29 members, observers, and administrators of the Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives visited the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) campus on February 22, 2024.
The Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives was established in March 1983 by business managers and leaders in Okinawa Prefecture to contribute to the economic development of Okinawa across industry boundaries.
Specifically, the campus was visited by the Regional Economical Development Committee and the Information and Communication Technology Committee of the Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives.
Dr. Karin Markides, President and CEO of OIST, welcomed the visitors by thanking Ms. Miki Fuchibe and Mr. Yasushi Kawakami, two representatives of the Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives who are also members of OIST Board of Councilors and Board of Governors, respectively, for their close collaboration with the association, and stated that "I believe that Okinawa's biodiversity and island geography can make it an ideal test bed for innovation and business. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with OIST scientists and the local Okinawan community to realize the test bed in order to expand opportunities for Okinawa's economic development."
Mr. Ryoji Toyoda, Chairperson of the Committee for the Regional Economical Development of the Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to visit OIST on-site for the first time in four years. "OIST is a source of pride for the people of Okinawa and an intellectual property of Okinawa. It is significant that OIST is not only engaged in basic research in science and technology, but also being enthusiastic about industry-academia collaboration, and we hope to have a frank exchange of opinions today," he said.
The group was given an overview of OIST and its initiatives by Vice President Isaku Higa for Financial Management and Natsuki Matsumoto, Director of Communications. After that, Prof. Kae Nemoto, Director of OIST Center for Quantum Technologies and head of OIST's Quantum Information Science and Technology Unit, gave a presentation on the efforts being made by the OIST Center for Quantum Technologies as the Quantum Technology International Collaboration Hub among the Quantum Technology Innovation Hubs being promoted by the Japanese government. She also explained about the efforts being made to develop quantum human resources through industry-academia collaboration under Japanese government's Cross-ministerial Strategic Promotion Program (SIP).
Finally, Mr. Kiyoshi Kamiunten, Chairperson of the Information and Communication Technology Committee of the Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives, said that "as a local industry, we hope to continue to interact with OIST, which is conducting world-class science and technology research in Okinawa. These opportunities may also provide new business inspiration for our members."
OIST aims to contribute to the development of Okinawa, Japan, and the world, and will continue to work with the local community to promote economic growth and innovation in Okinawa.
More photos are available from here.
