Photon Science Innovation Center

The Photon Science Innovation Center (PhoSIC) is a Japanese general incorporated foundation established on 26 December 2016 by 30 founding members, including Tohoku University, academic research institutions, industry, and the Tohoku Economic Federation. Headquartered in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, PhoSIC was created to drive the construction and operation of a next-generation synchrotron radiation facility in the Tohoku region and to build an innovation ecosystem around it. PhoSIC is the private and regional representative organization within the public-private-regional partnership that governs the 3 GeV high-brightness synchrotron radiation facility NanoTerasu. That partnership comprises Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City, Tohoku University, the Tohoku Economic Federation, PhoSIC (representing the private and regional side), and the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST, representing the national government). PhoSIC's mission is to support and promote academic research and industrial technology development through the provision of synchrotron radiation facilities and related services, thereby strengthening Japan's science, technology, and industrial competitiveness. The foundation operates and provides access to beamlines at NanoTerasu, which is described as a giant microscope with a light source roughly one billion times brighter than sunlight, enabling the elucidation of material functions and structures at the nanoscale. PhoSIC offers beamline access, technical support, data collection and analysis services, seminars, and site visits. It also runs a coalition concept — a voluntary alliance of industry and academia — to realize barrier-free use of next-generation synchrotron radiation and to provide a place for co-creation where partners tackle problems that cannot be solved alone. Coalition members have access to dedicated areas and a dedicated portal for applications, reservations, and technical documents. As of 1 July 2026, PhoSIC reported 12 officers and 79 staff (including concurrent positions), with 8 councilors. Its board chair is Masaki Takada. The foundation publishes its financial statements and governance documents, including its balance sheet announcement for fiscal year 2025. Through its role in the NanoTerasu project, PhoSIC aims to contribute to the creative reconstruction of Tohoku through advanced technology and to serve as a model for large-scale research infrastructure that drives innovation.

The Photon Science Innovation Center (PhoSIC) traces its origins to the aftermath of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. In April 2011, discussions began on a Tohoku synchrotron radiation plan, and in December 2011 the "Tohoku Synchrotron Radiation Plan" was launched by seven national universities in Tohoku (represented by Osamu Nittono, then president of Fukushima University), with a prospectus for a "new-generation medium-sized high-brightness synchrotron radiation facility in eastern Japan." In February 2012 the plan was proposed to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). In May 2012, the Japanese Society for Synchrotron Radiation Research's special committee on future plans issued an interim report stating that the Tohoku plan should be actively promoted because it could realize the light source performance desired by synchrotron users in an energy-saving manner. In June 2012, the "Tohoku Synchrotron Radiation Facility Promotion Council" was established by seven national universities (Hirosaki, Iwate, Tohoku, Miyagi University of Education, Akita, Fukushima, and Yamagata). In August 2012, the council prepared a white paper outline and met with then MEXT Minister Hirofumi Hirano. In December 2012, Tohoku University established its own promotion council. In March 2014, the plan was included in the Science Council of Japan's Master Plan for Large Research Projects (22nd term). In July 2014, the "Tohoku Synchrotron Radiation Facility Promotion Conference" was established, co-chaired by the Governor of Miyagi Prefecture, the Chairman of the Tohoku Economic Federation, and the President of Tohoku University, expanding to include prefectures and industry. In August 2014, the co-chairs submitted a request to then MEXT Minister Hakubun Shimomura explaining the importance of realizing the facility. On 26 December 2016, PhoSIC was established as a general incorporated foundation by 30 founding members, including Tohoku University, academic research institutions, industry, and the Tohoku Economic Federation. It became the private and regional representative organization in the public-private-regional partnership for the 3 GeV high-brightness synchrotron radiation facility NanoTerasu, alongside Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City, Tohoku University, the Tohoku Economic Federation, and the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST). PhoSIC's role includes raising investment from companies and universities and connecting the region, industry, and the national government. Its philosophy, approved by the board on 24 March 2020, commits it to solving societal challenges through nanoscale visualization using next-generation synchrotron radiation, contributing to Japan's science and industrial base, realizing barrier-free use through an industry-academia coalition concept, and forming a research complex to achieve Tohoku's creative reconstruction through advanced technology. As the facility progressed, PhoSIC continued to operate and provide beamlines at NanoTerasu, offering services such as technical support, data analysis, seminars, and coalition membership. By 2026, the foundation reported 12 officers and 79 staff (including concurrent positions) and 8 councilors, with Masaki Takada as chairman. It publishes annual financial statements and governance documents, and its website provides updates on beamline status, events such as the Coalition Conference, and member notices.

• Great East Japan Earthquake

• Discussions begin on the Tohoku Synchrotron Radiation Plan

• "Tohoku Synchrotron Radiation Plan" launched by seven national universities in Tohoku

• Plan proposed to MEXT

• Japanese Society for Synchrotron Radiation Research interim report supports the plan

• "Tohoku Synchrotron Radiation Facility Promotion Council" established

• White paper outline prepared; meeting with MEXT Minister Hirofumi Hirano

• Tohoku University establishes its own promotion council

• Plan included in Science Council of Japan's Master Plan for Large Research Projects (22nd term)

• "Tohoku Synchrotron Radiation Facility Promotion Conference" established

• Request submitted to MEXT Minister Hakubun Shimomura

• PhoSIC established as a general incorporated foundation by 30 founding members

• Board approves the foundation's philosophy

A general incorporated foundation serving as the private/regional representative body for the NanoTerasu synchrotron facility, driving industry-academia co-creation and barrier-free use of next-generation synchrotron radiation.

• NanoTerasu beamlines

  3 GeV high-brightness synchrotron radiation beamlines provided to members and users.

• Coalition membership

  Membership in the industry-academia coalition with access to dedicated areas and a portal for applications, reservations, and technical documents.

1. 1PhoSIC | 一般財団法人光科学イノベーションセンター - 未来を照らし、世界を拓くphosic.or.jp
2. 2財団紹介 | PhoSIC | 一般財団法人光科学イノベーションセンターphosic.or.jp
3. 3Photon Science Innovation Center - Wikidatawikidata.org