Former London Office (closed in June 2017)


London Office was closed on June 30, 2017.
For further information, please see here.

 

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In February 2009, Kyoto University opened its European Representative Office in London as the first overseas operating base in Europe, to promote the university’s industry-academia collaboration activities. The main function of the representative office will be to act as a base for the planning and undertaking of international collaboration activities with leading universities and companies of the UK and other European countries.
In the days ahead, Kyoto University plans to strengthen its existing partnerships with the University of Bristol and the Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT) in various ways including the exchange of their technologies and information, co-hosting of joint events, etc., and the consolidation of Kyoto University’s position in Academia-Academia-Industry Collaboration in Europe.
London Office has further led the conclusion of MOU and been interfacingcollaboration activities with Oxford ISIS, University College London Business, CNRS, etc., as well as European and Global industries.

 

Background and Overview

Promotion of International Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration centred around the Academia-Academia Collaboration

Kyoto University supports the International Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration program under Japan’s “Strategic Program for the Promotion of Coordination among Industry, Academia and Government” (Academic year 2008-2012) put forth by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In this program, activities are performed to facilitate joint research with overseas universities and corporations, and to promote international technology transfers.

While the simple collaboration style is a one-on-one linkage between the university and corporation, Kyoto University places emphasis on one-on-two collaborations with overseas corporations, and includes overseas universities in the multi-faceted partnership (Academia-Academia-Industry Collaboration (AAIC)). Kyoto University intends to develop AAIC as a University-wide activity by building on its existing networks with overseas universities, cultivated through the exchange of researchers and students and through the personal efforts of individual researchers. Another advantage of including overseas universities in the collaboration is that they would be reliable partners who are familiar with the legal system and local business manners.

In its first stages of AAIC activity, Kyoto University is on the way to establishing a global network based on the Academia-Academia collaboration, by developing new partnerships among existing partnerships, and by promoting joint research projects with leading universities and research institutions in the U.S. and in Europe. Then as a second stage, Kyoto University will put the Academia-Academia collaboration into effect, in the form of information sharing, the holding of co-hosted events, mutual marketing, among others.

 

Background and the Choice of Location

For the AAIC to succeed, we need to survey possible partners, negotiate with them to establish partnerships, and coordinate the various activities that arise after the linkage is built up. The most important thing is to build up trusting relationships with parties concerned and to maintain good communications with them. Even in the advanced IT society, Kyoto University places great emphasis on face-to-face meetings to maintain good relationships, but it has the down-side of costing Kyoto University a lot in travel expenses. The time losses and correspondence delays caused by differences in time zones pose other problems. To cope with these problems over the course of strengthening the AAIC activities, Kyoto University began to consider establishing an overseas office as a frontline base for AAIC.

Europe has been selected for the office site because of the close proximity between a large number of possible partners (within the distance of a two hours flight). The similarities in the higher education systems and in business manners between Europe and Japan were also important decisive factors. One of the reasons why Kyoto University finally placed the representative office in London is that London is considered to be one of the largest information centres in the world. There are many other encouraging circumstances; such as the British Government making great efforts to encourage the development of science and technology; Kyoto University also has many existing partnerships with British universities, and no less important is the fact that London is a part of an English speaking country.

 

Aims and Functions of the Office

As stated above, the European Representative Office serves as a front line base for Kyoto University’s International Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration activities. By taking full advantage of the location, the representative office will be making precise investigations and perform information gathering ventures at universities and companies, and also hold proper and detailed negotiations with possible partners. It is also expected to become a centre for building up far-reaching human networks, cultivating and fostering solid relationships with key persons in the realm of Industry-Government-Academia in Europe for the development of IGAC activities in the future.

In addition to the IGAC activities, the representative office is expected to contribute to the internationalization of Kyoto University by promoting joint research with universities, organizing alumni networks in Europe, and supporting overseas internships, along with the exploration of various other possibilities.

 

Office Information

Original Name: Euro Representative of Kyoto University SACI
Renewed Name: Kyoto University European Center, London Office

Address*: c/o WeWork Waterhouse Square
138 Holborn, London, EC1N 2SW, The United Kingdom
Mail Address: saci*kyoto-u.eu  (please replace * with @)

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