Tohoku University Material Solutions Center (MaSC) was founded on Tohoku University's Katahira campus in January 2014. It aims to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and industrialization from the endeavors of joint-research on new materials for the future. The construction cost of this 5-story building was provided mainly by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's subsidization for the improvement of industrial technology development facilities. The remaining cost was shared by the Institute for Materials Research (IMR), the Institute of Fluid Science (IFS), the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM), and Tohoku University headquarters. MaSC operates financially independently from the university and its funds come from usage fees for spaces and equipment, as well as other sources.