Craif (Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Ryuichi Onose, hereinafter referred to as “Craif”) opened a large-scale research space in the National Innovation Complex (NIC) of Nagoya University. The new space is twice the size of the existing research facility, and “Craif NU Nanodevice Joint Research Division,” an Industry-Academia Collaboration Research Chair will be opened. 

■Outline
Craif has opened a large-scale research space in NIC, a building operated by Nagoya University that aims to create innovation through collaboration between industry, academia, and government. The new space is twice the size of the existing research facility (204 square meters in total). By integrating and expanding research functions that had been dispersed across multiple locations within Nagoya University, we will centralized our research bases and opened “Craif NU Nanodevice Joint Research Division,” an Industry-Academia Collaboration Research Chair. 

We will establish a dynamic research system that is even more attractive and energetic for researchers in Japan and overseas, and promote world-class liquid biopsy research space.

■ About “Craif NU Nanodevice Joint Research Division,” an Industry-Academia Collaboration Research Chair
Unlike blood, which requires “needle insertion” as a medical procedure, urine and saliva tests can be easily performed by patients themselves or their caregivers. By implementing non-invasive health monitoring at non-medical institutions such as homes, nursing homes, and municipalities, we hope to lead to the early detection of serious diseases such as cancer and dementia. Through the expansion of research facilities and opening of the research chair, Craif will further enhance the analysis of various biological samples using nanowire devices that supplement exosomes, and promote the identification of disease-specific biomarkers and the development of diagnostic tools using them.

■ About NIC (National Innovation Complex)
NIC (https://www.aip.nagoya-u.ac.jp/) is a facility constructed by Nagoya University in response to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s project for “Developing an International Science Innovation Center through Industry-Academia Collaboration Using Local Resources (FY2012): Joint Application by Aichi, Toyota-shi, and Toyota Motor Corporation.”

By inviting people specialized in manufacturing technology and research, it aims to create a world-class innovation center and provide a one-stop service for the university’s academic research and industry-academia-government collaboration activities. Based on the philosophy that “creating ‘small society with big connection’ that fills people with bonds and vitality is important under Japan’s situation of declining birthrate and super-aging society, NIC aim to create innovative technologies to realize this social vision,” NIC will play a role not only as a “facility” for the community, but also as a “place” for realizing a shared vision with the local community.