On November 19, 2010, AIST signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on comprehensive research cooperation with imec (Inter-university Microelectronics Centre) International, Belgium in the field of nanotechnology. The signing ceremony was held at Gakushikaikan, and signatures were exchanged between AIST President Tamotsu Nomakuchi and imec President & CEO Luc Van den hove.

AIST, along with the National Institute for Materials Science and the University of Tsukuba and with the cooperation of industry, is working to establish a global nanotechnology research complex, Tsukuba Innovation Arena for nanotechnology (TIA-nano), in Tsukuba where there is a cluster of leading nanotechnology research facilities and experts. To solidify this existing partnership, AIST and imec have signed this MOU to promote their nanotechnology research initiatives through joint research, personnel exchanges, and hosting joint symposiums in nanotechnology, nanoelectronics and other fields, thereby strengthening industrial competitiveness.

Seventh Biomass-Asia Workshop jointly organized by Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology of Indonesia (BPPT) and AIST was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from November 29 to December 1, 2010. There were presentations from seven countries including Japan, and 250 people (51 from Japan including 15 from AIST) participated.

The last six workshops were supported by the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology of Japan. However, from 2010, the workshop was organized by a new administrative structure centered around the host country. Reports were also given on the Asia Biomass Energy Researchers Invitation Program of the New Energy Foundation of Japan, which has been receiving many researchers including some staying at AIST.

The workshop consisted of greeting speeches, four technical sessions following a keynote address, and panel discussions. There were discussions and presentations on the results of biomass utilization technology focusing on fuel production, and the project of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) regarding international cooperation, human resource development, sustainability assessment, and standardization, and finally, the future direction was indicated in the workshop. On the last day, the participants visited BPPT and private firms, and observed the situation of biodiesel fuel production.

On February 8, 2011, Minister Tora Aasland, the Ministry of Research and Higher Education of the Kingdom of Norway visited AIST Tsukuba, and held talks with Senior Vice-President Akira Ono and Vice-President Masakazu Yamazaki.

Minister Aasland visited Japan from February 6 to 9, and came to Tsukuba to visit AIST as well as Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. At AIST, there were greetings from Senior Vice-President Ono and an overview presentation of AIST by Director Koichi Sakuta of the International Affairs Division; and from the minister, an explanation of the purpose of her visit of deepening research collaboration and promoting exchange of young personnel, and these were followed by lively questions and answers.

Subsequently, there were presentations concerning the fields of "monozukuri" or "manufacturing" and environment and energy, in which collaborative research with Norway is very active. The former was presented by Director Norio Matsuki of the Collaboration Promotion Division, and the latter by Deputy Director Katsuhiko Kadoguchi of the Energy Technology Research Institute. Furthermore, Senior Researcher Takanori Shibata of the Intelligent Systems Research Institute gave a demonstration and explanation of the baby seal robot, Paro, already introduced to Norway. The minister and about 20 attendants looked on with great interest.

There are three research institutes in Norway which have concluded comprehensive memoranda of understanding on research cooperation with AIST, and there is active research collaboration as mentioned above. With this visit, we are expecting to see further development in these areas.