Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) is a Japanese national university located in the city of Ikoma. It was founded in 1991 with a focus on research and consists solely of graduate schools in three integrated areas: biological sciences, information sciences and material sciences.

In 2010, NAIST ranked 1st overall among the 86 Japanese national universities by the Japanese government in its first-ever six-year assessment of national university standards and achievements.

The university has a total of about 1,000 Master and doctoral students in its three graduate schools, among which 20% are international students, and about 200 faculty members and 160 staff members (2016).