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In FY 2012, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the new "Professionals Exchange Program for Promoting Diplomacy in Science and Technology" aimed at introducing Japanese science and technology abroad through lecture series by Japanese specialists. The Embassy of Japan in Sweden linked up with the JSPS Stockholm Office to apply for support under this program. Our selection led to cooperation between the Japanese embassies in Sweden, and those in Denmark and Finland, and to our Stockholm Office requesting Hokkaido University's Helsinki Office to dispatch a lecturer from the university to Northern Europe. In this way, a new form of collaboration was established among the JSPS Office, Japanese embassies, and Japanese universities.  Over the period of 21-27 October, Dr. Masaaki Morikawa, professor, Hokkaido University, visited three countries in the region and spoke at the following listed institutions on green innovation and possibilities for cooperation among specialists in related fields: The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Royal Institute of Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Aalto University, Finnish Cleantech Cluster, and Technical University of Denmark. In his lectures, Dr. Morikawa introduced work being advanced in the field of biotechnology under the Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program at his university. He placed focus on the development of high-order plant bioprocesses using symbiotic microorganism interactions in the rhizospher, while speaking about future possibilities of producing efficient biomass energy by increasing plant growth through the optimal design of biofilm on plant-root surfaces, and of achieving water purification with only solar energy by designing effective plant-root symbioses. These lectures evoked probing discussions and volleys of questions. At each institution, he also held confabs and seminars with research groups in similar fields, with whom he considered forming cooperative relationships. - JSPS Stockholm Office  |
