National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
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Overseas visitors

AIST welcomes researchers and visitors from abroad with high interest in various research fields. AIST also has dispatched its staff overseas. Followings are some examples, and a list of visits over the last few years.

Party of Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia, Headed by Rector Akhmaloka Visit AIST Tsukuba

Photo 1

ITB Rector Akhmaloka (middle, front row) and Vice-President Yamazaki (left, front row)

The six members of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) led by Rector Akhmaloka visited Tsukuba Central 7 and had a talk with AIST Vice-President Yamazaki and Director Wakita of the Geoinformation Center, AIST.

The party was comprised of ITB Rector Akhmaloka, Vice Rector Abidin, Vice Rector Irwati, Prof. Sude and two researchers, graduates of ITB presently belonging to a Japanese university and institute. Dr. Saepuloh Asep of AIST, also a graduate of ITB, led the party as their guide.

The party headed by Rector Akhmaloka arrived in Japan on June 10 to attend the science and technology workshop held by Indonesian and Japanese institutions every year, and they visited AIST after visiting Japan Atomic Energy Agency in Tokai village.

Following the introduction about AIST given by Vice-President Yamazaki, Rector Akhmaloka also gave a general description of ITB. In addition, Director Wakita of the Geoinformation Center gave a report of the research activities in the fields of geology, and Dr. Saepuloh Asep gave a report of the analysis of volcanic activities based on satellite data.

Since there are many earthquakes and volcanic disasters in Indonesia as there are in Japan, Rector Akhmaloka asked for collaborative research with AIST for the mitigation of earthquake and volcanic disasters in addition to petroleum and mineral exploration and marine geological survey.

AIST has been already active in collaborative research with Indonesia. For example, the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and AIST concluded a comprehensive MOU on research cooperation. With this visit, further collaboration in research related to the geological fields including seismological and volcanic research is expected.

Minister of Research and Higher Education of Norway Visits AIST Tsukuba

Senior Vice-President Kodama welcoming Minister Phong Photo

Minister Aasland (second from right)

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.


Past Visitors

Date Country/Economy Title
2011/6 Indonesia Party of Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia, Headed by Rector Akhmaloka Visit AIST Tsukuba
2011/2 Norway Minister of Research and Higher Education of Norway Visits AIST Tsukuba
2010/8 Thailand NSTDA President of Thailand Visits AIST Tsukuba
2010/4 Russia Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Visits AIST Tsukuba
2010/3 France Secretary of State for the Development of the Capital Region of France Visits AIST Tsukuba
2009/10 Thailand Thai Minister of Science and Technology Visits AIST Tsukuba
- Ceremony for the Renewal of Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding -
2009/04 Serbia Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Visits Tokyo Akihabara Site
2008/10 Sudan Sudanese Minister of Science and Technology to AIST Tsukuba
2008/03 Thailand A Visit by Thailand Minister of Science and Technology
2007/10 Sri Lanka Minister of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka Visits AIST Tsukuba
2007/07 Switzerland A Visit by Pascal Couchepin, Vice-President of the Swiss Federation
2007/05 Czech Republic A Visit to Tsukuba by Senior Vice Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of Czech Republic, President Yoshikawa becomes a Member of the Industrial Academy of Czech Republic
2007/04 Vietnam Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment Vice-Minister visits Tsukuba Center
2007/04 EU European Commission Member Reding Visits AIST Tsukuba Center
2007/03 Vietnam Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Visits Tsukuba Center
2006/09 Canada A Delegation of NRC Canada Visits AIST
2006/08 Thailand H. R. H. Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand Visits AIST
AIST Participated in the National Science and Technology Fair 2006 in Thailand
2006/06 Korea Director of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH)Visits AIST
2006/06 UK British Journalists Visit AIST Tsukuba Center