The 2026 InaRIS Fellows Selected!

photo: Dr. Kawaguchi, Kyogo and Dr. Sagawa, Takahiro

The Inamori Foundation announced the 2026 fellows for the Inamori Research Institute for Science (InaRIS) Fellowship Program on March 13, 2026. This year, we are pleased to welcome Kawaguchi, Kyogo (Chief Scientist, Pioneering Research Institute, RIKEN) and Sagawa, Takahiro (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo), who were selected from 35 applicants through an open call under the theme of “Development of Nonequilibrium Sciences.” This program provides each Fellow with research funding of 100 million yen over 10 years.

InaRIS Fellowship Program Website

2026 InaRIS Fellow
Kawaguchi, Kyogo
Chief Scientist, Pioneering Research Institute, RIKEN

Fellow profile page

Research Topics	Physical Foundations of Intelligent Matter
Summary	Living matter constantly consumes energy to sustain itself, a property physicists call “nonequilibrium.” But so do rivers and the changing weather, so that alone doesn’t make something alive. What sets life apart, I believe, is that it uses energy intelligently, responding and adapting to whatever the environment throws at it. Life isn’t just burning fuel. It’s burning fuel with purpose. Our research explores the physics of this “intelligent matter,” aiming to build a framework that captures what makes living systems so special. It’s a fresh angle on an old question: what, exactly, is life?

Research Topics

Physical Foundations of Intelligent Matter

Summary

Living matter constantly consumes energy to sustain itself, a property physicists call “nonequilibrium.” But so do rivers and the changing weather, so that alone doesn’t make something alive. What sets life apart, I believe, is that it uses energy intelligently, responding and adapting to whatever the environment throws at it. Life isn’t just burning fuel. It’s burning fuel with purpose. Our research explores the physics of this “intelligent matter,” aiming to build a framework that captures what makes living systems so special. It’s a fresh angle on an old question: what, exactly, is life?

2026 InaRIS Fellow
Sagawa, Takahiro
Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Fellow profile page

Research Topics	Nonlinear and nonequilibrium topology and its application to thermodynamics
Summary	Nonlinearity and nonequilibrium play crucial roles in a wide range of systems, from biology to quantum physics. In this project, I investigate a topological perspective on such nonlinear and nonequilibrium systems and reveal the principles that govern stable behaviors robust against perturbation. Focusing on, e.g. classical stochastic processes and nonlinear oscillators, where topology has rarely been discussed so far, I aim to open a new frontier of topological physics. I will further apply these observations to thermodynamics to propose design principles for energy-efficient heat engines and information-processing devices.

Research Topics

Nonlinear and nonequilibrium topology and its application to thermodynamics

Summary

Nonlinearity and nonequilibrium play crucial roles in a wide range of systems, from biology to quantum physics. In this project, I investigate a topological perspective on such nonlinear and nonequilibrium systems and reveal the principles that govern stable behaviors robust against perturbation. Focusing on, e.g. classical stochastic processes and nonlinear oscillators, where topology has rarely been discussed so far, I aim to open a new frontier of topological physics. I will further apply these observations to thermodynamics to propose design principles for energy-efficient heat engines and information-processing devices.

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