Event

On February 25, 2025, Kyushu University held its first KYUDAI NOW Forum in Singapore, bringing together over 80 participants, including alumni, representatives from Japanese companies, and university officials from the region.

The forum consisted of two main sessions: an afternoon symposium and an evening reception. The symposium opened with a welcome speech by Vice President of Kyushu University, Prof. Shimizu Shuji, followed by guest remarks from Mr. Hotta Toru, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, and Prof. Chiba Shunsuke, Chair of the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University. Prof. Kikuchi Kimiyo from Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies provided an introduction to Kyushu University. The symposium featured research presentations from distinguished faculty members, including Prof. Ohshima Takashi from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. Kusakabe Takahiro and Asst. Prof. Chakraborty Tapas from the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Matsuda Junko from the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Prof. Sakurai Kouichi from the Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Assoc. Prof. Keeley Ryota Alexander from the Faculty of Engineering, and Prof. Furuhashi Hirofumi from the Academic Research and Industrial Collaboration Management Office of Kyushu University, and Kyushu University Open Innovation Platform (OIP) Co., Ltd. These presentations highlighted cutting-edge research and diverse academic activities at Kyushu University, covering topics such as GreenPharma, bioresources, aquaculture, hydrogen energy, blockchain, ESG, and university-industry collaboration, including startup initiatives. The symposium concluded with a closing address by Mr. Ueda Shin, the representative of the Kyushu University Alumni in Singapore “Shokunkai.” The evening reception saw an even larger gathering, fostering deeper interactions among participants. Through informal discussions and networking, the event successfully facilitated new connections and strengthened relationships, further expanding Kyushu University’s global presence.

On the following day, the Kyushu University delegation conducted official visits to universities with existing MOU agreements. In the morning, they visited National University of Singapore (NUS), where they engaged in discussions with Associate Vice President Lum Sau Kim and six other researchers. The delegation received an in-depth introduction to NUS Enterprise and explored potential future collaborations. In the afternoon, they visited Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where Professor Chiba Shunsuke led discussions on ongoing research activities and future cooperation. Later in the day, the delegation visited Singapore Management University (SMU) and participated in a campus tour before concluding their visit and returning to Japan.

Group photo taken after the opening of KYUDAI NOW Singapore (February 25, 2025)

Scene from the symposium venue (February 25, 2025)

Scene from the reception (February 25, 2025)

Official visit to the National University of Singapore, a partner institution with Kyushu University (February 26, 2025)