On Tuesday, September 8, MIT and the Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) launched a three-year collaboration designed to strengthen ties between the two institutions and lay the groundwork for educational and scientific exchange. Naoto Ohtake, President and CEO of Science Tokyo, and Jingo Kikukawa, Director General, Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), visited MIT to mark the beginning of the new collaboration, which includes an educational component led by the MIT Sloan School of Management, three exploratory research projects with groups at MIT, and the establishment of the MIT-Japan-Science Tokyo Seed Fund, administered by the Center for International Studies (CIS).
During their visit to MIT, Science Tokyo and METI delegation met with Institute leadership, including President Sally Kornbluth; participated in a roundtable discussion with MIT faculty; and visited the MIT Center for Clinical and Translational Research. A key objective of the new collaboration is to foster stronger connections among MIT, Science Tokyo, and industry partners.
“Knowing MIT’s longstanding ties to Japan, it has been a great pleasure to continue that tradition through developing this new collaboration,” said Sally Kornbluth, MIT President. “We see this as a promising first step toward building a broader interdisciplinary collaboration with the potential to support and inspire students and researchers in both Cambridge and Tokyo, and to produce positive real-world advances.”
“Bringing together MIT’s strengths in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship education with Science Tokyo’s broad expertise in science, engineering, and the medical and dental sciences holds tremendous potential. This kind of collaboration between science-focused universities in the United States and Japan can support the broader innovation ecosystem and contribute to advancements in areas like new industries and medical treatments. Science Tokyo looks forward to researchers and students learning from one another, helping drive exciting new research, and supporting the nurturing of talent” said Ohtake.
I welcome this new collaboration. Two leading institutions in science, technology, and innovation have come together with the intent to build a lasting relationship. I had the privilege of participating in a meeting between MITPresident Kornbluth and Science Tokyo President and Chief Executive Officer Ohtake,followed by a roundtable discussion with research teams from both universities. My expectations for the future development of this collaboration have grown even stronger after this visit to MIT, and METI looks forward to exploring ways to support its success,” said Kikukawa.
“I warmly welcome this new collaboration between Science Tokyo and MIT. More than 150 years ago, a young Japanese man became the first student from Japan to graduate from MIT. Since then, generations of Japanese researchers and students have come to Greater Boston, building a tradition of academic exchange between our two countries. Today, Science Tokyo and MIT open a new chapter in that tradition. I have great expectations that this collaboration will create new connections among universities, industry, and society in both countries, and will grow into cooperation that endures for generations to come,” said SeiichiroTakahashi, Consul General of Japan in Boston.
An educational model at MIT Sloan
At the heart of the collaboration is an educational component between MIT Sloan and Science Tokyo, delivered by MIT Sloan Global Programs, focused on entrepreneurship curriculum development. Activities will include MIT faculty travel to Science Tokyo for workshops and guest lectures, Science Tokyo faculty visits to MIT to observe courses and ecosystem activities, adaptation of existing MIT syllabi and materials for the Science Tokyo context, and the design of Innovation Teams Lab courses tailored to Science Tokyo’s Visionary Initiatives in biomedical, energy, and microelectronics fields.
Exploratory research
Through three exploratory research projects managed by MIT’s Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE), Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), and Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL), faculty, researchers, and students from MIT and Science Tokyo will engage in reciprocal visits, joint workshops, research discussions, and planning meetings. The collaboration also emphasizes entrepreneurship and startup development, encouraging the translation of research outcomes into practical technologies, new ventures, and societal impact. Collaborators at Science Tokyo include the Center for Startup Education, the Laboratory for Zero-Carbon Energy (ZC) and the GX Frontier Visionary Initiative, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), and the Next-generation Semiconductor Eco-system Co-creation Center (NEX-SECC).
The MIT-Japan-Science Tokyo Seed Fund
The MIT-Japan Science Tokyo Seed Fund will be administered by CIS to support the exchange of faculty, researchers, and students between MIT and Science Tokyo.
Launched in 2008 and reaching across academic departments and borders, the MIT Global Seed Funds (GSF) have catalyzed research in over 20 countries leading to meaningful academic collaborations. The seed fund is currently accepting applications for future projects. To learn more visit: https://cis.mit.edu/opportunities/seed-funding/available-funds/gsf-japan
“This collaboration reflects MIT’s approach to international engagement: it brings talented people together and creates space for shared learning. When faculty, students, and researchers have the chance to explore ideas together at an early stage, they can build collaborations that endure and open new pathways for discovery” said Duane Boning, MIT Vice Provost for International Activities.
“This collaboration presents a valuable opportunity for researchers and students from Science Tokyo and MIT to conduct exchanges and pursue bold ideas together, while being supported by the seed fund. The educational component of the collaboration brings MIT’s expertise in entrepreneurship education to Science Tokyo. Through lectures by MIT faculty and workshops with their MIT counterparts, students can explore a new dimension of learning in the context of their specializations and Science Tokyo’s Visionary Initiatives,” said Tanaka.
