Tokyo Tech News
Tokyo Tech News
Published: December 6, 2018
Vice President for International Affairs Hidetoshi Sekiguchi and a Tokyo Tech delegation participated in the second MIRAI Seminar, held from October 9 to 12 in Tokyo.
Conducted as part of the MIRAI Project, an academic, research, and innovation collaboration platform involving 15 research universities in Sweden and Japan, the seminar had previously been conducted at Lund University, Sweden in October 2017.
Researchers, university leaders, funding agencies, government officials, and other interested parties from Sweden and Japan participated in this second seminar, which coincided with the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Japan.
Representatives of the eight Japanese and seven Swedish universities participating in the MIRAI Project gathered at Tokyo Tech's Tamachi Campus on October 9 for meetings of the MIRAI Project Steering Committee and the Scientific Committee. Participants reported on activities conducted in the last year and discussed project activities for 2019 and beyond.
A plenary session on "Sustainable Social System and Technology for Ageing Society" was held on October 10 at the University of Tokyo. After the seminar's opening ceremony, the Ministry of Education and Research of Sweden, the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation of Sweden, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan signed a joint statement on strengthening Japan-Sweden science and technology cooperation.
Associate Professor Yamada at the MIRAI Seminar Panel Discussion
Associate Professor Takuji Yamada of Tokyo Tech's School of Life Science and Technology participated in the afternoon panel discussion on current research issues within the area of Ageing. An expert on bioinformatics, the human gut microbiome, and data visualization, Yamada highlighted the important role of big data and data visualization in an aging society.
Theme-based parallel sessions in the project's target areas of Ageing, Materials Science, Sustainability, and Innovation were held on subsequent days. The sessions brought together researchers from the participating universities for discussions on common research interests and exploration of possible future joint activities. From Tokyo Tech, Professor Takeo Yamaguchi of the Institute of Innovative Research, Associate Professor Yuhei Hayamizu of the School of Materials and Chemical Technology, and Associate Professor Manabu Fujii and Assistant Professor Takumi Ohashi of the School of Environment and Society participated.
A wrap-up meeting of the Scientific Committee was held on the final day. Representatives of the participating universities gathered to confirm outcomes from the parallel sessions and to discuss support for the MIRAI Project after the initial 2017-2019 period. A third seminar will be held in Sweden in 2019.
MIRAI Project
The MIRAI Project, a continuation of the initiatives launched at the University Presidents' Summit in Tokyo in October 2015, aims to promote research collaboration between Sweden and Japan and provide young researchers with knowledge and networks. Participating universities include Chalmers University of Technology, LinkÖping University, Lund University, Stockholm University, UmeÅ University, University of Gothenburg, and Uppsala University from Sweden, and Hiroshima University, Hokkaido University, Kyushu University, Nagoya University, Sophia University, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo Tech, and Waseda University from Japan.
Contact
International Cooperation Division, International Affairs Department
Email kokuren.kik.cho@jim.titech.ac.jp
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