Tokyo Tech News

Tokyo Tech establishes European base — Tokyo Tech ANNEX Aachen

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Published: May 9, 2019

To strategically promote and implement education and research activities and more effectively share information with its overseas partners, Tokyo Tech is expanding its global presence with the establishment of new overseas hubs, or Tokyo Tech ANNEXes.

An opening ceremony was held on March 22, 2019 to celebrate the launch of Tokyo Tech ANNEX Aachen on the campus of RWTH Aachen University in Germany. Following the establishment of Tokyo Tech ANNEX Bangkok in 2018, this is the Institute's second ANNEX, and its first in Europe.

Tokyo Tech ANNEX Aachen Opening Ceremony

Tokyo Tech ANNEX Aachen Opening Ceremony

President Masu (right) and RWTH Aachen University Rector Rüdiger

President Masu (right) and RWTH Aachen University Rector Rüdiger

Tokyo Tech and RWTH Aachen have actively engaged in research and student exchanges since the conclusion of a university-wide cooperation agreement in 2007. In recent years, the two universities have alternately held joint workshops and a joint symposium for international industry-academia collaboration. With the new ANNEX, Tokyo Tech looks forward to further engaging RWTH Aachen faculty and students as well as local industry partners.

The ceremony was attended by President Kazuya Masu, RWTH Aachen Rector Ulrich Rüdiger, and executives from both universities. Special guests included the Director General for Research of the Ministry of Culture and Science for North Rhine-Westphalia, the mayor of Aachen, the Consul General of Japan in Düsseldorf, and many others.

A string quartet comprised of Tokyo Tech and RWTH students performed at the opening ceremony. Using carbon fiber instruments developed by RWTH in an academia-industry collaboration, the students' joint performance highlighted not only technical achievements but also cultural exchange as a component of the cooperation between the two universities.

President Masu gives opening remarks
President Masu gives opening remarks

Tokyo Tech and RWTH Aachen students' string quartet performance
Tokyo Tech and RWTH Aachen students' string quartet performance

A Tokyo Tech-RWTH Aachen Joint Workshop on intelligent surfaces and materials was held in advance of the opening ceremony. Researchers involved in intelligent surface development and materials research from the two universities shared their findings and held discussions aimed at identifying possible areas for future collaboration.

In addition to supporting student interaction through bilateral exchanges between Tokyo Tech and RWTH Aachen, Tokyo Tech ANNEX Aachen will facilitate the matching of needs and seeds for joint research. It will also promote cooperation by Tokyo Tech faculty members and research staff with industries, universities, and research institutions in Germany and surrounding countries.

As part of these efforts, Tokyo Tech ANNEX Aachen plans to hold annual workshops on frontiers in science and technology.

Contact

International Activities Group, International Affairs Division, International Affairs Department

Email annex.aachen@jim.titech.ac.jp
Tel +81-3-5734-3827

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