@Since the concept of the polymer was established,
three quarters of a century have already
passed. Our understanding of polymeric materials
originating from organisms, which have existed
from the past before the arrival of polymer
science, is still not at all satisfactory.
The understanding of polymers constituting
living things remains at the stage that even
basic problems are unsolved. Someday, molecular
biology and polymer science will surely pioneer
a new scientific field, cooperating with
each other. Therefore, polymer science will
increase its importance more and more as
a basic science, and is expected to lead
this new field.
In addition, polymers, as soft materials
of diverse applications, must become more
important materials in the 21st century.
They are expected to solve problems such
as those of resources and energy, medical
treatment and health, and the environment.
It will shortly be difficult to respond to
these expectations by only simple extensions
of existing technologies for polymer materials.
In this respect, we point out again that
it is important to develop polymer science
more as a basic science involving biology,
physics, and other related fields. The time
has come to construct a research system for
developing the basic science and making the
paradigm of a new polymer technology based
on the science developed.
Based on such viewpoints, in June 1997, the
research liaison committees for chemistry
and materials engineering of the Science
Council of Japan presented a report "On
the promotion of polymer science research",
pointing out an eager need for improvement
and construction of research systems for
polymer science and technology. The report
was formally adopted as a Report of the Science
Council of Japan. Receiving this, the Society
of Polymer Science of Japan started a committee
for the preparation of an establishment for
polymer science research systems. The committee
proposed the establishment of a core center
for a basic polymer research network in Japan
as one of the systems.
Under the above circumstance, the "International
Research Center of Macromolecular Science"(ICMS)
was founded as the core center at the Tokyo
Institute of Technology in April 2000.
Goals of ICMS are as follows.
(1) Establishment of the basic science of
giant molecules aimed at understanding the
constitution of polymers.
(2) Pioneering a new polymer science by combining
biology, chemistry, and physics.
(3) ICMS is to fulfill the role of core of
excellence of polymer science in Asia.
These are materialized through the promotion
of various types of cooperative researches.
We need a place where people from all over
the world can meet, exchange various information,
and have discussions. To have (or construct
a system presenting) such a place is also
an important goal of ICMS.