President's Activities
2023
Discussion on cooperation between RIKEN and Korea (December 27, 2023)
President Gonokami discussed cooperation between RIKEN and Republic of Korea Government Research Institutes with Dr. Lee Jong Ho, the Korean Minister of Science and ICT. See a more detailed news article.
(From left) President Makoto Gonokami, Minister Lee Jong Ho
President Gonokami co-chairs Twelfth Global Summit of Research Institute Leaders (September 30, 2023)
On September 30, President Gonokami acted as co-chair, along with Iain Stewart of the National Research Council Canada, of the Twelfth Global Summit of Research Institute Leaders. The summit which is co-hosted by RIKEN and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) is held yearly in Kyoto, coinciding with the STS forum. The theme this year was “Challenges facing research institutions from potentially disruptive technologies, in particular generative AI.” See a more detailed news article.
President Gonokami surrounded by co-chair Iain Stewart (left) and moderator Stefan Noreen (right)
President Gonokami meets Students from the Masason Foundation (August 8, 2023)
One August 8, President Gonokami met a group of nine students from the Masason Foundation visiting the Wako campus to learn about RIKEN’s quantum computer and accelerator facility, featuring the Superconducting Ring Cyclotron (SRC).
The Masaon Foundation provides an environment where young people with "high aspirations" and "exceptional talents" can develop their skills. President Gonokami serves as a director of the foundation.
The students who visited ranged in age from 14 to 21, and came from Japan and overseas. Throughout the tour, they engaged in a lively exchange of ideas with the researchers.
At the end of the visit, they had the chance to meet with the president, who encouraged them by saying, "I hope you will pursue a career in science, and I would be happy to see you as a RIKEN researcher in the near future.”
Discussion on cooperation between RIKEN and India (August 7, 2023)
President Gonokami discussed cooperation between RIKEN and India with Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India.
(From left) President Makoto Gonokami, PSA Ajay Kumar Sood
Meeting with President of United Nations University (August 2, 2023)
President Gonokami received a visit at RIKEN’s Tokyo Office by Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University. The two discussed future collaboration between RIKEN and the university.
(From left) RIKEN Executive Director Makiko Naka, United Nations University Senior Vice-Rector Sawako Shirahase, RIKEN President Makoto Gonokami, United Nations University Rector Tshilidzi Marwala, United Nations University Program Manager Nicolas du Bois
Singapore’s deputy prime minister visits RIKEN (April 25, 2023)
On April 25, Heng Swee Keat, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, came to RIKEN’s Tokyo office to meet with President Gonokami and learn about the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), which is carrying out research in the area of artificial intelligence.
The Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by a delegation from various ministries and government organizations from Singapore, including Andy Hor, Deputy CEO of A*STAR, an organization with which RIKEN has a memorandum of understanding for research collaboration.
The visit began with addresses from President Gonokami and the Deputy Prime Minister, followed by introductions of RIKEN and AIP. Following discussions, the delegation was given a tour of the laboratories of AIP, which are located at RIKEN’s Tokyo Campus.
(From left) Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat, President Makoto Gonokami
Discussion
Addresses from President Makoto Gonokami
RIKEN Policy Retreat (February 1, 2023)
For the first time in four years, the RIKEN Policy Retreat was held in-person, in addition to being streamed online. The February 1 retreat allowed for personnel involved in RIKEN’s management to meet in one place, and in addition to sharing operational principles, they broadly discussed the direction of mid-to long-term research to reflect in RIKEN’s operational policies. Executive directors under the president, center directors, and external experts who are members of the RIKEN Strategy Committee carried out lively discussions on ways to reach a broader range of researchers and how to retain talented scientists from within Japan and from overseas.
2022
Discussion on the goals of the EU and RIKEN (December 12, 2022)
President Gonokami attended an informal lunch meeting where he discussed the relationship between RIKEN and the the European Union with EU Ambassador-Designate to Japan Jean-Eric Paquet.
Clockwise, from left: President Gonokami, First Counsellor Gediminas Ramanauskas of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, RIKEN International Affairs Division Director Kenichi Fujita, and Ambassador Paquet
Discussion on the future collaboration between RIKEN and Italy (December 9, 2022)
President Gonokami discussed the current state and future of cooperation between RIKEN and Italy with Italian Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti and Enrico Traversa, Science & Technology Counsellor of the Embassy of Italy in Tokyo.
(from left) Italian Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti, Science & Technology Counsellor Enrico Traversa, Executive Director Makiko Naka, President Makoto Gonokami