Continuing the Conversation with Kyoto University

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University of Connecticut President Radenka Maric with Koji Murota, Deputy Executive Director of Kyoto University and Director-General of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications; and Hirofumi Seike, PhD, Specially Appointed Associate Director of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications.
University of Connecticut President Radenka Maric with Koji Murota, Deputy Executive Director of Kyoto University and Director-General of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications; and Hirofumi Seike, PhD, Specially Appointed Associate Director of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications.

The Office of Global Affairs recently hosted a delegation from Kyoto University on September 18, continuing efforts to strengthen academic cooperation between the two institutions. The visit followed a trip on July 21 by UConn President Radenka Maric to her alma mater, where she met with Kyoto University President Nagahiro Minato and Professor Yasuyuki Kono, Vice-President for International Strategy, to discuss the development of research collaboration, student exchange, and global engagement between the two universities. President Maric earned her Doctor of Engineering in Metal Science and Technology from Kyoto University.  

The spirit of collaboration continued at UConn, where Kyoto University representatives Koji Murota, Deputy Executive Director of Kyoto University and Director-General of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications; Hirofumi Seike, PhD, of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications; and Hidetoshi Takeda, Officer of the New York Rakuyukai Kyoto University Alumni Association, met with University leaders, faculty, and staff to identify new pathways for partnership and exchange. The delegation opened the day with a discussion of UConn Tech Park and industry collaborations, joined by Provost Pamir Alpay, Interim Vice President for Global Affairs Ngozi Taffe, College of Engineering Dean JC Zhao, and representatives from Tescan and UConn’s Quantum Technologies program, followed by a tour of the Innovation Partnership Building. 

Peyman Ahmadi, PhD, Head of Laser Technology Business Unit at Tescan showing Kyoto delegation around the UConn Tech Park
Peyman Ahmadi, PhD, Head of Laser Technology Business Unit at Tescan showing Kyoto delegation around the UConn Tech Park.

The group then turned to technology commercialization and startup support, meeting with UConn Innovation & Entrepreneurship leadership, licensing and venture development staff, and the CEOs of two UConn-affiliated startups, Atlas Sea Solutions and SeaSol Technologies. President Maric joined faculty from Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering for a broader conversation on research ties between the two institutions. The visit closed with a session on entrepreneurial education, bringing together leadership from the School of Business, the Boucher Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Global Entrepreneurial Programs, and Experiential Global Learning.  

UConn faculty and staff posing with delegates from Kyoto University
UConn faculty and staff posing with delegates from Kyoto University.

The visit reinforced the strong and growing relationship between UConn and Kyoto University, building on President Maric’s July meetings in Kyoto and a shared commitment to global engagement, innovation, and academic excellence. As both institutions continue exploring opportunities in research, entrepreneurship, and student learning, the conversations sparked during this visit will help lay the groundwork for future partnerships that connect faculty, students, and communities around the world.