The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen mutual cooperation with the purpose of enhancing Japan’s capabilities in technological innovation and worldwide competitiveness.
The signing ceremony was held on October 28 on the OIST campus. Attending from ATR was Hiroyuki Suzuki, Senior Executive Vice President, and from OIST was Lauren Ha, Associate Vice President for Technology Development and Innovation.
Hiroyuki Suzuki, Senior Executive Vice President of ATR (left), and Lauren Ha, Associate Vice President
ATR is a analysis institute established within the Keihanna Science City to promote basic and modern analysis within the subject of telecommunications. In collaboration with universities, analysis establishments, and firms in Japan and overseas, ATR conducts analysis in areas resembling speech info processing, mind info science, assistive robotics, and wi-fi communications.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) goals to promote innovation by leveraging the respective strengths and networks of each establishments by means of analysis and improvement, industry-academia collaboration, and help for startups. OIST and ATR plan to advance quite a lot of cooperative actions, together with creating alternatives for joint analysis, facilitating exchanges of researchers and engineers, and supporting collaborations with {industry}.
“OIST and ATR share the same vision of advancing innovation through interdisciplinary science and entrepreneurship. Our collaboration will strengthen Japan’s innovation landscape and enable new synergies between research excellence and real-world application,” remarked Ha. “By connecting Okinawa’s growing innovation ecosystem with the Keihanna Science City and broader Kansai area, we can promote a regional partnership whose combined strengths will generate greater impact than either could achieve alone.”
Suzuki added “We are very pleased and honored to have signed MoU with OIST today. Through the complementary collaboration between OIST’s program supporting early-stage startups and entrepreneurs and ATR’s acceleration program “KGAP+,” which facilitates matching with companies and supports proof-of-concept (PoC) implementation, we will further strengthen and accelerate our support for startups with innovative technologies that address global challenges.”
Attendees of the signing ceremony and members of the pitch contest.
About the KGAP+ acceleration program
KGAP+, operated by ATR, is a three-month acceleration program based mostly in Keihanna Science City. It goals to facilitate proof-of-concept (PoC) and pilot assessments with Japanese corporations and medical establishments. To date, 210 startups from 25 nations world wide have participated in this system.
Following the signing of the memorandum, the ceremony marked the primary collaborative alternative beneath the partnership, throughout which 4 OIST startups competed for the prospect to take part within the KGAP+ program. As a consequence, Tlaloc Blue, which addresses challenges associated to natural waste resembling meals waste by means of an AI-driven vertically built-in ecosystem, was chosen. This collaboration is predicted to additional increase OIST’s startup community and enhance alternatives to check and implement merchandise and applied sciences in society.
Hiroyuki Suzuki from ATR (left) and Karim Honein, founding father of Tlaloc Blue, chosen for the upcoming KGAP+ program (proper).