On Thursday, March 10, 2022, Efrat Machikawa, Cultural and Science Affairs Attaché, and Satoko Oda, Science Technology Innovation Assistant at the Embassy of Israel in Japan, visited Tohoku University and met with Prof. Keiichi Sasaki, Executive Vice President (EVP) for Co-creation Strategy, Disaster Reconstruction and Regeneration of Tohoku University.

Machikawa, a newly appointed official at the Embassy of Israel in Japan, stated that she had worked at the SimReC Research Center at Ben-Gurion University in Israel as an expert in a simulation of healthcare and medical education and that she would like to strengthen cooperation with Tohoku University in order to promote a wide range of science and technology exchange between Israel and Japan.

EVP Sasaki welcomed the visitors and introduced Tohoku University’s various initiatives, including the next-generation synchrotron radiation facility which is currently under construction on the Aobayama campus.

Following the introduction, both sides exchanged views on how to further develop the exchange that was brought closer through the “Tohoku-Israel Start-up Global Challenge Program” (organized by the Embassy of Israel in Japan and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)) in FY2021, which was co-organized by Tohoku University.

In addition, Ms. Machikawa met with the Center for Innovation and Business of the Head Office of Enterprise Partnerships, and the Global Engagement Division of the General Affairs and Planning Department to exchange views on future support for startup companies originated from Tohoku University and international exchange between the two parties.