NTT Research Foundation announces gift to establish Harvard University Center for Brain Science Fellowship Program

The NTT Research Foundation announced this month a gift to establish the Harvard University Center for Brain Science (CBS)-NTT Fellowship Program.

The program will support the research into the physics of intelligence, with the two-year gift, renewable for up to three more years, creating a fund to support post-doctoral research in the physics of intelligence. If renewed the donation could total to be more than $1.7 million. 

The physics of science is an emerging field that uses physics to tackle fundamental questions in intelligence, bridging computer science, neuroscience and psychology.

While the Fellowship Program is new, Harvard CBS and the NTT Research Physics & Informatics Lab have been collaborating on similar themes for more than 3 years now under a joint research agreement.

Harvard University will have full control over the administration of the fund, which is expected to be used to support two post-doctoral researchers, among other areas.

Physicists and AI researchers from the PHI Lab’s Intelligent Systems Group, led by Hidenori Tanaka, have established fruitful alliances with neuroscientists and psychologists at Harvard.

“We are thrilled to support the Harvard Center for Brain Science at the dawn of the Physics of Intelligence,” NTT Research President and CEO Kazuhiro Gomi said. “As history teaches us, inventions – consider the steam engine, electricity, liquid crystals – can lead to new fields in physics.”

Said Harvard CBS Director Murthy, “We’re grateful to the NTT Research Foundation for this generous gift, which comes on top of several years of unique intellectual contributions and collaboration. The Harvard CBS looks forward to developing ideas around the Physics of Intelligence through fellowships, seminars, talks and other activities that both enhance and align with our diverse approach to neuroscience.”

NTT Research opened its offices in 2019 in Silicon Valley to further work on research and advance technologies that promote positive impact.