Urban development in the industrialized countries during the 20th century(Figure 1) can be characterized as a process of expansion and redevelopment, with the formation of a huge and highly-advanced complex of built environment. However, because conventional technologies are focused on the construction of these buildings and infrastructures, it has become difficult to ensure that urban space can adapt to environmental constraints and economic, social and cultural changes in the 21st century.

　　In order to meet the social demands for the upgrading of social capital in a sustainable manner and regenerating attractive urban space that is not only safe and highly efficient but also reflective of historical, cultural and local identities and expectations, a new discipline, the Center for Sustainable Urban Regeneration (cSUR), was established in 2003 with the support of the 21st century Center of Excellence (21COE) of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

　　Having achieved the objectives set out for the 21COE, the Global COE (GCOE) will enable cSUR to further expand its activities by developing research fields, academic networks, and the new professional generation of engineers and scientists.

　　Our social capital is constituted by the natural environment, the built environment, and the social environment. GCOE is composed of four groups, three of which correspond to these aspects of social capital: Environmental Management, Urban Stock Management and Social Information. The fourth group is an implementation group, Integrated Planning and Design, which organizes and integrates the knowledge developed by the three research-based groups. In addition, new cross-cutting research teams, identified during the 21COE , are formed, such as Vulnerable Urban Space, Eco-Urban Space, and Urban Space Cultural Strategy(Figures 2 and 3).

　　GCOE plans to extend the international research network from the existing Asia-centered network to one which is fully global, involving the appointment of overseas research fellows, the creation of the International Association of Sustainable Urban Development, and the expansion of the graduate course program in Sustainable Urban Development to the doctoral level.