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The Third South Africa-Japan University Forum was held at the Tokyo International Exchange Center in Aomi on July 15.

Executive Vice President for General Affairs and International Relations Toshiya Ueki and Professor Tetsuya Kodama of the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, presented details of Tohoku University's recent work in medical fields, including some conducted in collaboration with South African researchers.

The main theme of the forum was "Cooperation between South African and Japanese universities toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goals." This refers to the United Nations' 17 SDGs* which aim to find solutions to global issues such as climate control, affordable clean energy and the reduction of poverty. The forum examined specifically how universities in both countries can cooperate to help achieve them.

More than 300 representatives from Japan and South Africa attended the forum, including high-ranking officials and representatives from government and industry. Tohoku University's representatives participated in the discussion session on health.

EVP Ueki presented the university's activities at the Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, which is developing futuristic medical services and helping with the reconstruction of the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Professor Kodama spoke on the development of a lymphatic drug delivery system, which is being carried out with researchers from South Africa.

＊The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets of the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" that was adopted by the United Nations in September 2015.