AU Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute Launches Major R&D
August 20, 2026 2026-08-21 1:42AU Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute Launches Major R&D
International Research Team of Five Doctoral-Degree-Holding Anaheim University Graduates to Develop Proposed Bachelor of Applied Science in AI & Entrepreneurship
The Anaheim University Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute has launched a major research and development initiative, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of doctoral-level researchers to develop a proposed Bachelor of Applied Science in AI & Entrepreneurship.
Established by Anaheim University in 2022 in honor of global technology company Ferrotec Holdings and its entrepreneurial Chairman, the late Dr. Akira Yamamura, the Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute serves as an online platform through which Anaheim University students and alumni around the world can participate in practical research projects under the guidance of industry experts.
The new initiative represents an important step in developing the Institute as both a Think Tank and a Creative Lab where projects are taken from conception to implementation—an applied research environment intended to transform research into practical educational programs and other real-world outcomes. In this case, the final objective is the development and launch of a new degree program.
Preparing Entrepreneurs for an AI-Driven Future
At the center of the project is a fundamental research question:
How can entrepreneurs and small businesses maximize the use of AI to achieve challenging business goals without having technology experts on staff?
Rather than preparing students exclusively to become AI programmers or technology specialists, the proposed program would examine how entrepreneurs and business leaders can effectively select, implement, manage, evaluate, and responsibly use rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technologies.
The initial concept is a 60-unit bachelor’s degree completion program consisting of 20 three-unit courses, representing the final two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree. Approximately half of the courses would focus specifically on AI, entrepreneurship and business, complemented by subjects such as communication, social media, intercultural communication and creativity.
The research team will examine what students, entrepreneurs and small business operators are likely to need in the coming years, with an emphasis on practical application, employment, entrepreneurship, affordability and international accessibility.
An International, Multidisciplinary Research Team
As the project moves into its initial research phase, the Institute is assembling a multidisciplinary team whose prospective members include accomplished Anaheim University graduates and Yamamura Ferrotec Research Fellows with expertise spanning medicine, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, energy, sustainability, entrepreneurship, technology, and international business. Prospective members include:
Igor Buzaev, M.D., D.Sc., Ph.D., MFA, who is serving as Phase 1 Project Manager, is an Anaheim University MFA in Digital Filmmaking graduate, medical doctor, professor, and researcher. His career encompasses interventional cardiology, non-invasive neurosurgery, medical technology and academic research. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in business in the United Kingdom.
Yamamura Ferrotec Research Fellow
Aymen Gatri, Ph.D., MBA, an Anaheim University MBA graduate, has a background in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital transformation and entrepreneurship. His professional experience spans technology, energy, automotive, defense and international business.
Yamamura Ferrotec Research Fellow
Nishad Mendis, Ph.D., MBA, an Anaheim University MBA graduate, is an electrical engineer and energy-industry professional whose experience encompasses renewable energy, energy transition and power systems. His career combines engineering research, industry leadership and graduate business education.
Yamamura Ferrotec Research Fellow
Sridhar R. Pulikanti, Ph.D., MBA, an Anaheim University MBA in Global Sustainable Management graduate, is an electrical engineer with extensive experience in power systems, energy storage, renewable energy integration and research and development. His background includes both academic research and international industry experience.
Yamamura Ferrotec Research Fellow
Yu Tanabe, DBA, an Anaheim University Doctor of Business Administration graduate, brings extensive international business and executive management experience. He previously served as Vice-President of Nikkei Newspaper in America and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of a leading Japanese technology company in the United States.
Together, their backgrounds illustrate the breadth of expertise available to the Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute as it develops interdisciplinary projects connecting technology, business, entrepreneurship and applied research.
From Research to a New Degree Program
The Institute plans to move rapidly from research into curriculum development. The researchers have been asked to look beyond today’s AI applications and consider the capabilities entrepreneurs will need as the technology continues to evolve. The program is intended to be practical and strongly connected to employment and entrepreneurship, prepare students to use AI as a tool rather than train them solely in skills that could themselves be replaced by AI, and give graduates both employment opportunities and the ability to establish and grow their own enterprises.
Building on a Tradition of Applied Research
The initiative continues a tradition of applied research associated with Anaheim University.
Previous projects have connected students and researchers with international companies to investigate real-world business questions. These have included research for Morita Foods on Japan’s soy sauce industry, in which students in locations throughout Japan examined supermarkets, product placement, competitors, and merchandising, providing unusually broad geographic data.
Another project involved marketing research for Audi in which AU MBA students investigated the feasibility of introducing a Spanish automobile into the Japanese market.
Today, Anaheim University’s academic network spans business, entrepreneurship, TESOL and applied linguistics, sustainability, filmmaking and the creative industries. Through institutions including the Akio Morita School of Business, Akira Kurosawa School of Film, Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute, and Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute, the University has opportunities to bring together researchers from disciplines that traditionally might have had little interaction. That interdisciplinary philosophy is at the heart of the Institute’s first major R&D initiative.
The Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute was created as a platform for Anaheim University students and alumni worldwide to participate in practical research under the guidance of industry experts. The AI and entrepreneurship project provides an opportunity to put that mission into action.
The launch represents the beginning of a new chapter for the Yamamura Ferrotec Research Institute—bringing together Anaheim University graduates from around the world to combine research, technology, entrepreneurship and education in developing practical responses to the opportunities and challenges of an AI-driven global economy.
