IV. Other Matters
1. Contribution to Okinawa Promotion
(2) Collaboration with Industry
(3) Promotion of R&D cluster
The rules and procedures for the use of OIST research facility by companies, including spin outs from OIST, was drafted.
Two new R&D type (co-development with industries) projects were granted by OPG. As a result 3 OPG grants have been successively implemented with local industrial partners and academics. Six new non-disclosure agreements were created with private companies.
Following recommendations created by the 2nd International R&D Workshop, "Start-up" promoting events were hosted in OIST (SCORE in Nov. 2013 and Kyued-up in Feb. and March 2014) in order to encourage young entrepreneurs and students in OKINAWA and Japan and to train how to start a business.
Two secondment positions (one from OPG and other from Okinawa Bank) were maintained inside business development section in order to create tight relationship with entities that will become important stakeholders in the R&D cluster around OIST..
2. Networking with local institutions and communities
OIST visited the University of the Ryukyus to discuss future collaboration on intellectual property management and business development and entrepreneur education and mutual interest were confirmed. OIST has joined a round table to discuss about future collaboration of all higher education entities including the University of the Ryukyus and Okinawa National College of Technology with private companies in Okinawa.
OIST acted as the lead, in cooperation with the University of the Ryukyus and Meio University, to establish an independent Okinawa University Consortium. It is a consortium of 10 universities in Okinawa that will incorporate and work together to share and collaborate on research, academic, administrative, and community activities to build a stranger educational community and work force in Okinawa. Other joint programs continued throughout the year.
The Communications and Public Relation Division (CPR) started the periodical meetings with the counterparts of the Univ. of the Ryukyus, and started the collaborations: conducted the 1st campus visit program focused for the students of the Univ. of the Ryukyus, and 40 students in Medicine, Agriculture, Science, etc. joined the program.
(1) Visits
The OIST Visitor Center opened adjacent to the Center Court, and started operations, providing the OIST information to the visitors. The brochure for the visitors were revised and widely delivered to the visitors.
The number of all visitors: Over 40,000 (including the visitors in the Open Campus).
The local students visited OIST: Total 49 schools, 4,380 students
- Junior high schools and elementary schools: 11 schools, 928 students
- Senior high schools: 38 schools, 3,452 students
The students from other prefectures and other countries: 4 schools, 322 students (including 1 Super Science High School on mainland Japan, and 1 Singapore Polytech )
(2) Science Programs
A series of talks to all levels of school children given by faculty and researchers：13 talks 1,300 students including the programs in remote islands.
OIST co-hosted with the Onna Village the 4th Onna / OIST Children’s School of Science
OIST expanded the volume and had 113 students in 6 classes including newly created Junior High School students class. It became an international course by conducting some classes in English with interpretations. Fourteen school teachers and school nurses in Onna worked with the OIST staff.
(3) SCORE! (a science research competition among high school students)
OIST conducted the 2nd SCORE! (Science in Okinawa: for Research for Enterprise), and 13 teams from 9 schools joined the competition. OIST also a conducted 3-day internship program for the winner teams of the previous year to experience the research at OIST and 8 students from 3 schools joined.
(4) Open Campus 2014
Over 200 OIST research/admiration staff welcomed the nearly 5,000 guests. The winner students of SCORE! joined the program and exhibited their research. Students of Onna Junior High School volunteered as announcers at the event.
(5) External Science Events
OIST jointed the many social event and science events conducted by other organizations in Okinawa, and did science demonstrations: Onna Festival, Science Festival by Okinawa Electric Power Co., etc.
(6) Cultural Events
OIST hosted concerts: 6 classical or jazz concerts such as chamber music by I Musici of Italy, and a traditional Japanese drum concert
OIST organized exhibitions: 2 art Exhibitions, one is a collaboration program with the art exhibition by the faculty of Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.
(7) Assisting Local Schools
The Vice President for CPR jointed the Forum on English Education in Okinawa, organized by its committee and supported by OPG, Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education, JICA Okinawa, and OIST, gave a lecture "The importance of English in a Global Society", and exchanged the views in the panel discussion. 100 school teachers attended and exchanged he views.
3. Others matters concerning Okinawa development
In our efforts to employ talented people from Okinawa, OIST conducted activities including visiting local universities and colleges to hold recruitment seminars. Currently, 3 out of 5 new graduates employed are from Okinawa. In terms of recruiting experienced professionals, OIST is constantly posting recruitment advertisement on local newspapers and by keeping in close contact with Hellowork and worker dispatching agencies in Okinawa.
| Admin. | Students | Technicians | Researchers | Total | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All employees | 259 | 68 | 71 | 234 | 632 | 100.0% |
| Employees from Okinawa |
116 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 143 | 22.6% |
The above table excludes temporary staff.