On 13th March 2026, Professor Takahiro Sagawa has been selected as a fellow for The 2026 Inamori Research Institute for Science (InaRIS) Fellowship Program.
Takahiro Sagawa, 2026 InaRIS Fellow
The 2026 Inamori Research Institute for Science (InaRIS) Fellowship Program
This program was established in 2019 based on the idea of challenging the current research funding landscape that favors applied research. It aims to contribute to the cultivation of a culture that respects the social significance of basic science by providing strong, long-term support for fundamental research. The program grants 10 million yen per year for ten years (100 million yen in total). The research theme for the 2026 call is “Development of Nonequilibrium Sciences.”
About research
“Nonlinear and nonequilibrium topology and its application to thermodynamics”
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.
Your impression & future plan
This is a great honor, and I am deeply grateful to have been selected as an InaRIS Fellow. Topology has long been a subject of strong interest to me since my undergraduate years, from both physical and mathematical perspectives. Through this support, I hope to greatly advance research on topology in nonlinear and nonequilibrium systems and make topology a central focus of my research going forward.
The 2026 Inamori Research Institute for Science (InaRIS) Fellowship Program:
Professor Yuji Suzuki, Department of Mechanical Engineering, received Fellow of The Combustion Institute
Professor Yukio Ohsawa received "Fellow by the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA)"
