2001
| Jun | Former Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs and Former Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Koji Omi announced a plan to establish a new graduate university in Okinawa. |
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| Aug | The first meeting of the study committee took place, chaired by Dr. Akito Arima, former President of the University of Tokyo. |
2002
| Apr | The first meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) was held in Los Angeles. The participants included nine prominent scientists, three of whom were Nobel Laureates. |
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| May | On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Reversion of Okinawa, Prime Minister Koizumi announced the government will promote the project to establish a new graduate university in Okinawa . |
2003
| Jan | Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated in his keynote address to the Diet that the Japanese government will promote the project. |
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| Apr | The site in Onna Village was selected as a venue for the campus. |
| Jun | The first meeting of the Council took place in Tokyo. |
| Oct | The first international symposium took place at Bankoku Shinryokan in Okinawa. |
2004
| Feb | Four proposals for the Initial Research Project (IRP) were selected as preliminary research projects for the graduate university. |
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| Mar | The first international workshop took place in Okinawa. |
| Jul | The first meeting of the Board of Governors (BOG) meeting took place in Tokyo. |
| Dec | Ministers agreed to establish a new research institute in September 2005, as an organization leading up to the new graduate university. |
2005
| Mar | The bill to establish Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation (OIST P.C.) as the organization to prepare the graduate university was approved by the Diet. |
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| Aug | Dr. Sydney Brenner was designated as the first President of OIST P.C. |
| Sep | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation (OIST P.C.) received legal status of an Independent Administrative Institution. |
2006
| Jan | The first BOG meeting since the establishment of OIST P.C. took place in San Francisco. |
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| Apr | The renovation of former Hakuun-so was completed and the facility was named the Seaside House. |
| May | The second BOG meeting took place in Tokyo. |
| Dec | The third BOG meeting took place in Tokyo. |
2007
| Mar | The first phase of the site preparation works commenced. |
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| Apr | Groundbreaking ceremony took place at the main campus site. |
| Jul | The fourth BOG meeting took place in Okinawa. |
| Sep | The 2nd anniversary event marking OIST P.C. establishment took place at a hotel in Onna Village, Okinawa |
2008
| Jan | The fifth BOG meeting took place in Tokyo. |
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| Mar | Construction of Laboratory 1 and the Center Building commenced. |
| Jun | G8 Science and Technology Ministerial Satellite Workshop on Environment and Energy Issues. |
| Jul | The sixth BOG meeting took place at the Seaside House and Tokyo. The Blueprint for the OIST Graduate University was approved. |
| Nov | Open House 2008 took place at Okinawa Technology and Industrial Center. |
2009
| Feb | The seventh BOG meeting took place in Tokyo. |
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| Mar | Submission of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation Bill to the Diet. |
| Jun 11 | The House of Representatives unanimously passed the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation Bill. |
| Jul 3 | The House of Councilors unanimously passed the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation Bill. |
| Jul 10 | The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation Act was enacted. |
| Oct | The eighth BOG meeting and the first meeting of the Establishing Members for OIST took place in Tokyo. |
| Nov | Open House 2009 took place at Okinawa Industrial Technology Center. |
2010
| Mar | Initial use of the campus buildings commenced. The ninth BOG meeting and the second meeting of the Establishing Members for OIST took place in Okinawa. |
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| July | The tenth BOG meeting and the third meeting of the Establishing Members for OIST took place in Okinawa. The Establishing Members for the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation announced that Prof. Jonathan Dorfan has been selected as the first President of the new Graduate University. |
| Aug | The Onna/OIST Children's School of Science took place at Tancha Community Center. |
| Oct | The eleventh BOG meeting and the fourth meeting of the Establishing Members for OIST took place in Okinawa. |
| Nov | Open Campus held at the Main Campus in Onna, Okinawa. |
2011
| Feb | The twelfth BOG meeting and the fifth meeting of the Establishing Members of OIST took place at the Seaside House in Onna, Okinawa. |
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| Mar | Application for approval of the OIST School Corporation to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Application for approval of the OIST (Graduate University) to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. |
| June | The thirteenth BOG meeting adn the sixth meeting of the Establish Members for OIST took place in Okinawa. |
| Nov | The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation Inauguration. |
