History
RIKEN BioResource Center (BRC) and its forerunner organizations have long history of activities. BRC originated from the Life Science Promotion Division founded in 1974. They began operating Gene Bank in 1987 which led to the establishment of BRC in 2001.
| 1917 | Rikagaku Kenkyusho Foundation (RIKEN) established. |
| 1948 | RIKEN dissolved and renewed under the name Kagaku Kenkyusho Inc. (KAKEN). |
| 1958 | RIKEN Act enforced. KAKEN dissolved and returned to RIKEN. |
| 1974 | Life Science Promotion Division established to undertake life science projects |
| 1980 | RIKEN “Japan Collection of Microorganisms (JCM)” established at Wako campus. |
| 1984 | Tsukuba Life Science Center founded in Yatabe Town. (currently Tsukuba City), Ibaraki. |
| 1987 | Gene Bank began operation (collection, preservation and distribution of cell lines, DNA and cDNA clones and databases). |
| 2000 | Tsukuba Life Science Center renamed Tsukuba Institute |
| 2000 | The Report of RIKEN BioResource Center Preparation Committee (Chair: Dr. Haruo Sugano) |
| 2001 | RIKEN BioResource Center founded in Tsukuba Institute. Dr. Kazuo Moriwaki assumed the founding Director. (2001-2005) |
| 2002 | National Bio-Resource Project (NBRP) of the MEXT started. RIKEN BRC selected as the core facilities for four resources in the NBRP, mouse, arabidopsis, cells and DNA materials. |
| 2003 | RIKEN reorganized to an Independent Administrative Institute (IAI) from a public corporation. |
| 2004 | JCM in Discovery Research Institute in the Wako Institute integrated to the BioResource Center as Microbe Division. |
| 2005 | Dr. Yuichi Obata succeeded as the second Director. (2005-2019) |
| 2007 | The second term of NBRP started. RIKEN BRC selected as the core facility of Microbe, in addition to the four resources. |
| 2007 | Back-up facility of bioresources set up at RIKEN Harima Institute. |
| 2008 | The 2nd term of IAI started. |
| 2008 | A part of Genome science research center incorporated into RIKEN BRC as three teams and 1 unit. |
| 2011 | Eastern Japan great earthquake disaster |
| 2011 | BioResource Building for Cell Research completed |
| 2011 | Lifeline Facilities reinforced (fuel tank for emergency power sources and liquid nitrogen production machines, and well for self-supply water.) |
| 2012 | The third term of NBRP started. |
| 2012 | Microbe Division physically moved to the Tsukuba institute. |
| 2013 | The 3rd term of IAI started. |
| 2013 | Tsukuba Institute renamed “Tsukuba Branch” |
| 2015 | RIKEN reorganized to a National Research and Development Institute (NRDI) from an Independent Administrative Institution. |
| 2016 | RIKEN was chosen to be one of three Designated National Research and Development Institutes. |
| 2017 | The fourth term of NBRP started. |
| 2018 | RIKEN BioResource Center (RIKEN BRC) renamed “RIKEN BioResource Research Center (RIKEN BRC) “ |
| 2019 | Dr. Toshihiko Shiroishi succeeded as the third Director. (2019-present) |