Kick-off symposium for the JST COI-NEXT project "The Photonics Hub for Life and Biomedical Engineering" held

Osaka University held the kick-off symposium for its JST COI-NEXT project "The Photonics Hub for Life and Biomedical Engineering" at LINK-J Life Science Hub West (Osaka City) on Friday, August 5, 2022, with the symposium also being streamed live.

At Osaka University, four project hubs (the most in Japan) were selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)’s funding program COI (Center of Innovation) -NEXT.

These hubs work in concert to make OU a world-class research center. This hybrid (online and in-person) symposium was held as part of such efforts with the participation of some 250 individuals, mainly OU faculty and staff members.

Following the opening speech by President NISHIO Shojiro, greetings were given from UMEHARA Koji (Chief, Industrial Cooperation and Regional Development Office, Science and Technology Policy Bureau, MEXT) and KUZE Kazushi (Program Officer, COI-NEXT).

The leader of this project, Professor FUJITA Katsumasa outlined the project, speaking about R&D challenges facing the hub. Then, Professor MYOUI Akira (Medical Center for Translational Research Osaka University Hospital) outlined the Project for Japan Translational and Clinical Research Core Centers, delivering a special lecture on research projects for the Translational Research Grant.

Finally, presided over by Executive Vice President ONOYE Takao, 4 leaders of the projects selected for the COI-NEXT program participated in a panel discussion on the topic of “Will COI Change Universities?”

A lively exchange of opinions with the audience showed the possibility that cross-border collaboration, which is the strength of OU as a comprehensive university, would be further facilitated.