In June 2014, KFU–RIKEN research joint laboratory «Biofunctional chemistry laboratory» was opened in Kazan Federal University.

    On June 17, 2014 RIKEN (Japan) and Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry, Kazan (Volga region) Federal University (Russia) concluded a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING on the collaboration to expand and strengthen scientific collaboration, including the establishment of the Biofunctional Chemistry Laboratory as a KFU–RIKEN Joint Laboratory. Professor Коhei Tamao, Director of the RIKEN Global research cluster, was in attendance at the laboratory opening ceremony.

   Young specialists and Ph.D. students of the Organic chemistry department of KFU are the members of this laboratory. Ph.D. students Saigitbatalova Elena (7.12.2013–30.11.2014) and Sibgatullina Regina (4.04.2016–30.03.2017) participated in the RIKEN one-year IPA (International Program Associates) program. Whereas, senior scientist Latypova Liliya (30.09.2015–23.12.2015, 05.06.2016 – 05.08.2016) and Ph.D. student Chulakova Dilyara (6.02.2017–03.05.2017) participated in the short-term probations in RIKEN under Dr. Katsunori Tanaka's supervision.

     In September, 2016 “Third RIKEN-KFU workshop: From international joint chemistry laboratory to new stage of interdisciplinary research” was organized by KFU, where all members in this joint laboratory from both RIKEN and KFU, participated and results of the joint research projects were discussed in details for two days.