THE NEW VALUE FRONTIER

Academic Advancement and Research

Supporting the Inamori Foundation’s Kyoto Prize

The non-profit Inamori Foundation was established in 1984, based upon the belief of Kyocera’s founder Kazuo Inamori, that “a human being has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of humanity and the world,” and that “the future of humanity can be assured only when there is a balance between scientific development and the enrichment of the human spirit.” The Kyoto Prize, organized by the Foundation, was established in 1985. It celebrates as an international award that honors people who have made significant contributions in the three categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. Each laureate receives a diploma, Kyoto Prize medal and prize money of 100 million yen per category.
Each year in November, an awards ceremony for the Kyoto Prize is held to recognize outstanding achievements in the sciences and humanities. Laureates give lectures, offering listeners a glimpse into their intellect and character. In addition, Kyoto Prize commemorative events have been held for local university students and residents in San Diego, USA, since 2002 and in Oxford, UK, since 2017. Kyocera endorses and actively supports these activities.

The 37th Kyoto Prize award ceremony in 2022 (Kyoto) was canceled due to the spread of COVID-19.

Photo: The 2018 Kyoto Prize laureates
The 2019 Kyoto Prize laureates
Photo: The Kyoto Prize Presentation Ceremony
The Kyoto Prize Presentation Ceremony
Photo: The Kyoto Prize Symposium held in San Diego (U.S.A.) (Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego)
The Kyoto Prize Symposium held in San Diego (U.S.A.)
(Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego)
Photo: Symposium Kyoto Prize at Oxford (U.K.)

The Kyoto Prize at Oxford in the UK (Photo by John Cairns)

Inamori Frontier Research Center at Kyushu University

The Inamori Frontier Research Center was established at Kyushu University (Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) to undertake research activities that will contribute to the harmony of minds and technology, and to support exchanges among young researchers. Kyocera agrees with the goals of the Center, and supported its operations between 2008 and March 2022 by donating scholarship funds, etc. The Inamori Frontier Research Center was renamed as the Inamori Foundation Memorial Hall in April 2022, and its objectives and cutting-edge research were passed on as the Inamori Frontier Program for developing young researchers under the "Kyocera Professorship" at Kyushu University starting in April 2022.

Photo: Inamori Foundation Memorial Hall housing the Inamori Frontier Research Center
Inamori Foundation Memorial Hall housing the Inamori Frontier Research Center

Support for the Inamori Academy at Kagoshima University

Kyocera supports the research and educational activities of the Inamori Academy at Kagoshima University. Following the endowment of the Chair of Management Studies in the Faculty of Engineering at Kagoshima University in 2000, the Inamori Academy of Management and Technology was founded in 2005, and later reorganized and merged into the Inamori Academy in 2008. Kyocera has consistently supported the Academy since it endowed the Chair of Management Studies. In doing so, it promotes initiatives for "Producing '21st Century Citizens' endowed with high ethical values for serving society and humanity and developing leaders that are desired by local communities."

Photo: Inamori Academy Building, constructed under Kyocera's support in 2008
Inamori Academy Building, constructed under Kyocera's support in 2008

Research Support at Four U.S. Universities

In gratitude for many years of collaboration with the American electronics industry, and based on a desire to ensure the industry’s continued development, since 1984 Kyocera has given endowments to the engineering divisions of Alfred University, Case Western Reserve University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Washington. These endowments support the research activities of appointed Kyocera Professors as well as the enrollment of overseas students and researchers at each institution. This contributes towards the acquisition of cutting-edge research information, developing of young researchers, dispatch of researchers, joint research, etc.

Photo: Kyocera Professors meet to exchange research ideas at MIT
Kyocera Professors meet to exchange research ideas at MIT

The Kyocera Museum of Fine Ceramics

The Kyocera Museum of Fine Ceramics was inaugurated in 1998 at the global headquarters building in Kyoto. Open to the public and free of charge, the museum showcases the evolution and latest technological advances around which Kyocera has grown, and serves to support the future development of fine ceramics. Located adjacent to the showroom, it receives many visitors every year.

Photo: The Kyocera Museum of Fine Ceramics
The Kyocera Museum of Fine Ceramics

Donation of the Kyocera Collection of British Parliamentary Papers

In 1998, Kyocera donated to Japan’s National Museum of Ethnology more than 12,000 volumes of documents that had been submitted to the British parliament in the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection was transferred to the Center for Integrated Area Studies (CIAS) at Kyoto University in 2006 and is utilized as a resource for research.

Photo: Kyocera Collection of British Parliamentary Papers
Kyocera Collection of British Parliamentary Papers