In order to grow further as one of the world's top research and development institutes, RIKEN is striving to establish a diverse and vibrant research environment by actively appointing outstanding researchers, including young, female, and non-Japanese individuals.

The Diversity Promotion Office was established in FY 2016 to promote diversity across the board within RIKEN after the institute was selected to take part in the Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment, a support program for human resources development in science and technology established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT).

The percentage of female researchers in Japan still remains low compared to other leading countries. To provide attractive research environments for all female researchers working at RIKEN and to further support their research activities, the Diversity Promotion Office is actively promoting the following:

• (1) Improvement of diversity of research environments
• (2) Enhancement of research capabilities of female researchers
• (3) Facilitation of proactive recruitment/promotion of female researchers

In FY 2018, the Office’s third year of operations, we introduced the Kato Sechi Program to develop world-class female research leaders and to promote the appointment of talented female researchers to managerial positions (research managers).

Diversity plays an integral role in science and technology as well as the creation of innovation. RIKEN offers a forum for researchers from diverse backgrounds to discuss and debate regardless of their research area, gender, age, nationality, and cultural background. We intend to actively pursue the promotion of diversity in RIKEN as we aim to maximize our research and development outcomes.