International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I²CNER) has been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) under the J-Innovation HUB Initiative in the “International Development” category during the seventh round of applications.

Under this initiative, METI targets regional innovation hubs, mainly higher education institutions, and evaluates and selects outstanding industry-academia collaboration bases that play a leading role as hubs for corporate networks. The aim is to enhance their creditworthiness, focus public support measures on them, and strengthen the capabilities of top-ranking hubs.

METI selects hubs in two categories: “International Development” and “Regional Contribution.” The “International Development” category, to which I²CNER belongs, is defined as hubs that actively engage in industry–academia collaboration with global companies both in Japan and overseas and are committed to further international expansion.

As a selected hub, I²CNER will receive tailored support from METI and will further strengthen partnerships with industry to accelerate the development of innovative technologies and the creation of innovations toward achieving a carbon-neutral society.