS
Year	Event
1956	National Research Institute for Metals (NRIM) established under auspices of the former Science and Technology Agency.
1966	National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials (NIRIM) established under auspices of the former Science and Technology Agency.
1972	NIRIM becomes the first national research institute to be relocated to Tsukuba.
1979	NRIM opens Tsukuba Office, three research departments relocated.
1995	NRIM relocation to Tsukuba completed.
2001	Merger of NRIM and NIRIM in April, becoming an Independent Administrative Institution called National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS). First Mid-Term program started.
2002	Three research centers and one research station opened in April.
2003	Nanotechnology Support Project Center established in June.
2004	International Center for Young Scientist (ICYS) program launched in September.
2006	Second Mid-term Program started 20 research centers, two laboratories and Department of Materials Infrastructure were reorganized in April. The Rolls-Royce Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Materials established in June.
2007	NIMS Center for Nanotechnology Support Network and Nanotechnology Innovation Center newly established in April. MANA (International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics) established as one of world’s top five materials research organizations (WPI centers) in October.
2008	"Open Research Institute" program started. NIMS-TOYOTA Materials Center of Excellence for Sustainable Mobility established in July. ICYS reorganized as the new "International Center for Young Scientists".
2009	New project has started. Innovative Center of Nanomaterials Science for Environment and Energy established in November.