Creation of a Global Hub for Advanced Metal Materials — Next Generation TATARA Project —

In November 2018, the project entitled “Creation of a Global Hub for Advanced Metal Materials – Next Generation TATARA Project” was selected for funding under the Cabinet Office’s Program for the Promotion of Regional Universities and Regional Industries, following an application submitted by Shimane Prefecture.
Under this project, Shimane University and specialty steel companies in Shimane Prefecture collaborate to conduct research and development of new materials by synergistically integrating their accumulated expertise and technologies. Through these research and development activities, the project aims to create attractive opportunities for education and employment for young people and to promote regional revitalization.
Shimane University has long achieved significant research outcomes in atomic-level analysis techniques for metal materials. Building on these achievements, the University participates in this project as a core academic partner in industry–government–academia collaboration, advancing the initiative’s goal of creating a “distinctive and outstanding regional university.”

NEXTA: Next Generation Tatara Co-Creation Centre at Shimane University

The Next Generation Tatara Co-Creation Centre (NEXTA) was established at Shimane University as a joint research institute serving as the core hub for the project’s research and educational activities.
Professor Roger Reed of the University of Oxford (UK) was appointed as Director of the Centre.
Through world-leading research, including computational alloy design, NEXTA aims to cultivate highly specialized human resources with expertise in metal materials. In addition, the Centre collaborates with the National Institute of Technology, Matsue College, as well as other universities, to create an educational environment that enables students to learn both the theoretical and practical aspects of metal materials science.

Origin of the Name and the Logo Design

The Next Generation Tatara Co-Creation Centre was named after traditional tatara ironmaking, a technique that has been passed down in the Shimane region and continues to produce tamahagane—steel made from iron sand and used as the raw material for Japanese swords.

The name reflects the Centre’s aspiration to successfully create advanced manufacturing and products together with the entire local community. The Centre is abbreviated as “NEXTA,” a name that also symbolizes the fusion of tradition and innovation.

The logo design is derived from the initial letter “N”, forming a flame that represents tatara ironmaking and metal materials.
The blue flame symbolizes the Centre’s commitment to advancing the field of metal materials while carrying forward the legacy of the tatara flame.