OIST and Tohoku University sign Memorandum of Understanding for comprehensive collaboration and cooperation
The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation (President and CEO Karin Markides, hereinafter “OIST”) and Tohoku University (President Hideo Ohno, hereinafter Tohoku University) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on comprehensive collaboration and cooperation on January 22, 2024, at the Tohoku University campus in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Under this collaboration agreement, the two universities will cooperate in areas of mutual interest and expertise and strive to contribute to the development of academic disciplines through the exchange of knowledge and experience.
The agreement is based on a long-term vision of strengthening both universities through research, education, and outreach, providing added value to faculty and researchers, enhancing student enrichment, and increasing the attractiveness of the universities. Specifically, the collaboration will include the following activities:
- Discovery and support of young researchers
- Promotion of curiosity-driven basic and applied research
- Mobility of faculty and students
- Networking activities
- Access to infrastructure
- Jointly organized conferences and symposia enabling transformative collaboration
- Joint publications
- Joint dialogues with stakeholders to enhance university’s role and responsibilities
Tohoku University President Ohno stated with hope and commitment that “Since its establishment, OIST has continued to invite outstanding researchers from Japan and abroad and to produce outstanding research results on an international level. We have long had a cooperative relationship with OIST, including joint research and dissemination of information on research results. I am confident that this MOU will further expand and strengthen the synergistic and complementary collaboration between the two institutions and not only lead to outstanding and diverse research, but also promote exchanges in the human resource development of young researchers and students. We will also learn from OIST’s advanced research environment, which is unparalleled in Japan, and work to reform our university so that ’our diverse human resources will be able to freely think and fully demonstrate their abilities.”
OIST President and CEO Markides said with high expectations for the future that “With a history spanning more than 100 years, a faculty of more than 3,000, and 10 faculties/schools and 15 graduate schools, Tohoku University and OIST differ in history, governance and size. At the same time, we are united by common academic interests and by the understanding that the role universities play in the 21st century needs to develop in order to cultivate a resilient society. We are confident that through our collaboration with Tohoku University, we can deepen our research and further solidify the universities’ role in addressing local challenges head-on from a global perspective. I look forward to the creation of new possibilities through enhanced incentives for interdisciplinary joint research, student exchange and training, networking, and other mutually reinforcing activities that will promote exploration into uncharted areas.”
