The Keio Global Research Institute Inaugural Symposium was held on Friday, December 2 at G-SEC Lab in the East Research Building at Mita Campus. The Keio Global Research Institute (KGRI) was established on November 1 this year as base to facilitate the further globalization of the university and become a truly international research university that makes important contributions to our society. The inaugural symposium was held to discuss how the university can promote its transdisciplinary, international research and education initiatives of Longevity, Security, and Creativity.
The symposium commenced with addresses by President Atsushi Seike and KGRI Director Keigo Komamura, and the conferment of the Faculty Award for Internalization by Vice-President Jiro Kokuryo. Dr. Huang Jing of the National University of Singapore Centre on Asia and Globalisation, and Dr. Thibaut David of the Grenoble Innovation for Advanced New Technologies then delivered the commemorative lectures, which was followed by a panel discussion presided by Vice-President Kokuryo and composed of KGRI Director Keigo Komamura, Longevity Initiative Leader Hideyuki Okano, Security Initiative Leader Yutaka Oishi, and Creativity Initiative Leader Tojiro Aoyama. The panel addressed the current state of, and issues surrounding support for young researchers and the maintenance and improvement of research facilities, and they discussed concrete ways in which we can move forward. Vice-President Toshiaki Makabe delivered an address to conclude the symposium, which was well attended by graduate students and members of the university community who shared their ideas and views regarding the issues discussed.