Date:January 11 and 12, 2007
Location: Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
James H. Clark Center, Bio-X, Stanford University

The “First Academia Summit and Symposium” of the Japanese University Network in the Bay Area (JUNBA) was held on 11-12 January.

JUNBA comprises a network of Japanese universities with overseas offices in the San Francisco Bay Area. The consortium, which includes Japanese agencies, was organized to facilitate liaison among the member universities, while accelerating their internationalization initiatives. It also works to advance collaborative research and education between Japan and the US.

The Summit on the 11th began with remarks from JUNBA president Dr. Yoshikatsu Murooka and Mr. Makoto Yamanaka, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, followed by a keynote speech from JSPS executive director Mr. Isao Kiso. The first session, titled “International Strategy by Each Participating University,” featured presentations by representatives of eight universities, followed by spirited discussions. The second session engaged the participants in an exchange of views on the universities’ internationalization approaches and in drafting a Summit Declaration on advancing and supporting collaborative education and research and university-industry cooperation in the Bay Area and across the wider United States. The Summit Declaration was announced at a reception held that evening at the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco.

The Symposium venued at Stanford University on the 12th was themed “Nano-Material Science.” Nine researchers from the US and Japan reported on state-of-the-art developments in their respective countries, with the ensuing Q&A session spawning an energetic sharing of further information on research in the subject field. The concluding reception was held in a very relaxed atmosphere, conducive to a congenial exchange of views and the forming of new colleagueal networks among the participants.

JUNBA plays a uniquely significant role in promoting from its base in America the internationalization of Japanese higher education and research. In this endeavor, the JSPS San Francisco Office would like to continue to offer its encouragement and support.

場所：（サミット）在サンフランシスコ日本国総領事館会議室
（シンポジウム） James H. Clark Center, Bio-X, Stanford University
日時：　２００７年１月１１日（木）、１２日（金）

詳細はこちら

Tohoku University has opened Global Strategic Development Office in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, USA, on May 24th, 2006. (http://www.tohoku-u.us)

The major goal of the office is to intentionally contribute to universities and higher educational institutions in globalizing societies for responding to the increasing demands on collaborative research and education, by taking the full advantage of their advanced science and technology as well as cultural and intellectual resources, through establishing close cooperation with academia in Western Countries.

You can see more details at (Press Release from Tohoku University).

JSPS SF Office expects the Tohoku University US Office to carry out their mission sufficiently, and we are looking forward to making a strong relationship and having future collaborations with them.

Their future plans are as below:

(The schedule will be announced soon)
Open House
Opening Ceremony

Contact Tohoku University US Offices
– Location: 4410 El Camino Real, Suite 111, Los Altos, CA 94022
– Tel: 650-947-0664
– Fax: 650-947-0244
– URL: http://www.tohoku-u.us