Fukushima rebuilds as technology hub
New research centre to attract global talent to Fukushima.
Fukushima is repositioning itself as a technology and innovation hub, more than a decade after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan. The Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework aims to revitalise the coastal Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture.
At the centre of the push in Fukushima is the Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation, which plans a major research complex in Namie. The site in Fukushima will focus on robotics, energy, agriculture and radiation science, drawing researchers from across Japan and overseas.
Fukushima already hosts the Fukushima Robot Test Field and the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field. Projects in Fukushima include hydrogen production from solar power and large-scale robotics and drone testing.
Officials in Fukushima say the strategy combines clean energy, sustainable materials and advanced research to create jobs and attract families back to Japan’s northeast. Fukushima is positioning itself as a global case study in post-disaster recovery through technology.
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