Japan Hub: A Mission to Expand the University’s Network of Collaborations in Japan

To strengthen relationships with existing Japanese partners and develop new opportunities for collaboration, an institutional mission led by Japan Hub Director Giuseppe Quaglia, accompanied by the project’s Research Manager Giovanni Colucci, took place from June 8 to June 19.

During the mission, the delegation met with academic, industrial, and institutional partners in the Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagoya areas, with the aim of strengthening Politecnico di Torino’s network of collaborations in Japan and identifying new areas for cooperation.

Throughout the first week, the delegation visited major industrial organizations, including SMC, a leading company in the field of industrial automation, and Hibot, a company specializing in the development of mobile robots for inspection and maintenance activities in complex and high-risk environments. The delegation also visited the national research center JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology). These visits provided an important opportunity to discuss potential forms of collaboration between Politecnico di Torino and the organizations involved, with particular attention to the development of joint projects in the fields of research, innovation, and technology transfer.

The mission also included a visit to the Italian Embassy in Tokyo, where the delegation had the opportunity to meet the new Italian Ambassador to Japan, Mario Vattani, who took office last February. The meeting helped strengthen the dialogue between the Japan Hub and the Italian institutions operating in Japan, laying the groundwork for new initiatives and collaborations of mutual interest.

The second week was dedicated to consolidating relationships with universities in the Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagoya areas. Visits to partner institutions, including Kyoto Institute of Technology, The University of Osaka, Nagoya City University, and Osaka Institute of Technology, provided an opportunity to further develop ongoing collaborations and explore new possibilities for academic and scientific cooperation.

The delegation also visited Nagoya University, one of Japan’s leading universities, to present Politecnico di Torino and the activities of the Japan Hub. The meeting took place in an atmosphere of strong mutual interest and openness, confirming the potential for future collaborations and offering particularly promising prospects for the development of relations between the two institutions.

“Japan continues to be a strategic country for the development of internationalization initiatives involving both students and faculty members – commented Professor Quaglia – Universities, research centers, and companies welcome Politecnico di Torino with great interest and with the courtesy that only Japanese culture can offer. This mission has opened up new opportunities for activities in education, research, and technology transfer”.