NICT - National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
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In the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory, we have processing rooms that are kept in a cleanroom environment and free from dust. The processing rooms are equipped with utilities and apparatus groups for use in various processing and measurements. Possible operations include drawing of ultra-fine patterns with an electron beam or light source, formation of high purity films with molecular beams or plasma, ultrafine processing with a focused ion beam, formation of electrodes and connecting of optical fibers, and observation of micro shape of materials and element analysis using an electron microscope. Users of our facilities can produce, study, and develop prototypes of photonic and millimeter-wave devices using semiconductor and dielectric materials. Our veteran technical staff maintain the utilities and apparatus in appropriate conditions for use under a system which provides standard use conditions for all users of individual facilities. We are making our best efforts for safety and disaster prevention measures and environment protection. We fully consider treatment of industrial wastes, exhaust gas, wastewater, noise, and other problems. We provide the environment in which users can concentrate on production, study, and development of prototypes of photonic and millimeter-wave devices.

Message

 As a new and inclusive research facility of NICT, the Photonic Device Technology Center was established in February, 2004. It was later renamed as Photonic Device Laboratory under the organizational restructuring of April, 2006. Then, on April 25, 2012, with integration of the laboratories and functions associated with the millimeter-wave device technology, it is organized as the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory. 
Our aim is to improve this facility as the new and inclusive research center likely existed nowhere else. More precisely, it is the place where we work in collaboration with industry, government, and academia and challenge research and development of new tangible photonic technology; the “key” to realize information and communications system of the next generation and beyond.
We ensure maintenance and management of our facilities and utilities under an elaborated management system so that both internal and external researchers can make full use of them. As part of our efforts, we have renovated our facilities and apparatus in 2013.

Background

 In the rapid advance of social trends toward IT, continuous development of the technology related to information and communications system is necessary to support the social requirements. In order to realize new and more sophisticated system, it is important to vigorously promote research and development of the cutting-edge technology for the photonic and millimeter-wave devices. 
On the other hand, research and development led by industries have been strongly motivated by the principle of competition. This means that research theme selection and investigation concentration have been promoted. As a result, high risk investment for advanced devices from middle- and long-term point of view becomes stagnant. Uncertainty of the future prospect of the technological development capabilities is also pointed out.
NICT, as a public and neutral institute dedicated to research of information and communications technology, we consider that it is important to open up this new center of the advanced ICT device research to the society and arrange the structure to work in collaboration with other organizations.

Feature of the Laboratory

 NICT promotes research and development throughout the fields of information and communications technology. Thus, contribution from our laboratory is concentrated on application to the information and communications system.

Laboratory Management and Use by Other Entities

 The Advanced ICT Device Laboratory is operated and managed by the associated research groups as a property of NICT. Still, from the aspect of promotion of collaboration among industry, government, and academia, part of the laboratory is operated as an opened research facility. Use of our facility by outside parties is basically allowed within the scope of collaborative research with NICT’s research group. However, we started charged use. We have a plan to develop our facility to be more user-friendly research center. 

Paid Utilization System: NICT Open Facility Information

History

 

A meeting of investigation committee of the Photonic Device Center held.

October, 1998

The report “Survey and Study on the Significance of Research on Photonic Information and Communication Devices in CRL (Communications Research Laboratory)” submitted.

March, 1999

A request “Establishment of the Photonic Device Research and Development Center (tentative name)” submitted.

April, 1999

Investigation on the conditions required for a cleanroom conducted.

January, 2000

Construction of the Photonic Technology Center started.

March, 2001

Operation of cleanrooms started.

May, 2001

Installation of MBE and other apparatus and their operation started.

June, 2001

Repair work on facilities of Photonic Device Technology Center finished.

July, 2002

Installation of apparatus for use in device manufacturing

July, 2003

The WWW site of the Photonic Device Technology Center opened.

February, 2004

A forum for the Photonic Device Technology Center held.

February, 2004

A call for proposals for collaborative research

October, 2004

The center renamed to “Photonic Device Laboratory”.

May, 2006

Certification of ISO14001 regarding environmental management system of the laboratory, examined and registered.

February, 2007

The laboratory renamed to “Advanced ICT Device Laboratory”.

April, 2012

Certification extension (renewal) of ISO14001 for environmental management system on the laboratory, examined and registered.

December, 2012

Start operation of new utilities and apparatus

April, 2014

Efforts toward Environment Management

 As the only public research institute specializing in ICT, NICT comprehensively carries out research and development of information and communications technology from the basic to the applied level. 
In the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory, with collaboration and support from external researchers, we conduct research and development of technology associated with photonic and millimeter-wave devices. These technologies will become the keys to the future information and communications system that supports the rapidly evolving IT society.
While we conduct research and development of the advanced device technology, we recognize that global environment is one of the most important issue that we should consider. We maintain and manage our laboratory facilities with maximum attention to the environmental preservation.
As part of our efforts, we have established the environmental management system for maintaining and running our laboratories, including several improvements, based on the international standard ISO14001.
More precisely, we started working toward obtaining the ISO14001 certification (audit and registration) in July, 2006 and received an audit from Japanese Standards Association (JSA) and certified as the Photonic Device Laboratory in February, 2008. After integration of the functions of the millimeter-wave device laboratory, we had a renewal audit for the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory as a whole and certified.
 

Background of ISO14001 Certification of the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory

 

Dec. 2006

Preparation phase

 

Investigation on the current condition of the laboratory

Jul.-Aug. 2006

Reestablishment of the environmental management system
 

An instruction manual for the laboratory environment created.

The environmental management system promotion committee organized.

An organization framework for the environmental management developed.

Photonic Device Laboratory Environmental Management Policy formulated.

Planning on environmental management
 

The environmental targets and goals decided.

Implementation Plan for FY2006 started.

Nov.10, 2006

Internal audit was performed.

Nov. 30, 2006

Audits by an external agency for ISO14001 registration performed.
 

Audit stage 1 passed.

Feb. 7, 2007

Audit stage 2 passed.

Feb. 26, 2007

Certification is given.

Dec. 2012

ISO14001 renewal audit

 

The audit performed subject to the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory as a whole, after integration of the functions associated with millimeter-wave devices.

Feb. 2013

ISO14001 renewal registration

 

ISO14001 certification for the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory as a whole

Feb. 2017

ISO14001 renewal registration

 

Transition to the ISO standard 2015 completed.

Received the award for obtaining certification of environmental management system over a long term
 Registered Certification

Summary

The Advanced ICT Device Laboratory has established an environmental management system and obtained an ISO14001 certification.

Registered name and address

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology

Advanced ICT Device Laboratory

4-2-1, Nukui-Kitamachi, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8795

Application scope

- Photonic Device Laboratory

- Millimeter-wave communication device research building

(1st floor and 2nd floor; rooms for prototype manufacturing and evaluation of communications tools)

Certifying organization

JSA Solutions Co., Ltd.

Registration No.

JSAE 1317

Applied standards

JIS Q 14001：2015, ISO 14001：2015

Certification scope

　(JAB approval scope number; 34)
Maintenance and operation of common utilities and individual apparatus of the Advanced ICT Device Laboratory.

The environmental management system to promote;

(1) Encouragement for the users to use the facilities in consideration of the environment,
(2) Energy (power consumption) saving,
(3) Resource saving (PPC sheets),
(4) Green procurement and purchasing.

Initial certification date

February 26, 2007