Last
Saturday the annual meeting of the French researcher in Japan was held at the
Maison Franco-Japonaise at Ebisu, Tokyo. The theme ‘’French research in Japan’’,
was a good opportunities to understand how collaboration between French and
Japanese researchers was developed since the last 20 years.
The day
started with a presentation of Dr. Hidetaka Ishida, director of the Graduate
School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies of the University of Tokyo
about the Todai Forum 2011, which focused on state of French speaking research
in Japan.
Then a discussion
about French laboratories in Japan was held. In Japan, there are some French
laboratories. These laboratories are under the regulation of the CNRS but they
are located in Japan and have strong collaboration with Japanese researchers.
The University of Tokyo welcomes two of the three French laboratories in Japan.
In order to
have a complete view of the French research in Japan, a second discussion focused
on the research of French companies in Japan. The director of the research and
development department of Danone Japan Co. Ltd., the director of Nihon Michelin
Tire Co. Ltd., and the director of Nikon-Essilor International Research Center
Co. Ltd took part of the discussion. They detailed why French companies
developed a large research and development program in Japan and what are the
advantages and disadvantages of this choice.
Then,
French researchers were invited to give short presentation about their
researcher in order to show the large variety of the research made by French
researcher in Japan. In this context I gave a presentation entitled: Uranium in
the Ocean.
Finally we
finish the day, with a cocktail!
