menu

Biomass Product Tree Industry-Academia Collaborative Research Unit

Principal Investigator（PI）: Dr. Takashi Watanabe

In the humanosphere covering forests, soil, rivers, oceans, atmosphere, and space, there is an urgent need to establish new industries in harmony with the global environment. The Biomass Product Tree Collaborative Research Unit is conducting the research converting plant biomass to new materials and functional products by dissolving woody biomass under mild conditions, creating functional compounds, in collaboration with Daicel Corporation. The research includes molecular conversion and precise molecular structure analysis and biotechnology. Through a wide range of collaboration and open innovation, we conduct research to create new value-added products from biomass and contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.

Activity

  • In April 2022, the Biomass Product Tree Collaborative Research Unit started as one of the research units of the Center for Future Pioneering Research on the Humanosphere. Prior to this, the Biomass Product Tree Collaborative Research Division was established on October 1, 2021 by Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Institute for Chemical Research (ICR), Institute of Advanced Energy (IAE), Kyoto University, and Daicel Corporation. At the same time, a Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement was concluded between Kyoto University and Daicel Corporation, as well as between RISH, ICR, IAE, Graduate School of Agriculture (GSA), and Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies (GSHES), and Daicel Corporation.

  • At the symposium “Future Society Created from Kansai – SDGs” Kansai Business Persons and Economists Conference held in Oct 13, 2021, President Minato introduced the Comprehensive Collaborative Agreement between Kyoto University and Daicel Corporation, as well as the establishment of the Industry-University Joint Research Division and its initiatives.
  • In April 2025, the Division of Biomass Product Tree Collaborative Research was expanded by adding GSA, GSHES and the Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications (IAC).
  • Since 2024, the research conducted by the Biomass Product Tree Industry-Academia Joint Research Unit has been broadcast as a TV commercial “Toward Forest Chemistry” by Daicel Corporation.

  • The Biomass Product Tree Industry-Academia Joint Research Division and the Mori-no-Nendo Institute have jointly held the “Let’s Create the World of the Future with Forest Nendo (Forest Clay)! since 2021. The event offers visitors the opportunity to experience making dolls using Mori-no-Nendo and to learn about our research outputs and concept.

  • Biomass Product Tree Industry-Academia Joint Research Unit’s research received the 22nd Ichikawa Award from the Wood Technological Association of Japan (Research Subject: Creation of synthetic polymer- and adhesive-free compressed wood moldings and surface-coated wood via super-mild dissolution of wood). (June 23, 2024)
  • A research paper from the Biomass Product Tree Industry-Academia Joint Research Unit was selected as a front cover of Materials Advances published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

  • At the 75th Annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, the Best Poster Award was given to the research presentation “Adhere wood to wood using wood. Application of super mild solubilization of wood using formic acid “. (March 21, 2025, Dr. Akihiro Suzuki)