Director General Daren Tang of WIPO visits Osaka University

On Thursday, March 2, 2023, during his visit to Japan, Director General Daren Tang of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) visited Osaka University. The university joined the WIPO GREEN, an online platform for promoting exchange of environmentally friendly technologies, as a partner in April 2022.

Hearing about OU’s industry-university collaboration and intellectual property activities as well as its efforts for EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai from President NISHIO Shojiro, Executive Vice President KAWAHARA Genta, and Specially Appointed Professor SASANO Hideo of the Co-Creation Bureau, Mr. Tang spoke with them about OU’s collaboration with industry, the importance of intellectual property in technology transfer and venture creation, and the Expo.

Director General Daren Tang (center)

On Mr. Tang’s right side (from right): President Nishio, Executive Vice President Kawahara, Specially Appointed Professor Sasano

On Mr. Tang’s left side (from right): Assistant Director Natsume, WIPO Japan Office Director Sawai, PCT Legal and International Affairs Department Senior Director Isozumi

At a meeting room in the Administration Bureau

At the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Mr. Tang expressed considerable interest in the explanation by Vice Director AOI Nori about cyclotron facilities and OU ventures using research results of the center.

Vice Director Aoi (2nd from left) explains to the WIPO group at RCNP

Later, the group had a discussion with OU faculty members and graduate students at the dedicated space for the Innovators’ Club (i-Club) (2F, C Bldg., Office for University-Industry Collaboration).

Professor OHKUBO Kei of the Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies and Professor HOSHIMOTO Yoichi of the Graduate School of Engineering spoke about their research, acquiring intellectual property rights for their research results, and implementing their research results in practice.

Graduate students KANEGAE Sousuke (2nd year, doctoral program, Koizumi Lab., Graduate School of Engineering) and KUMAUCHI Tamaki (2nd year, master's program, Matsuzaki Lab., Graduate School of Engineering) introduced their own research, i-Club activity, and their interest in starting businesses.

Q&A session with Mr. Kumauchi

Director General Tang (center, back shot)

From right: Prof. Okubo, Prof. Hoshimoto, Mr. Kanegae, Specially Appointed Researcher Minami Yuki
At Intellectual Property Section, Co-Creation Bureau

At the i-Club space