Focused Areas of Research

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has started the Fifth Mid-to-Long-Term Plan for five years from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026.
In the Fifth Mid-to-Long Term Plan, NICT promote research and development in the fields of Advanced Electromagnetic Research, Innovative Networks, Cybersecurity, Universal Communication, and Frontier Science as priority research and development fields. We also actively promote R&D in four strategic research areas (Beyond 5G, AI, Quantum Information and Communication, and Cyber Security). As cross-field R&D and other business including the four strategic research areas, NICT promote R&D of ICT regardless of the field, including R&D of comprehensive test beds. The following figure shows the overall diagram of NICT's Focused Areas of Research.

We conduct R&D on technologies to acquire, collect, visualize and provide diverse information from various things and phenomena surrounding human beings by using electromagnetic waves; technologies to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of various equipment and systems (including terahertz waves); space-time standards technologies to generate, supply, and utilize accurate and reliable time and frequencies as a basis for efficient socioeconomic activities; remote sensing technologies, space environment measurement technologies, electromagnetic environmental technologies, space-time standards technologies, digital optical technologies to realize low-cost and high-efficiency diffractive optical devices.

Radio Research Institute

Terahertz Technology Research Center

electromagnetic engineering, radio wave propagation, electromagnetic field measurement, electromagnetic field analysis, remote sensing, radar technology, optical measurement technology, satellite mounted sensor, space weather, ionosphere, magnetosphere, the Sun and solar wind, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), calibration technology, electromagnetic interference, biological electromagnetic environment, frequency standard, optical clock, chronological algorithms, space-time measurement, satellite positioning, holographic optical technology, terahertz waves, Beyond 5G

We conduct R&D on key technologies to build innovative networks that can cope with the rapid increase in communication traffic, ensure communication quality, and diversify services toward the transformation of social systems through the advancement of Society 5.0 in the Beyond 5G era. We research and develop basic and system technologies for optical communications (backbone and access), wireless communications (terrestrial and satellite), ICT devices, networking, etc., to achieve the desired functions of broadband communications, ultra-low latency and high reliability in Beyond 5G, as well as fusion technologies such as optical and radio wave, computational function network composite, NTN, resilient ICT, etc., to enhance scalability and flexibility. We will support society in the Beyond 5G era by researching and developing technologies and promoting the diffusion of results.

Network System Research Institute

Network Architecture Laboratory

Photonic ICT Research Center

Wireless Networks Research Center

Resilient ICT Research Center

Terahertz Technology Research Center

Advanced ICT Device Laboratory

ICT Testbed Research and Development Promotion Center

networks, Beyond 5G, Photonic ICT, ultra high frequency and terahertz ICT, space ICT, resilient ICT, fiber optic communications, ICT devices, optoelectronic fusion (electrical and radio), wireless communications, space optical communications, cubesat, NTN, wireless access, networking, network control management, architecture, communication methods, machine learning

In the Internet of Things (IoT) era, many objects, sensors and other devices in our surroundings will be connected to networks. This allows us to enjoy convenient and smart lives; however, security countermeasures for such devices are becoming a pressing issue behind the scenes. The scope that should be covered by cybersecurity is expanding daily, such as protection from information leakage and privacy violations in the case of utilizing the big data collected by such IoT devices. We conduct R&D to deal with the latest pressing concerns and upcoming issues in our information society.

Cybersecurity Research Institute

cyber security technology, Beyond 5G security, usable security, cryptographic technology, privacy-enhancing technologies, formation of cyber security industry-academia-government collaboration center, human resource development in cyber security area

Aiming at the realization of universal communication in which everyone can understand each other, we have built an AI research platform based on a large, high-quality database specialized in the Japanese language and other fields, and have developed multilingual communication technology that realizes automatic simultaneous interpretation at a practical level using various sources of information such as the context, the speaker's intentions, and the surrounding situation. Communication technology for multilingual communication, which enables automatic simultaneous interpretation at a practical level using a variety of information sources such as the context, the speaker's intentions, and the surrounding situation; Social knowledge communication technology, which acquires a vast amount of knowledge that exists on the Internet, etc., performs inferences, etc., and provides the acquired knowledge and inference results through dialogue, etc., tailored to the user's interests and context; and Real-world situation analysis and prediction by linking public and private data of various types and fields. We conduct R&D on smart data utilization infrastructure technologies that enable behavioral support through analysis and prediction of real-world situations by linking public and private data of various types and fields, and technologies that enable communication that transcends the constraints of space, time, and body, as well as the social implementation of these technologies.

Universal Communication Research Institute

Advanced Speech Translation Research and Development Promotion Center

Data-driven Intelligent System Research Center

Big Data Integration Research Center

Advanced Reality Technology Laboratory

Resilient ICT Research Center

multilingual, dialogue, behaviour support, AI, base model, human interface, Beyond 5G

We conduct R&D on technologies that bring a new paradigm shift to the future ICT: next-generation functional device technology with high functionality and high efficiency by applying new functional materials such as compound semiconductors, superconductors, organic materials, biomaterials, and advanced nanofabrication technology; artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to create materials and sensors, etc. with new functions; ultra-high frequency (terahertz) technologies for the utilization of unused frequencies; quantum info-communication technologies for the pursuit of ultimate safety, high-capacity characteristics, and ultra-high speed operations based on principles of quantum mechanics; Bio-ICT technology that aims to artificially reproduce useful functions of living organisms and utilize molecular information from the natural world through ICT; and so forth. Besides, we conduct the R&D in emerging and interdisciplinary areas related to these technologies.
We conduct R&D on new information analysis and info-communication technologies inspired by the brain's information processing mechanism learned through the analysis of human brain functions; brain function measurement and analysis technologies to realize such new technologies; technologies to store and utilize large volumes of brain function information.

Advanced ICT Research Institute

Quantum ICT Collaboration Center

Terahertz Technology Research Center

nano-ICT, bio-ICT, quantum ICT, terahertz ICT, future-oriented information analysis andinformation and communications technology, novel concepts for ICT, material sciences for ICT, information and neural networks, brain measurement, brain machine interface (BMI), Beyond 5G

In cross-sectional collaboration with R&D in the above five fields, we are working to disseminate the results of R&D and to strengthen the competitiveness of Japan's ICT industry. Specifically, in addition to cutting-edge R&D in various fields, we are working on the construction and operation of testbeds to enable the verification of new services and the evolution of circulation to respond to the progress of new technologies, the promotion of research and development through industry-academia-government collaboration to realize Beyond 5G and solve social issues, support for start-up companies using cutting-edge ICT technology, and ICT human resource development. We also promote joint research through international collaboration with research institutes and universities in Japan and overseas, and promote international human exchange. In addition to these wide-ranging fields, we are also looking for people who can work in fields outside the framework of the above five fields.

Beyond 5G R&D Promotion Unit

Quantum ICT Collaboration Center

Open Innovation Promotion Headquarters

ICT Testbed Research and Development Promotion Center

testbed, technology demonstration, emulation, CPS, distributed wide-area demonstration, data-driven, circular evolution, IoT platforms, Beyond 5G/6G, ultra-high frequency and terahertz wave ICT, quantum cryptography, quantum internet, data sciences, large-scale data utilization, heterogeneous data collaboration, frontier sciences, industry-academia collaboration, international collaboration, global deployment, regional revitalization, open innovation

*For this research area, you may also select from the keywords listed in other areas (1-5) above.