National University Corporation Okayama University
[Okayama University] Exchanged opinions with 11 universities, technical colleges, etc. to promote the use and stable supply of liquid helium, which supports the foundation of Japan’s research capabilities
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August 27, 2024 (Reiwa 6) National University Corporation Okayama University https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-ee0bcfabdc7577284b6b-0.jpg&s3=72793-2451-9dd25092754d7d5af0050f0143bf94c6-1946×1104.jpg] ◆Overview National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City, President: Yasutomo Nasu) is collaborating with 7 universities, 2 technical colleges, and 1 research institute to promote the use and stable supply of liquid helium, which is essential for research activities. We held an exchange of opinions with institutions from June to July 2024. Liquid helium is not produced domestically and relies entirely on imports, but domestic supply is in short supply due to various factors such as the coronavirus pandemic and global conflicts, and purchasing prices are rising year by year.・It is difficult to obtain at research institutions. This is also mentioned in the statement on the helium crisis, “Toward a Helium Recycling Society,” jointly released in 2019 by six Japanese academic societies, two research institute liaison committees, and 39 organizations.
Okayama University owns a helium liquefaction device and has built a system to supply liquid helium to on-campus users, collect the generated helium gas, and re-liquefy it. The helium gas emitted when operating research equipment such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) equipment that uses liquid helium is collected in the cryogenic chamber of the Natural Life Sciences Research Support Center through on-campus piping and liquefied again into liquid helium. By storing and supplying liquid helium, we recycle liquid helium on campus. Helium liquefaction equipment is extremely expensive, and it is not easy for any university or research institute to easily install it because it requires cost and highly skilled technical personnel to operate the equipment. If our university, which is a core university in the region and a research university, can supply liquid helium to nearby universities, technical colleges, research institutes, companies, etc., rather than just using it within the university, we will be able to support research and development using liquid helium. This will lead to a significant expansion of research, which in turn will lead to improved research capabilities and the creation of innovation in Japan.
Therefore, we exchanged opinions with universities that own helium liquefaction equipment and research equipment that uses liquid helium. Of these, Osaka University is leading the way in supplying liquid helium to other institutions, and a helium supply system has been established between Osaka University and Nara National College of Technology (hereinafter referred to as Nara National College of Technology). Osaka University collects the helium gas used in the equipment, liquefies it and refines it, and supplies liquid helium to Nara National College of Technology again.
On July 30th, Koji Hatanaka, Director of the Equipment Sharing Promotion Headquarters of the University’s Research and Innovation Co-Creation Organization, and staff from the Research Cooperation Division of the Research and Innovation Co-Creation Management Department visited Nara National College of Technology with Osaka University faculty and staff. Participants observed the on-site compression of helium gas discharged and recovered at Nara National College of Technology and exchanged opinions. During the helium gas compression work, we observed how the helium gas stored in the room was connected to a compressor on a truck, and the compressed helium gas was transferred to a gas cylinder.
Furthermore, prior to this, on June 13th, we visited the Osaka University Core Facility Organization, where we exchanged opinions with the organization’s Co-creation Utilization Support Division and Low Temperature Science Support Division, and also toured Osaka University’s helium liquefaction equipment.
On July 11th, Director Hatanaka, Deputy Director Sonmichi Matsumoto, and administrative staff Ryota Tomosada visited the Institute for Solid State Physics (hereinafter referred to as the Institute for Solid State Physics), the University of Tokyo. The Institute for Solid State Physics is conducting a helium gas reliquefaction project, and the participants exchanged opinions and toured the facility. Based on the information obtained through exchanging opinions and visiting these multiple universities and research institutes, we aim to strengthen our university’s operations and serve as a hub for the region. In particular, our university was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Project to Promote the Strengthening of Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities (J-PEAKS)” (implementing body: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) on December 22 last year, and we are promoting this project. One of our initiatives is to “become a mecca for knowledge and techniques for creating innovation,” and we are promoting initiatives to become a hub for strengthening research capabilities. By encouraging nearby universities, technical colleges, research institutes, and companies to use liquid helium for more experiments, we aim to make Okayama University a regional core and distinctive research university that will become a mecca for knowledge and technology. Please look forward to the challenges of our university, which is a J-PEAKS adopted university, co-creating the future of the region and the earth and realizing social change.
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-2e51641361b7518a3988-1.jpg&s3=72793-2451-e4f8afdbe2d875ae795bd283d5c1a293-800×533.jpg] Exchange of opinions with Osaka University Core Facility Organization
[Image 3: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-fe619c2009deeaeaade2-2.jpg&s3=72793-2451-818a09ce7d0d52fa3b01827a2a8efeae-800×600.jpg] Director Hatanaka tours Osaka University’s helium liquefaction equipment
[Image 4: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-ec3f49b549aeff1b1840-3.jpg&s3=72793-2451-d36d715fac91b70a113b96ce43a05534-800×601.jpg] Opinion exchange and facility tour with the Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo
[Image 5: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-826b6c481bb7ab628434-4.jpg&s3=72793-2451-4226c9526bab5ea7501b7db7a1cd6ec2-800×600.jpg] Observation of helium gas compression work by Osaka University and Nara National College of Technology
〇Comment from President Yasutomo Nasu: Efforts to promote the use and stable supply of liquefied helium are extremely important in terms of “regional core research universities” in the Project for Strengthening Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities (J-PEAKS). It can be said that it is a thing. Furthermore, since our country does not have any natural resources and is 100% dependent on imports, we believe that such efforts are extremely important from the perspective of economic security. Rather than making a short-sighted decision to “strengthen Okayama University’s research infrastructure,” we must also focus on broadly promoting the strengthening of science, technology, and innovation in Japan, and first of all, we must quickly and steadily move forward with what we can do as a research-first research university. I’m going. Furthermore, this initiative cannot be accomplished by our university alone. We would appreciate the continued support and cooperation of all relevant organizations.
[Image 6: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-76daf36f72F3CDF4A3D4-5.jpg &s3=72793-2451-D0324F37169100EC2814B148D 74967A4-1452X507.jpg] President Yasutomo Nasu
◆Reference
・Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-Creation Organization https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-Creation Organization Equipment Sharing Promotion Headquarters
https://fspp.kikibun.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・Okayama University Natural Life Science Research Support Center https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/grcweb/asrc.html
・Okayama University Core Facility Portal Site (CFPOU)
https://corefacility-potal.fsp.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆Reference information
・[Okayama University] Selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities Strengthening Promotion Project (J-PEAKS)” – A research university that will co-create the future of the region and the earth and become a core of global innovation: Okayama University We will accelerate the realization of our goals and build a mountain range of Japan’s research universities that we can be proud of around the world.
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001935.000072793.html
・[Okayama University] Published Okayama University Public Relations “Ginkgo Avenue” Vol. 105 – Special project selected by the Project for Strengthening Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities (J-PEAKS) – Build a mountain range of research universities that can be proud of in the world –
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000002152.000072793.html
・Statement on the helium crisis “Toward a helium recycling society” https://www.jps.or.jp/information/2019/12/helium.php
・Helium supply system between Osaka University and Nara National College of Technology
https://corefc.osaka-u.ac.jp/2024/08/01/950
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[Image 8: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-91a560f2a844dba88847-7.png&s3=72793-2451-53556fe59bde2824b9a62a1c76ad5b4f-2078×230.png ]
[Image 9: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-2a826cf7a4532ca73186-8.jpg&s3=72793-2451-88dbc5d06296158353de539c475a37bd-1471×840.jpg] Okayama University Tsushima Campus (Kita Ward, Okayama City) ◆Contact information for this matter
Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-Creation Organization Equipment Sharing Promotion Headquarters 1-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-8530 Okayama University Tsushima Campus Main Building 1st Floor
TEL: 086-251-8486 E-mail: corefacility◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp *@ has been replaced with ◎.
https://fspp.kikibun.okayama-u.ac.jp/
-For inquiries regarding Okayama University’s
industry-academia-government collaboration, etc.- Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-Creation Organization
Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Headquarters 1-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-8530 Okayama University Tsushima Campus Main Building 1F TEL: 086-251-8463 E-mail: sangaku◎okayama-u.ac.jp *Please replace ◎ with @
https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/
-Inquiries regarding Okayama University startups, ventures, etc.- Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-Creation Organization Startup and Venture Creation Headquarters
1-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-8530 Okayama University Tsushima Campus Main Building 1st Floor E-mail: start-up1◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp ※Please replace ◎ with @ https://venture.okayama-u.ac.jp/
Okayama University Media “OTD” (App):
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000011.000072793.html Okayama University Media “OTD” (Web): https://prtimes.jp/main/html
/rd/p/000000215.000072793.html Okayama University Integrated Report 2023: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001926.000072793.html Okayama University SDGs homepage: https://sdgs.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Okayama University SDGs – Thinking about the sustainability of local communities (YouTube): https://youtu.be/Qdqjy4mw4ik Okayama University Image Movie (YouTube) ): https://youtu.be/pKMHm4XJLtw
Industry-academia co-creation activity “Okayama University Open Innovation Challenge” recruiting co-creation activity partners for August 2024:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000002391.000072793.html Okayama University “THE Impact Ranking 2021” overall ranking: Top 200 in the world, same number 1 in Japan!! https://prtimes.jp/main
/html/rd/p/000000070.000072793.html Okayama University “University Brand Image Survey 2021-2022” “University that is proactive about SDGs” Ranked 1st in China and Shikoku!!
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd /p/000000373.000072793.html Okayama University ranked 1st in Chugoku and Shikoku in the 2022 edition of the university image survey from the perspective of corporate human resources personnel!!
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000122.000072793.html
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[Image 11: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/2451/resize/d72793-2451-c068c408c9902c5c4d7a-10.jpg&s3=72793-2451-303cd3af2a32f5989c3fa1493260a890-1713×697.jp g ]
Okayama University, a national university corporation, supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We also received a special award at the government’s 1st Japan SDGs Award. Please look forward to Okayama University, which promotes co-development and co-creation as a regional core and distinctive research university. Okayama University Selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities Strengthening Promotion Project (J-PEAKS)” ~ Realization of Okayama University as a research university that co-creates the future of the region and the earth and becomes the core of global innovation As we accelerate, we will build a mountain range of Japan’s research universities that we can be proud of around the world.
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001935.000072793.html
This article has been partially generated with the assistance of AI.