The creation of innovative medical and welfare machines, innovative aircraft, aerospace vehicles and automobiles, innovative energy conversion machines, and innovative information equipment, and the establishment of academic and technological schemes in support of them, is indispensable to realizing a sustainable society that considers the global environment while keeping its vitality and assuring the health, comfort, safety and security of its citizens. The proposed effort will also foster the identification and development of the internationally talented individuals needed to provide leadership in industry and academia.

　　Creation of an innovative machine, which satisfies multiple requirements simultaneously, such as energy conversion equipment with high efficiency and low environmental load, is necessary to create a sustainable and active society in harmony with the environment. An “extended mechanical engineering” scheme must be constructed, where the unique phenomena and sophisticated characteristics of the nano scale are aggressively utilized, thereby overcoming the limitations on conventional machine design using mechanical engineering based on continuum mechanics. The following items will be pursued:

(1) Establishment of the academic disciplines in the “extended nano space”

The transitional area where phenomena in the nano space are extended to the micro space is called “extended nano space.” The program aims to create innovative machines that utilize and control the unconventional effects that emerge from phenomena at the nano scale. More concretely, the program incorporates the following items: (a) analysis of phenomena and formulation of mathematical models at the extended nano scale, (b) multi-scale simulation, and (c) the promotion of process innovation using phenomena in the extended nano space.

(2) Establishment of fundamental technologies for innovative mechanical systems

Fundamental technologies to implement the 4 targeted classes of machines will be created. These will be for medical and welfare machines, aircraft, aerospace vehicles and automobiles, energy conversion machines, and information equipment.

(3) Establishment of design synthesis methods for innovative mechanical systems

Innovative design methodologies in the nano and micro areas will be established to realize the unique functionalities made possible through the exploitation of new phenomena.

The human resource development (education) program aims at the cultivation of fundamental attainment, specialized knowledge, literacy, and competency. The following elements of the human resource development program are proposed:

(a) Cultivating a bird's-eye-view of the role of fundamental and specialized engineering in society,

(b) Cultivating competitiveness based on international understanding and deep specialized knowledge,

(c) Cultivating the leadership skills needed to engage actively in industry and academia, and

(d) Securing excellent foreign students.

　　The proposed program will cultivate internationally competitive young researchers with the ability to comprehend and generate both fundamental attainment and specialized knowledge, and the technical and language literacy and competency to communicate the importance of their results. It is expected that these young engineers will be well-prepared to be the future leaders of industry and academia.