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Conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Comprehensive Research Cooperation between AIST and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft of Germany

( Translation of AIST press release on July 6, 2012 )
Points
  • Research and development in the fields of significant interest to both institutions, which include environment, energy, life science, and biotechnology, will be promoted.
  • The conclusion of the memorandum will lead to the acceleration of research cooperation and personnel exchanges between the two organizations.
  • The two organizations will contribute to the enhancement of international competitiveness and the advancement of industrial science and technology in both countries.
Summary
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; President: Tamotsu Nomakuchi) and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG; President: Hans-Jörg Bullinger) affiliated to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany concluded a memorandum of understanding on comprehensive research cooperation (MOU) in Stuttgart, Germany on July 6, 2012. The aim of this MOU is to promote research and development in the fields of significant interest to both institutions, which include environment, energy, life science, and biotechnology.

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Conclusion of MOU Ceremony
On the left: Dr. Bullinger, President, Fraunhofer Institute
On the right: Dr. Nomakuchi, President, AIST
Background
AIST and FhG are both one of the largest public research institutions in Japan and Germany, respectively, and have common features such as research fields and relation to industry. This MOU will serve to accelerate research cooperation in a wide variety of fields.

Since the days of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology which is the predecessor of AIST, there have already been extensive collaborations with FhG in the fields of environment, energy, etc. In recent years, the Research Center for Photovoltaic Technologies of AIST and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have been working together on a FP7-NEDO project on photovoltaics. In addition, the Health Research Institute at AIST Kansai and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation co-hosted a cooperative symposium on polymer actuators in November, 2011. Presidents Nomakuchi and Bullinger met at the symposium and reached an agreement on the promotion of further cooperation between AIST and FhG.

Future Cooperation
AIST and FhG will strengthen the cooperation and help the advancement of industrial science and technology in both countries. Collaborative research activities are planned in the areas of photovoltaics and fuel cells in the field of environment and energy, polymer actuators, nano-biotechnology, and medical technology in the field of life science, and MEMS, optical measurement technology, and information security in the field of Information technology and electronics. Since FhG has considerable influence on proposals and development of international standards, the cooperation will contribute to the enhancement of international competitiveness of both countries.

An agreement between Japan and the Federal Republic of Germany on cooperation in the field of science and technology became effective in October, 1974, and cooperative activities in the field of science and technology have been conducted actively. The promotion of the cooperation between public research institutions, namely AIST and FhG, will not only help strengthen relations between Japan and Germany, but also contribute to innovation in which basic research is put to practical use and then is industrialized.

Contact
International Affairs Division, AIST
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