President KUMANOGOH Participated in the Science and Technology in Society forum (STS forum) as Co-Chair

On October 4, 2026, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society forum (STS forum) was held at Kyoto International Conference Center. As a side event held on the same day, the University Presidents’ Meeting brought together university leaders from around the world. President KUMANOGOH Atsushi of UOsaka co-chaired the meeting with the President Annelien Bredenoord of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

The meeting, attended by 76 participants from 32 countries, began with opening remarks by President KUMANOGOH Atsushi under the theme, “Reshaping the Role of Universities for Knowledge, Excellence, Innovation and Societal Impact in a Changing World.”
This was followed by presentations from Karolinska Institutet, the University of São Paulo, and Ritsumeikan University, moderated by Executive Vice President HAYASHI Mikako.
The meeting also featured group discussions in which participants engaged in lively exchanges on the role universities should play in today’s rapidly changing society. Discussions explored topics such as the potential for co-creation among academia, industry, government, and civil society, as well as how to balance long-term fundamental research and academic freedom with the need to deliver short-term societal impact.

[Related link]
STS forum
https://www.stsforum.org/