ASCOT Homepage

Principal Member

Academic Member

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology [President Ryouji Chubachi] (hereinafter referred as AIST) has been working on R & D of the whole superconducting technologies over search for new materials, superconductive wire, superconductive electronics device, superconducting magnet, cryogenic cooling and applied technical developments for about a half century. Through these R & D activities, AIST has been creating superconducting fundamental technologies and promoting their wide-spread use in society. To encourage radical promotion of innovation by superconducting technologies in society, it is necessary to construct open innovation hub, to create innovation utilizing them and to develop next-generation human resources. Furthermore, various industries from upstream to downstream of the material development, cooling technology and application system development, academic and public institutes are required to participate in this open innovation hub. Such hub construction can solve not only global environmental problems and helium resource needs but also strengthen industrial competitiveness by Japan.
Coincidentally, the International Superconductivity Technology Center (ISTEC), a public interest incorporated foundation, who had been leading the research and development of high-temperature superconductivity in Japan since 1988, achieved their original target and dissolved in June 2016. In consideration of the situation, AIST has been exchanging opinions continuously, from June 2015 to February 2016, between related industries and universities to construct a new consotium for the development of technologies in cross-cutting research areas. As a result, ASCOT has been concluded to establish.

In May 26th, 2016, AIST inaugurated a new consortium on superconductivity called Applied Superconductivity Constellations of Tsukuba (ASCOT) in cooperation with 24 organizations consisting of industries, universities and public research institutes.
Superconductivity is a physical phenomenon where electric resistance disappears when cooled to low temperature. If this technology can be applied to society, it is expected that it will be able to provide effective solutions to various global problems we are facing. The oxide-based high-temperature superconductors discovered in 1986 is expected greatly to be a new material that can spread superconducting technology widely because they can develop superconductivity phenomenon without extremely low temperature cooling by liquid helium. Furthermore, in recent years, global issues have undergone major changes, and global environmental problems, particularly global warming and concrete responses towards its control, are common issues for all human beings. An application of superconducting technology is expected, for example, in the cross-border formation of renewable energy transmission network since it is the ultimate energy-saving technology. In addition, the application of superconducting electronic device technology to ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors, quantum computers, etc. is highly expected for cutting-edge research and development in such areas as resource strategy, innovative medical technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
ASCOT is intended to be a constellation to allow us to develop integrally, various superconducting magnets applied to medical/analysis devices such as MRI and NMR, and industrial equipment etc., new materials such as iron, and superconducting electronics devices using advanced cooling technology and ultra-sensitive SQUID magnetic sensor as core technologies.

ASCOT aims to promote:

1. Construction of Japanese-style open innovation hub committed to original technologies,
2. Development of human resources specialized in superconductivity technology provided with high level education in universities and practical research in industries,
3. Development of superconductivity materials, wires, devices, cooling and application technology
4. Construction of consortium consisting of both wide range of industries upstream to downstream and academic/public researches.

   AIST welcomes industries who agree with the above concepts.