JASTIP Opening and Signing Ceremony was held in Bangkok on February 26, 2016.
Content
JASTIP will be officially launched at a ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand in Bangkok on February 26, 2016.
Date and time
Venue
Program
| 17:30 – 18:00 | Registration |
| 18:00 – 19:00 | JASTIP Opening and Signing Ceremony |
| 18:00 – 18:25 | Opening Addresses
- Mr. Kazuo Todani, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, MEXT, Japan - Dr. Weerapong Pairsuwan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand - Ms. Yoshiko Shirokizawa, Executive Director, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan - Mr. Alexander A. Lim, Head of Science and Technology Division, ASEAN Secretariat - Mr. Hideo Fukushima, Chargés d' affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in Thailand |
| 18:25 – 18:35 | Introduction of JASTIP
- Prof. Yasuyuki Kono (Project Leader of JASTIP / Director, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University) |
| 18:35 – 18:50 | Signing Ceremony of MoC
Signers: - Prof. Juichi Yamagiwa, President, Kyoto University (signed) - Prof. Iskandar Zulkarnain, Chairman, LIPI - Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar, Vice-Chancellor, UTM (signed) - Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, President, NSTDA Witnesses: - Prof. Kayo Inaba, Execurive Vice President, Kyoto University - Prof. Enny Sudarmonowati, Deputy Chairman for Life Science, LIPI - Prof. Rubiyah Yusof, Dean, MJIIT - Dr. Chadamas Thuvasethakul, Executive Vice President, NSTDA |
| 18:50 – 19:00 | Photo Session |
| 19:00 – 21:00 | Reception (*JASTIP Press Conference: 19:00 – 19:30) |
| Welcome Remarks
- Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, President, NSTDA - Prof. Kayo Inaba, Executive Vice President, Kyoto University
Closing Remarks - Prof. Iskandar Zulkarnain, Chairman, LIPI - Prof. Rubiyah Yusof, Dean, MJIIT - Prof. Yoshimori Honkura, Program Officer, JST |
Report
The opening ceremony and MoC (memorandum of cooperation) signing ceremony for the “Japan-ASEAN Science and Technology Innovation Platform: Promotion of Sustainable Development Research (JASTIP)” took place in Bangkok, Thailand. This innovation platform is part of the Strategic International Collaborative Research Programs (SICORP) organized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
Held at the Japanese ambassador’s residence, the ceremonies were attended by over 100 people, including government officials, university faculty, and people from the private sector operating in Thailand.
The opening ceremony began with an address by Mr Kazuo Todani, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which was followed by congratulatory addresses by Mr Hideo Fukushima, Minister (Deputy Chief of Mission) of the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Dr Weerapong Pairsuwan, Deputy Minister of the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology, Ms Yoshiko Shirokizawa, Executive Director of JST, and Dr Alexander A Lim, chief of the science and technology division of ASEAN Secretariat.
Following the ceremony, Professor Yasuyuki Kono, Director of KU’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies and the representative of JASTIP, delivered his presentation on the project. Professor Kono explained that the JASTIP’s goal is to promote research on sustainable development at the initiative of researchers in Japan and ASEAN countries in order to promote social innovations that help make sustainable societies. This will carry forward by focusing on three global challenges Japan and ASEAN countries face: environment and energy, bioresources and biodiversity, and disaster prevention. Professor Kono also noted that the platform for cooperation in science and technology between Japan and ASEAN countries should enhance the visibility of these projects.
The MoC signing ceremony for JASTIP took place afterwards. The representatives of three satellite platforms, Dr Thaweesak Koanantakool, President of Thai National Science and Technology Development Agency, Dr Iskandar Zulkarnain, Chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and Dr Wahid Omar, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, signed the MoC, which was brought to the venue with an advance signature by President Yamagiwa. Representing Kyoto University on behalf of President Yamagiwa, Professor Kayo Inaba, KU’s Executive Vice-President, witnessed the signing.
A press conference also took place to publicize JASTIP while participants discussed how to promote exchange among Japan and ASEAN countries at a reception.