The 2nd AUF Sparks Sci-tech Innovation Synergy in Tokyo, Japan
On February 17–18， 2025， the 2nd Asian Universities Science and Technology Innovation Forum （hereinafter referred to as the ＂Forum＂）， co－hosted by the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel （CAIEP） and the Japan Science and Technology Agency （JST）， and organized by the Shenzhen Center for International Exchange of Personnel （SCIEP）， was successfully held in Tokyo， Japan， bringing together 31 top－tier research presidents and vice presidents from 11 universities in China （including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR）， 11 universities in Japan， and nine universities across Singapore， Malaysia， Thailand， Vietnam， the Philippines， Indonesia， Cambodia， and Laos to jointly explore opportunities for fostering international sci－tech innovation collaboration and talent exchange among Asian universities to advance the integration of education， technology， and talent， thereby driving regional prosperity．
As a pivotal hub for global sci－tech innovation， Asia has demonstrated a growing trend in the quantity， quality and industrialization of sci－tech achievements． Sustaining this momentum requires not only continuous commitments by regional sci－tech talents， but also global expertise to contribute to Asia’s prosperity． In view of the challenges， the Forum provided a vital platform for university presidents and vice presidents to engage in insightful discussions to share experience and ideas， emphasizing key topics of common interested including promoting regional inter－university cooperation， improving the global innovation ecosystem， and nurturing and retaining Asian talents while attracting global sci－tech innovators．
Xia Bing， Deputy Director of CAIEP， and MORIMOTO Shigeo， Vice President of JST， delivered speeches at the opening ceremony． Prominent keynote speakers at the Plenary Session included OHTAKE Naoto， President of the Institute of Science Tokyo； Fang Fang， Vice President of Peking University； Bernard Tan， Vice President of the National University of Singapore； UMEHARA Izuru， Rector of Yokohama National University； Liu Jun， Rector of City University of Macau； and Tatacipta Dirgantara， Rector of Institut Teknologi Bandung． During the Roundtable Discussion， presidents and vice presidents from 31 universities participated in thematic discussions in three panels． Zhu Xuehua， Minister－Counselor for Science and Technology Section of the Chinese Embassy in Japan， and embassy representatives from the Philippines， Malaysia， Cambodia， and Indonesia attended the Forum as well．