Tokyo september 2024

Memorandum of Understanding signed by synchrotron radiation facilities

In May, the Swedish synchrotron radiation facility MAX IV signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese synchrotron radiation facility NanoTerasu. The agreement calls for an exchange of research and personnel between the two organizations. NanoTerasu, which started operation this April, can analyze materials in nano units of one billionth of a meter. More than 150 companies have already expressed their intention to use the facility, and the number of inquiries has increased since the facility became fully operational. This MoU between MAX IV marks NanoTerasu’s first international collaboration. MAX IV has also renewed its MoU with RIKEN/Spring-8, which is another large synchrotron radiation facility that houses a high-performance ultra-large analyzer capable of observing objects at the atomic level. It is used by 16,000 people a year for medical and space research where synchrotron radiation is necessary. The MoU is intended to develop and enhance the research and development in common fields of interest.

MIRAI 3rd phase kicked off!

The Swedish-Japanese universities’ collaboration platform “MIRAI” held an online kick-off event on September 4th. MIRAI is a collaboration between 17 Swedish and Japanese universities that aims to tackle societal challenges. At the kick-off, both Ambassadors to Sweden and Japan made speeches where they urged for continuing the fruitful cooperation between Sweden and Japan and deepening ties in various areas including security, energy, technology and politics. MIRAI presented a new structure that is sustainable and is looking ahead long-term engagement. It set up 4 teams which were named “Global Challenge Teams;” these teams consist of researchers from MIRAI universities and interdisciplinary so that researchers with various backgrounds can contribute. We look forward to seeing their “result” in 2 years!

AI symposium

The Embassy in Tokyo and EU Delegation to Japan co-hosted an AI policy symposium on September 5th. The panelists made remarks regarding the legislation, values, discussions and existing collaborations as they relate to AI. The panelist from academia highlighted Japan’s fast AI action procedures regarding AI being especially helpful in addressing population decline, and the potential of combining AI with robotics. The discussion included areas such as how to manage AI in the government, public and private information sharing, and risks regarding the usage of AI. In line with the rapid development and spread of AI, efforts are being made in Japan to promote the appropriate development and use of AI; one such effort is the publication of the Governance Guidelines for Implementing AI Principles by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. As AI continues to innovate and expand its market, addressing these ethical and legal issues will play an important role in the sustainable development of AI and improving its social acceptance.

Call by Vinnova

Vinnova has opened a call for international staff exchange between Sweden and Japan, in addition to other countries. Companies, regions, municipalities, universities, and research organizations are welcome to apply. The focus areas for this call include: AI, immersive technology, quantum technology, synthetic biology and 6G. The details can be found here: International individual mobility for cutting-edge technology in 2024 | Vinnova.

20th anniversary for the academic collaboration between SLU and University of Tokyo

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and The Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo are renewing their academic collaboration agreement for another 5 years. The original agreement was signed in 2004, so this marks the 20th anniversary of the collaboration. The aim of this collaboration is to promote cooperation in the fields of global environment conservation and utilization of forest resources and related areas. The signing ceremony concluded with a presentation on how their collaboration started and has continued for the last 20 years. The event was a fitting tribute to a partnership that has stood the test of time and continues to thrive, promising even greater accomplishments in the years to come.

Follow us on Linkedin

Inbrief Office for science and innovation (OSI) in Tokyo:

OSI Tokyo was established in 1966. Since then, the office has contributed to facilitate the collaborations between Sweden and Japan in terms of research and innovation. We strive to support Sweden to be the top knowledge nation in research and innovation.