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In this Global COE Program (Phase II), we will target on a wide range of hard condensed materials (e.g., crystalline materials such as metals, ceramics and semiconductor materials) and will encompass a broad scope of academic fields, which include physical properties, mechanisms of functions, manufacturing processes, materials structure, characterization of bulk and nano-structures, evaluation of functionality, welding process and material recycling flow in society. Through enhanced collaborations, we will endeavor to design and develop the advanced materials with a strong awareness of materials production and application. Advanced materials to be studied will also include structural materials used for buildings and transportations, functional and intelligent materials essential for micro machines, semiconductor optoelectronics and spintronics devices (e.g., ultra-high density data-storage media and lasers for advanced information technologies), as well as biomaterials used in the medical and social welfare field. We have already developed original fields through 21st Century COE Program (Phase I) such as "porous materials" and "ultrafine-grained bulk materials". Furthermore, we will propose novel advanced materials (diverse multi-functional materials, multi ferroic materials) attaining combined characteristics with mechanical and functional features. Novel materials-design concepts for facilitating the new-materials development will also be deepened by revealing the basic mechanisms on molecular and atomic levels.

Following three projects will be conducted: (a) Advanced Materials Research Project for Structural Applications; (b) Advanced Materials Research Project for Combined Structural and Functional Applications, and (c) Advanced Materials Research Project for Functional Applications.
In addition, in order to create new academic fields through collaborations in diverse fields, we will establish "Collaborative/Interdisciplinary Key Research Grants" consisting of following two categories of grants. One is "Research Grants for Young Researchers in Interdisciplinary Fields" , which provide young researchers with research grants for challenges to create new fields through collaborations in different fields in Japan. The other one is "Key Grants for Young International Researchers" , which provides young researchers with research grants for challenges to promote international collaborations, which are accordingly expected to be the basis to form "Global Clusters of young researchers" in materials science and engineering.