The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (the new AIST) began operations on April 1, 2001. AIST is a newborn research organization that comprises 15 research institutes previously under the former Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (the former AIST) in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Weights and Measures Training Institute. The new AIST is Japan's largest public research organization with many research facilities and around 3,200 employees in all.