Message from Director

Information technology has deeply and widely permeated our lives, to the extent that it is no exaggeration to say that social life would be unsustainable without it. The 6th Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan (2021–2025) formulated by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, which outlines the national policy on information science and technology, sets forth numerous policies aimed at realizing a Society 5.0 society. These include research and development of information science and technology for the integration of cyberspace and physical space, as well as the promotion of smart cities and super cities.

Currently, the formulation of the 7th Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan, which will commence in fiscal year 2026, is underway. In a proposal published by the Science Council of Japan in November 2024, key objectives include securing competitiveness in AI research that anticipates developments beyond generative AI, as well as establishing mechanisms for the safe and reliable social implementation of AI—all under the overarching goal of realizing an inclusive science, technology, and innovation system that addresses large-scale pandemics, climate change, demographic aging with low birth rates, and the advancement of generative AI. The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of AI technologies, exemplified by recent breakthroughs in generative AI, have led to an unprecedented surge in societal demand for cutting-edge AI foundational technologies, applied AI technologies, and AI literacy development.

In the Division of Information Science, in response to these growing societal demands, efforts have been made to strengthen AI-related education and research. In September 2024, the conventional three academic disciplines—Computer Science, Media Informatics, and Applied Informatics—were restructured into two new fields: Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Applied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence focus on the development of next-generation AI with enhanced performance, functionality, and efficiency. Research areas include computer architecture, system design, networking technologies, software development, and cybersecurity, which serve as the foundation for AI advancement. Applied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics promote cutting-edge education and research in a wide range of AI applications, including machine translation, speech recognition, and image recognition technologies. Additionally, it encompasses AI-driven applications in healthcare and medical informatics, brain information processing, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and even bioinformatics.

Furthermore, starting from the 2025 academic year, NAIST has introduced the Advanced Information Specialist Training Program for incoming students. To accommodate this initiative, the enrollment capacity for the Master’s Program in Information Science has been expanded from 135 to approximately 175 students, and the Doctoral Program from 40 to 45 students. Through this expansion, we aim to cultivate highly specialized professionals who will contribute not only to the advancement of AI but also to the development and dissemination of next-generation information science and technology.

Although information science is a relatively young academic discipline that emerged in the mid-20th century, it has undergone remarkable advancements, from the deepening of theoretical foundations to the expansion of applications and real-world implementations. Given its dynamic nature, even predicting the state of the information society five years into the future remains a challenge. The Division of Information Science is committed to fostering cutting-edge innovations in information science and technology while advancing education and research to support the next-generation information society.