In 1983 the Osaka Biotechnology Council was established based on a proposal from Mr. Yasushi Oshima, mayor of the city at that time. The purpose of the council was to discuss the role scientific technologies, biotechnology in particular, would play in the daily lives of the people of the city. The council concluded that research in this field would contribute to the internationalization of Osaka and to the development of high-level technologies, and proposed that the city needed to establish a fundamental bioscience research facility. This led to the foundation of the Osaka Bioscience Institute (OBI) in 1987 at an overall cost of approximately ¥5 billion. The opening of the Institute was conducted as one of the activities commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Osaka City organization. With approval from the Science and Technology Agency and the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, the Osaka Bioscience Institute Foundation, which handles the primary operation of the OBI, opened the Institute in October 1987. The foundation has total fundamental assets of ¥1 billion, ¥200 million of which is funded by Osaka City and ¥800 million by donations from 63 private companies. OBI operations rely primarily on subsidiaries from Osaka City. Through outstanding research related to bioscience and the fostering of exceptional research personnel, OBI is stimulating the development of bioscience and promoting projects that contribute to the development of scientific technologies. It was the firm belief of Osamu Hayaishi, first Director of OBI, that fundamental research which strives for originality will undoubtedly form the foundation for practical technologies and become the nucleus of major development. With this belief as our basis, the research at OBI places great emphasis on the elucidation and resolution of new issues in the field of fundamental biological technologies, an area rich in originality. These efforts have led OBI to realize a number of unique, world-class research achievements despite the short history of the institute, and we hope to continue growing as one of the key centers of research activity in the Kansai area. For OBI, a new method of operation for the research facility has been considered based on the recognition of the necessity for creating a unique and original research system. OBI does not use a lifelong employment system, and substantial consideration has been given to construct a system that allows for the completely free creation of original ideas within a facility with an exceptional research environment. Many of the researchers fostered at OBI have already moved on to national and public universities, research centers, and other facilities, where they continue in the further development of their respective projects. The role of the Advisory Board in OBI operation is one that must not be overlooked. The Advisory Board consists of five internationally prominent researchers, including two researchers from other countries. The Board performs periodic annual external evaluations of OBI, providing OBI researchers with invaluable advice and providing OBI with constructive criticism related to the operation of the Institute and its research policies. In addition to numerous seminars providing opportunities for intellectual exchanges and interactions, OBI also holds "Monthly Lecture" seminars that provide researchers with monthly opportunities to hear and learn from instructional researchers with outstanding research careers. The seminars include lectures on the austere history of research and anecdotal talks that provide researchers with motivation and incentive. Through its many research activities, OBI hopes to make vast contributions to the international city of Osaka.