Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has pledged full government support for a new scientific and technological research facility in northeastern Japan. Kishida says he hopes to make the institute a hub for technological progress, industrial competitiveness and disaster reconstruction.

Kishida spoke on Saturday at the opening of the Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The prefecture was hit hard by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

The government established the institute to train personnel in advanced research and development, as well as decommissioning nuclear reactors.

The institute aims to increase the number of its research groups to around 50 over the next seven years. They will cover five fields, including robotics, radiology and studies related to nuclear disasters.

Kishida said the institute aims to become the dream and hope for Fukushima and the entire Tohoku region. He said it is designed to be a core base for creative reconstruction, to help strengthen Japan's scientific and technological capabilities and industrial competitiveness.

Kishida said he hopes the institute will grow into a world-leading research facility hosting hundreds of talented researchers from Japan and abroad.