PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, March 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- Meiji is the First Private University in Japan to Have Full Access to Web of Science

Thomson Scientific, part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information solutions to the worldwide research and business communities, today announced that Century of Science(TM) has been purchased by Meiji University in Japan, expanding its subscription to Web of Science earlier this year. The University's added investment in Century of Science gives students full access to the most important scientific bibliographic and cited reference data covering the period from 1900 to 1944.

"The purchase of Century of Science is right in line with Meiji University's goals to provide access to unsurpassed scientific research information. Backfiles are crucial to research in tracking past developments, pinpointing key turning points and determining the future direction of research," said Mark Garlinghouse, Thomson Scientific's VP and Managing Director, Asia Pacific. "With access to this unparalleled historical research, Meiji University will make great strides toward groundbreaking discoveries."

In January 2008, Meiji University purchased access to Web of Science, a carefully selected and maintained collection of the world's most influential journals across all disciplines. Coverage is truly multidisciplinary with emphasis on quality and superior collection development and can be accessed via the ISI Web of Knowledge, a premier research platform that offers an extensive collection of backfiles to 1945. Launched in January 2005, the Century of Science initiative made available approximately 850,000 articles from more than 200 journals carefully selected from the published research in the first half of the 20th century.

While more than 200 universities throughout the world have Century of Science, Meiji University is the first private university, and the fourth academic institution in Japan to acquire it. Access to this knowledge platform sets the university apart from other mid-sized private institutions and increases the research competitiveness of the students and faculty.

"ISI Web of Science is a very important and useful research tool and it is frequently reputed among researchers. As the first private university in Japan to offer Century of Science, we expect this will have a very large impact on improving our level of research output," said Koki Matsuse, Executive Trustee, Professor of School of Science and Technology, Meiji University.

Meiji University was founded by three young legal professionals to acknowledge, respect and strengthen the individual, and aims to make dramatic advances into the world as the top 21st-century urban university in Japan.

For more information, visit isiwebofknowledge.com.

About Meiji University

Meiji University solidly ranks among the best universities in Japan, currently consisting of eight schools; the Graduate School, made up of 7 departments; independent schools in various disciplines; and the Meiji University Junior High School and Meiji University High School. Meiji University has expanded as one of the prominent private universities of Japan, celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2001. With Rights, Liberty, Independence and Self-government as its guiding principles, Meiji University is committed to fostering human resources who satisfy the requirements "austerity and sturdiness", "creation of new intellect" and "needs of the times". Turning out more than 480,000 graduates into the world to date, it has contributed vastly to the progress of society. The achievements of the university's numerous alumni actively engaged in key roles in various walks of life are highly reputed.

About The Thomson Corporation

The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com) is a global leader in providing essential electronic workflow solutions to business and professional customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, scientific research and healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).

Thomson Scientific is a business of The Thomson Corporation. Its information solutions assist professionals at every stage of research and development-from discovery to analysis to product development and distribution. Thomson Scientific information solutions can be found at scientific.thomson.com.

Web site: http://www.scientific.thomson.com http://isiwebofknowledge.com http://www.thomson.com

Susan Besaw, Thomson Scientific, +1-215-823-1840, susan.besaw@thomson.com