What The Riken Brain Science Institute does

RIKEN Center for Brain Science (RIKEN CBS, 脳神経科学研究センター) is a Japanese national research institute operating under RIKEN, the country's National Research and Development Agency. Founded in its current form in 2018 through the reorganization of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI), CBS is headquartered at the RIKEN Wako Campus in Saitama, Japan, with a secondary site in Nagoya. The institute functions as Japan's core national hub for fundamental brain science research, spanning molecular, cellular, circuit, systems, and behavioral levels, including research on neural circuit mechanisms, brain development and disease, cognition (sleep, learning, memory, perception, decision-making), and social neuroscience. Its research infrastructure includes 7-Tesla and 3-Tesla MRI systems, electron microscopy, two-photon and fluorescence microscopy, genome editing (notably for common marmoset models), and dedicated shared research support units covering MRI, EM, biological substance analysis, and animal resource development.

The institute operates as a publicly funded, non-profit research organization rather than a commercial product company. Its primary stakeholders are academic researchers, graduate students, and government partners. Revenue mechanics rely on government appropriations and competitive research grants (including AMED's Brain/MINDS Beyond program for marmoset brain mapping), supplemented by a fee-based TRIP shared-infrastructure program through the Research Infrastructure Development (RRD) department. Strategic co-development is conducted through formal collaboration centers with Toyota (BTCC, neuro-driving and neuro-robotics) and Evident (BOCC, bioimaging instrumentation), supported by joint graduate school programs with domestic and international universities and clinical translation collaborations (e.g., with Juntendo University on Parkinson's disease biomarkers).

CBS also runs structured talent development programs including the Brain Science Training Program (脳科学塾), an internationally selective Summer Program (~50 participants annually, ~85% international), and a Joint Graduate School Program. Outputs are distributed through peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals (Nature, Science, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, PNAS), press releases, public engagement events including World Brain Week, the CBS Magazine, and an open data sharing platform (neurodata.riken.jp). Pricing on commercial products is not applicable; participation by the general public in research studies is voluntary and unpaid.

Name

The Riken Brain Science Institute

Legal name

理化学研究所 脳神経科学研究センター (RIKEN Center for Brain Science)

Website

https://cbs.riken.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

RIKEN Center for Brain Science (RIKEN CBS) is a Japanese national research institute under RIKEN conducting fundamental, multidisciplinary brain research spanning molecular to social levels, serving academic researchers, graduate students, government, and corporate collaboration partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuroscience Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ)

Keywords

• Neuroscience research
• Brain science institute
• Neuroimaging services
• Research infrastructure
• Neural circuit analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Saitama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) is a Japanese national research institute conducting fundamental brain science research across molecular, cellular, circuit, systems, and behavioral levels. It operates shared research infrastructure including 7-Tesla and 3-Tesla MRI systems, electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and animal research facilities, and runs industry collaboration centers (BTCC with Toyota, BOCC with Evident) alongside graduate training programs.

Product overview

RIKEN CBS is a national research institute focused on brain science rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings consist primarily of research infrastructure services, collaborative centers, and educational programs. Key offerings include: the CBS Data Sharing Platform for neuroscience data; MRI research support using 7T and 3T systems; technical support units for electron microscopy, biological substance analysis, and animal resources; and collaborative centers with Toyota (BTCC) and Evident (BOCC). Educational programs include the Brain Science Training Program (脳科学塾), Summer Program, and Joint Graduate School Program. These services support fundamental neuroscience research rather than commercial products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MRI Research Support Unit (7T and 3T MRI) Technical support services for functional and structural brain imaging using 7-Tesla and 3-Tesla MRI systems, including fMRI, DTI, QSM, and MRS measurements, available to external academic and corporate researchers through the TRIP shared-use program.
• Electron Microscopy Technical Support Unit Electron microscopy services for analyzing synaptic connections and subcellular organelle ultrastructure to support neuroscience research, available as a shared-use offering.
• Biological Substance Analysis Support Unit Technical support for analysis and synthesis of nucleic acids, proteins, and peptides, managing over 150 shared research instruments and providing technical consulting for external researchers.
• Animal Resource Development Support Unit Animal experimental facility management and services including mutant mouse production, mouse embryo manipulation, and animal experiment support for neuroscience research.
• CBS Data Sharing Platform (neurodata.riken.jp) A data sharing platform for neuroscience research data enabling collaborative data exchange and analysis among researchers globally.
• RIKEN CBS-Toyota Collaboration Center (BTCC) A collaboration center integrating brain science and engineering, focusing on neuro-driving and neuro-robotics research domains, with research units at the Wako campus and Nagoya sites.
• RIKEN CBS-Evident Collaboration Center (BOCC) A collaboration center combining CBS brain science expertise with Evident's optical technology for bioimaging infrastructure, instrument development, and technology transfer.
• Brain Science Training Program (脳科学塾) A selective year-long education program where CBS team leaders and university professors deliver lectures on brain science topics, emphasizing English presentations and discussions for graduate students and young researchers.
• RIKEN CBS Summer Program A two-month research project internship combined with a one-week intensive lecture course featuring international lecturers, with approximately 50 competitively selected participants (about 85% international students).
• Joint Graduate School Program A program allowing graduate students from domestic and international partner universities to conduct research at CBS, with CBS researchers serving as visiting professors and providing research supervision and thesis examination.

Quantifiable outcome

• Major research findings published in top-tier journals (Nature, Science, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, PNAS)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Toyota Motor Corporation (トヨタ自動車)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018RIKEN CBS–Toyota Collaboration Center (BTCC) was established through a comprehensive partnership between RIKEN and Toyota Motor Corporation. BTCC integrates brain science and engineering to drive innovation in two research areas: (1) Neuro-driving and (2) Neuro-robotics. The center combines Toyota's advanced manufacturing technology with RIKEN CBS's neuroscience expertise, operating units at both the Wako campus and Toyota's Nagoya location.
• Evident Corporation (エビデント)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018RIKEN CBS–Evident Collaboration Center (BOCC) integrates CBS's brain science expertise with Evident's optical technology for bioimaging infrastructure and instrument development. BOCC focuses on technology and instrument development, research support, and technology dissemination and transfer in bioimaging.
• Domestic and International Universities (連携大学院協定校)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIKEN CBS has established joint graduate school agreements with universities across Japan and internationally, allowing graduate students to conduct research at CBS while enrolled at their home university. CBS researchers serve as visiting professors/associate professors at partner universities, providing research supervision and thesis examination.
• Juntendo University (順天堂大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Neurological Disease Collaboration Research Team (服部信孝) collaborates with Juntendo University School of Medicine's Department of Neurology on biomarker discovery and drug discovery for Parkinson's disease. This partnership enables clinical translation of basic research findings.
• AMED Brain/MINDS Beyond Program (革新的技術による脳機能ネットワークの全容解明プロジェクト)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIKEN CBS participates in the national Brain/MINDS Beyond program funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), focusing on comprehensive analysis of brain function networks, particularly using common marmoset models.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Allen Institute for Brain Science: A major US-based nonprofit brain science research organization conducting large-scale, multi-modal neuroscience research. Highly comparable to RIKEN CBS in mission (fundamental brain science), scale of research teams, and emphasis on open data and shared infrastructure.
• Janelia Research Campus (HHMI): HHMI's dedicated neuroscience research campus focused on imaging, neural circuits, and tool development. Comparable to RIKEN CBS in its concentration on advanced research infrastructure (microscopy, genetics) and small-team, high-output research model.
• McGovern Institute for Brain Research (MIT): MIT's brain research institute conducting multi-scale neuroscience with strong imaging and computation. Comparable to RIKEN CBS in multidisciplinary scope, technology platform emphasis, and integration with a broader university.
• Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown: A Portuguese research and clinical foundation conducting systems and cognitive neuroscience. Comparable to RIKEN CBS in combining fundamental neuroscience with strong research infrastructure investment and international collaboration.
• Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI): A Swiss biomedical research institute affiliated with the Novartis Research Foundation conducting neuroscience and epigenetics research. Comparable to RIKEN CBS in its publicly-supported, small-team, high-output model focused on fundamental mechanisms.
• Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR): A Beijing-based neuroscience research institute focused on brain function and disease. Comparable to RIKEN CBS in being a nationally-backed, large-scale dedicated brain research center with strong imaging and circuit-mapping programs.
• Max Planck Institute for Brain Research: A German government-funded neuroscience institute conducting basic research on neural circuits and brain function. Closely comparable to RIKEN CBS in public funding model, mission, and circuit-/cellular-level neuroscience focus.
• Kavli Institute for Brain Science (Columbia University): A university-affiliated brain science institute focused on neural circuits and cognition. Comparable to RIKEN CBS in its emphasis on circuit-level neuroscience and integration of molecular, cellular, and behavioral approaches.

Broad incumbents

• Salk Institute for Biological Studies: A large, well-established US nonprofit research institute with significant neuroscience and biological research programs. Comparable to RIKEN CBS as a flagship non-university research organization with broad biomedical scope.

Regional players

• Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST): A Japanese graduate university and research institute with significant neuroscience research. Comparable to RIKEN CBS as a fellow Japanese national research entity with international faculty, graduate programs, and multidisciplinary science focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/riken_en
• Facebookfacebook.com/riken
• Instagraminstagram.com/riken_cbs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Riken Brain Science Institute