OTRI Symposium “Growing Innovation Burgeoned in Interdisciplinary Research” held

The Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI) held a symposium “Growing Innovation Burgeoned in Interdisciplinary Research” on Friday, February 3, 2023.

This symposium, which was held for the first time in 3 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drew some 100 on-site and online participants.

Facilitated by MIZUTANI Yasuhisa (Senior Advisor to the President), Executive Vice President ONOYE Takao (Director, OTRI) introduced activity at the institute in his opening address.

Next, the following three leaders spoke about approaches taken by their divisions:

• TOBISU Mamoru (Director, Innovative Catalysis Science Division)
• SEKITANI Tsuyoshi (Director, Co-Creative Incubation Center)
• NISHIDA Kohji (Director, Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division)

After a brief intermission, moderated by Executive Vice President Onoye, the leaders of the divisions that were added to the OTRI this academic year had a panel discussion entitled “Looking Ahead to a Future Opened Up by the New Divisions.”

• KITA Michihiro (Deputy Director, Research Division for Future Society that Values Life with a focus on “New Disaster Prevention”)
• MURATA Masayuki (Director, DX Society Research Division)
• HAMAYA Kohei (Director, Spintronics Research Network Division)
• ISHII Masaru (Director, Life-omics Research Division)

At the end of the discussion, asked by the moderator about what support they expect from the university in their future activity, the panelists responded by expressing their enthusiasm for each by the height of their raised hands, ending the symposium on a positive note.