Minister Tsuruho Visits Germany and Switzerland
Exchanging views with President of the Max Planck Society
Exchanging opinions with President of Fraunhofer Institute
Exchanging views with President of the Max Planck Society
Exchange of views at German Aerospace Center
Meeting with Prof. Dr. Johanna Wanka, Federal Minister of Education and Research
Signing the joint declaration with Prof. Dr. Wanka
Exchanging opinions with the President of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Center
Visiting and exchanging opinions with the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation
Visiting Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
Visiting IBM Research Zurich
On January 8th-15th, 2017, Minister of State for Science/Technology Policy and Space Policy, Mr. Yosuke Tsuruho, visited the Federal Republic of Germany and Switzerland to promote collaboration with these countries in the area of science, technology and innovation (STI).
In Germany, Minister Tsuruho had opportunities to exchange information and opinions with Prof. Dr. Johanna Wanka, Federal Minister of Education and Research, as well as Presidents of Max Planck Society, Frauhofer Institute and Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. Meanwhile, he had a number of site-visits to cutting-edge research labs and private companies that work on “Industry 4.0” and discussed a number of topics, including the future of Japan-Germany relations in STI.
In the meeting between Prof. Dr. Wanka and Mr. Tsuruho, they first recognized that the two countries are facing many common challenges, such as how to ensure the best method for transportation in the era of decreasing birthrate and aging population and how to build public understanding on the use of big data. The two ministers then affirmed their continued dialogue on building upon a new cooperative framework between the two countries.
Most importantly, Mr. Tsuruho and Prof. Dr. Wanka signed the Joint Declaration of Intent on the Promotion of Research and Development on Automated Driving Technologies.
The two sides will continue working out further details of collaboration, including a large-scale Field Operational Test planned in this fall.
Minister Tsuruho also had the pleasure to visit the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, where the concept of “Industry 4.0” was born, and a few key private institutes, namely BMW and Siemens, both of which implement the concept.
In Switzerland, Mr. Tsuruho met with Mr. Dell’Ambrogio, Swiss State Secretary for Education and Research. He also visited the Presidents of the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. In each visit, Minister Tsuruho had a fruitful time exchanging views on how to promote open innovation and industry-academia collaboration so that the outcomes of basic research can be effectively implemented in society. They also enjoyed discussing a variety of other topics, including the future of Japan-Swiss STI cooperation.
Throughout the trip, Minister Tsuruho introduced the concept of “society 5.0” launched in Japan’s 5t Science and Technology Basic Plan and the current initiatives to make the concept a reality.
[Places Minister Tsuruho visited]
Germany: The Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Institute, BMW, The German Aerospace Center (DLR), Siemens, Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability (LBF), German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Federal Minister of Education and Research, and the Helmholtz Association.
Switzerland: State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, and IBM Research Zurich