Message from the Chair

AI × Semiconductors × Energy Driving the Future

Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems at the Graduate School of Engineering, along with Departments of Information and Communication Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, has a long and distinguished history of over 150 years since its establishment in 1873. Throughout this history, our department has continuously addressed the evolving challenges of society and has been committed to creating new technologies that support and transform it. From the development of power infrastructure and communication technologies to innovations in electronic devices and advances in information processing, we have played a leading role across a wide range of fields, building the foundations of modern industry and society—an achievement of which we are deeply proud.

Today, we stand at a historic turning point, where rapid advances in AI are fundamentally transforming the structure of society. AI is permeating all aspects of life—industry, healthcare, education, and governance—bringing about sweeping changes and enabling the emergence of a “co-creative society” in which humans and AI collaborate. However, to make this transformation truly sustainable and effective, advances in information science alone are not sufficient. Innovation in hardware, particularly semiconductors, electronic devices, and photonic devices that form the foundation of AI, is indispensable. Advanced AI requires enormous computational resources supported by high-speed, energy-efficient processing platforms, and the integration with cutting-edge semiconductor technologies will be a critical factor in shaping the future.

Under the motto, “Master physics, and transform the information society. Master information, and transform the physical world,” our department has long promoted education and research that integrate software and hardware. This philosophy highlights the importance of combining a deep physical understanding of natural phenomena with the ability to process and utilize information through computation and communication. Through the advancement and integration of these two pillars, we aim not only to provide specialized knowledge but also to cultivate individuals who can bridge disciplines and create new value. This educational approach fosters the essential capabilities needed to build a future society with AI and serves as the foundation for nurturing leaders who will contribute to a co-creative society.

At the same time, the rapid progress of AI has brought new societal challenges. In particular, the sharp increase in electricity demand driven by the expansion and performance enhancement of data centers represents a critical issue for achieving a sustainable society. Supporting the AI-driven future will require not only advances in energy-efficient technologies but also broader efforts, including the adoption of renewable energy and the development of new energy infrastructures. Recently, novel concepts such as space-based data centers have been proposed, opening new possibilities through collaboration with space engineering. In our department, we are actively advancing research not only in power and energy technologies but also in advanced control systems that connect to space engineering, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.

By integrating the three foundational technologies—AI, semiconductors, and energy—we aim to proactively shape the coming co-creative society with AI. These fields are deeply interconnected, and their integrated understanding and application will drive the next wave of innovation. Our department will continue to foster highly skilled individuals with such comprehensive perspectives and to promote education and research that bring transformative change to society. Through the creation of new value, we are committed to contributing to the sustainable development of humanity and to a richer future for all.