Strengths and Features

The Center’s Strengths and Features

The predecessor of the Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology (MaFTech), the “Center for Membrane and Film Technology,” was established in April 2007 within the Graduate School of Engineering at Kobe University as the first and only research center in Japan dedicated to education and research in membrane engineering.

In April 2019, MaFTech was reorganized as a university-wide institution and renamed the “Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology.” This reorganization aimed to promote interdisciplinary research through collaboration not only with engineering but also with the Graduate Schools of Science, Agricultural Science, Maritime Sciences, and Science, Technology and Innovation. As part of this restructuring, the Division of Membrane Material Synthesis Chemistry was newly established to advance the creation of various separation membranes and thin films for electronic materials. In addition, the Division of Social Implementation of Membrane Technology was created to facilitate the application of research outcomes to industry. Furthermore, in close collaboration with the Advanced Membrane Engineering Research Promotion Organization, MaFTech reflects industrial needs in its education and research activities while promoting the early social implementation of its research outcomes.

Since its establishment, MaFTech has also engaged in international collaborative research through exchanges and partnerships with overseas membrane research institutions. In April 2022, the Division of International Collaborative Research Promotion was newly established to strengthen the global dissemination of research outcomes. Moreover, as part of efforts toward the early realization of the SDGs and the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050, the research divisions have been integrated to further promote interdisciplinary research. Through this integration, MaFTech advances education and research that contribute to the development of fundamental scientific principles and their applications, as well as the research and development of novel membrane technologies.

Looking ahead, MaFTech will continue to pursue world-leading research and development in membrane engineering, striving to become a research hub that contributes to solving global environmental and energy challenges.

Cooperative Activities with the Research Organization for Membrane and Film Technology

For enhancing the partnership with industrial members, MaFTech closely cooperates with the Research Organization for Membrane and Film Technology which was also established in 2007. Since 2013 the organization is registered as a general incorporated association. This organization plays a key role at bridging MaFTech and corporate members. Currently there are more that 80 companies joined as corporate members of the organization. MaFTech cooperates with the organization for sorts of industrial outreach activities such as academic symposium, workshop, technical training for the joined corporate members. These activities highly accelerate technology commercialization and social contribution.

International Collaboration

Since its establishment in 2007, MaFTech has been actively engaged in building international academic partnerships. Currently, MaFTech has concluded academic and research cooperation agreements with 19 membrane research institutions overseas. Under this extensive network, MaFTech hosts an annual International Membrane Workshop at Kobe University, inviting researchers from partner institutions. Through this workshop, MaFTech shares insights into the latest trends in membrane research and disseminates cutting-edge research outcomes, while actively gathering information on advanced membrane research worldwide.

In addition, MaFTech fosters the development of early-career researchers through student exchange programs and the dispatch of researchers to partner institutions. At the same time, MaFTech promotes international collaborative research and continues to produce a large number of internationally co-authored publications.

Furthermore, MaFTech’s initiatives in international academic collaboration have been selected as part of Kobe University’s internationalization enhancement projects. Through this program, MaFTech is promoting the expansion and strengthening of the International Consortium for Membrane Research.

Kobe University Project Page
The page of MaFTech’s international collaboration

Selected as a Key “J-Innovation HUB” by Japan’s METI

MaFTech was selected in December 2020 for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)’s J-Innovation HUB Program for Regional Open Innovation Centers (Global Expansion Type). This program aims to enhance the credibility of industry–academia collaboration hubs that function as central nodes in corporate networks within regional innovation ecosystems, by evaluating and selecting outstanding centers based at universities and related institutions. It also seeks to concentrate support on these hubs in order to elevate leading centers to a higher level.

Under this program, MaFTech has benefited from strengthened collaboration with METI-funded initiatives. In March 2023, with support from METI’s subsidy program for the Development of Incubation and Industry–Academia Fusion Centers at Core Regional Universities (J-InnoPla 2), the Biomedical Membrane Research and Open Innovation Center (BMO Building) was newly established on the Kobe University campus. Since September 2024, the BMO Building has been in full operation as a hub for industry–academia collaborative research and open innovation, particularly in the biomedical field.

Although the initial funding period for the program was three years, it has been extended through the end of fiscal year 2028 in recognition of MaFTech’s achievements in international collaborative research and related activities.

Reference on METI’s J-Innovation HUB official page (Japanese)