By coupling the Ring Cyclotron and RIPS fragment separator, RIKEN has performed various studies with fast radio‐isotope (RI) beams produced by heavy‐ion projectile fragmentation. Various studies on properties of nuclei far from the stability line have been performed with the RI beams. To provide more extended research opportunities, a project to build a new accelerator complex called “RI Beam Factory (RIBF)” has been started. RIBF in its first phase is already under construction, and the first RI beams should be supplied during the year of 2006. © 2004 American Institute of Physics