Shinigami Research and Development Institute

The is an organization within Soul Society.

History
110 years ago, the Shinigami Research and Development Institute was conceptualized and created by Kisuke Urahara, then the newly-promoted captain of the 12th Division, who intended for it to be attached to the 12th Division.

The institute is behind the development of many of the technologies that aid the Shinigami, and is currently headed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi. It was founded by Kisuke Urahara, during the time when he and the Visored were captains and lieutenants. The SRDI has close ties with the 12th Division of the Gotei 13 and both presidents of the institute have also served as captains of that division.

Current

 * Mayuri Kurotsuchi - Mayuri is the current president of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute as well as the captain of the 12th Division. He originally was the Vice-President under Urahara 100 years ago.
 * Nemu Kurotsuchi - Nemu is the vice-president of the SRDI.

Researchers
 * Akon - Akon is one of the researchers and has been one since 100 years ago when he was a child. He is a leader figure within the development department.
 * Hiyosu - Hiyosu is the top Gigai expert in the institute.
 * Rin Tsubokura - Rin is a low-ranking staff member who is the main operator of the Communication Research Section. He is a Shinigami who bears a slight resemblance to Hanatarō Yamada, a member of the 4th Division. He has a thing for sweets.
 * Kageroza Inaba - A member of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. He is one of Akon's subordinates. He specializes in traffic within the Dangai.(Anime only)

Former

 * Kisuke Urahara - Urahara was the founder and first president of the institute. He held this position until he was exiled for being accused of Hollowfication research 100 years ago.
 * Hiyori Sarugaki - Hiyori was the head of research offices and resented having her position being lower than Mayuri, whom she outranked in the 12th Division.
 * Yushima - Yushima was a researcher and leader of Project Spearhead. (Anime only)

Mission

 * The main function of the S.R.D.I. is to research and develop new technology and spiritual tools. They have invented countless items. Throughout the day and night, experiments are conducted at the Reinō Spiritual Ability Research Facility to develop new spiritual tools and instruments. The department brings together the Soul Society's top technicians, who were recruited by Mayuri Kurotsuchi.


 * The second function of the S.R.D.I. is to measure spiritual waves and oversee communications. The Spiritual Wave Measurement Lab closely monitors the world of the living to ensure spiritual stability. The Communications Research Section oversees transmissions between the human world and Soul Society, carrying out the other important function of the institute. If an incident occurs, things become pretty hectic, but otherwise, it is usually slow.

Inventions

 * A glove which forcibly removes the soul from the body.
 * Denreishinki: Used for communication between Shinigami deployed in the Human World and Soul Society. Also used for hollow detection.
 * : The Shinigami Research and Development Institute has performed extensive research into the modification of souls; the results of this research were artificial souls, both in the form of "soul candy" and Project Spearhead.
 * Gigai Development: Maintains Gigais and developing new ones.
 * Kenpachi's Eye Patch: Developed Kenpachi Zaraki's reiatsu-absorbing eye patch.

Sub-labs
The Shinigami Research and Development Institute is nothing more than a series of labs specializing in particular types of research. These specialized labs include:
 * Reinō Spiritual Ability Research Facility: to develop new spiritual tools and instruments.
 * closely monitors the world of the living to ensure spiritual stability. Rin Tsubokura is a member of this lab.
 * Oversees transmissions between the human world and Soul Society. This lab is responsible for the development of communication technology, including soul cellphones.

Trivia

 * The SRDI was not involved with Ran'Tao's creation of the Bount, with the Bount's creation predating the establishment of the SRDI by some centuries.