Representatives from Tohoku University attended the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum 2026, held from October 4 to 6 at the Kyoto International Conference Center.

The STS Forum is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the development of science and technology in harmony with society. Its annual meeting, held every October in Kyoto, brings together approximately 1,000 participants from around the world, including leaders from academia, government, and industry, to discuss the role of science and technology in addressing global challenges.

The university was represented by Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs) Asako Sugimoto and Toshiya Ueki, Vice President and Chief Global Officer (CGO) Marie-Pierre Favre, as well as other faculty members.

On October 4, EVP Ueki participated in the University Presidents' Meeting. EVP Sugimoto, EVP Ueki, and CGO Favre also met with representatives from 17 universities and research institutions across Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. Their discussions explored opportunities for closer international cooperation, including student and researcher exchanges, joint research, research funding, and strategic partnerships.

Other Tohoku University participants included Toshio Suga, Director of the Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC); Professor Kazuyo Matsubae of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies; Professor Kaoru Ota of the Graduate School of Information Sciences; and Associate Professor Hakuto Suzuki of the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences.

Through its participation in STS Forum 2026, Tohoku University strengthened existing relationships with international partners and opened up new opportunities for academic and research collaboration.

News in Japanese