On February 23rd, 2019, we held the kickoff seminar for Next-Generation Tatara Co-creation Centre, the main research base for the "Creation of a Global Base of Advanced Metallic Materials, Next Generation TATARA project". The project was adopted by the Cabinet Office in 2018 for "Subsidy for Regional University / Regional Industry Creation".

Shimane University opened Next-Generation Tatara Co-creation Centre in November 2018. The centre is aimed to become a research base for state-of-the-art metallic materials and to develop specialized human resources in the field, and is named after the traditional "Tatara iron-making" which is passed down in Shimane area, and still producing "Tamahagane", steel made from iron sand.

The kickoff seminar started with an opening ceremony by Mr. Sato, Project Manager, Trustee of Shimane University, President and CEO of Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Mr. Mizoguchi, Shimane Prefectural Governor, Professor Roger Reed of University of Oxford, Director of the centre and Mr. Hattori, President of Shimane University.

Prof. Reed gave a special lecture on how iron is used in our society and its workings, and he had a talk with local high school and university students, answering their questions. The seminar earned favorable reputation from the participants and succeeded in promoting the project and the centre which objective is to develop innovative human resources that lead the field of materials in the future. The number of the visitors to the event, more than 350 people shows the high expectations to the project from the companies and the people in the region. The industry-government-academia collaboration project will contribute to inspire young people and create "the ‘Shimane’ sacred ground of advanced metal materials", promoting advanced research and developing specialized human resources.