Hiroshima University, in collaboration with Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Nagoya Institute of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and Tokyo University of Science, is proud to announce that our their joint research proposal titled the “Global Research Initiative on Wireless Terahertz (GROW-THz)” has been selected for the ASPIRE (Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem) program by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The project will receive total funding of 500 million yen over five years, advancing the development of next-generation ultra-high-speed wireless communication technologies.

This project is led by Professor Minoru Fujishima of Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering. In addition to the five Japanese institutions, the initiative includes global collaborators such as imec (Belgium), the University of Oulu (Finland), RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Graz University of Technology (Austria), and Rutgers University (USA), forming a consortium of 10 institutions.

Purpose of the ASPIRE Program

The ASPIRE program is designed to support international collaborative research by fostering sustained engagement of Japanese researchers in global top-tier research circles. The program emphasizes the development of young researchers to lead the next generation of science and technology. Key objectives include:

• Facilitating participation in top research circles
• Enhancing international research collaboration
• Nurturing the next generation of researchers.

About the GROW-THz Project

The GROW-THz initiative aims to develop next-generation ultra-high-speed communication technologies centered around the 300 GHz terahertz band, addressing the growing demand for data communication. The research focuses on:

• Development of large-scale phased arrays
• Advancements in performance uniformity technologies
• Deployment of innovative terahertz communication systems

As part of its mission, the project will implement a program to send doctoral students to international partner institutions for up to one year. The initiative also prioritizes fostering global collaboration and intellectual mobility among young researchers and graduate students through international exchanges lasting from several months to a year. These efforts aim to establish robust international research networks, disseminate research outcomes globally, and cultivate future talent.

Applications and Impact

The proposed technology will enable high-speed, low-latency communication across diverse applications, including IoT devices, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities. Expected impacts include faster data transmission for IoT devices, enhanced real-time data collection and analysis for smart cities, and transformative advancements in communication infrastructure.