Strengthening Collaboration: Science Tokyo and Imperial College London

On February 6, 2025, a delegation from Imperial College London, led by Prof. Mary Ryan, Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise, alongside Prof. Ricardo Martinez Botas, Associate Dean of Industry Partnerships and Professor of Turbomachinery, visited Science Tokyo’s Ookayama campus. They were welcomed by Science Tokyo’s leadership team, including President and CEO Ohtake, President and CAO Tanaka, Executive Vice Presidents for Global Affairs Tomohiro Morio and Jun-ichi Takada, Executive Vice President for Institute Strategy Jun-ichi Imura, Executive Vice President for Finance and CFO Kotaro Inoue, Executive Vice President for Research and Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Tetsushi Furukawa, Vice President for Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Yoichi Oshima and Senior Aide to the Executive Vice President for Institute Strategy Noriko Ito.　

Imperial College is a world-renowned institution, specializing in science, engineering, medicine, and business. With its reputation for cutting-edge research and innovation, Imperial is dedicated to advancing impactful solutions through interdisciplinary approaches. This aligns closely with Science Tokyo’s dedication to innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Over the years, the two institutions have developed a strong, dynamic partnership, built through research and student exchange programs involving both former TMDU and Tokyo Tech.

This recent visit focused on exploring the shared vision of both institutions for convergence science, fostering academia-industry collaborations, and identifying new partnership opportunities. The half-day meeting began with a presentation from President and CEO Ohtake, who outlined Science Tokyo’s approach to moving beyond traditional Japanese models by adopting niche strategies aimed at creating global impact. This vision seeks to transform research outcomes into tangible societal value, foster new industries, and enhance medical care.

Prof. Ryan followed with insights into Imperial’s White City Campus, an innovation hub for entrepreneurship and multidisciplinary research. The discussion evolved into a productive exchange of ideas, underscoring both universities’ commitment to driving meaningful social impact and pioneering changes in traditional academic structures. Key topics included talent exchange and the development of new joint interdisciplinary research projects.

Over lunch, the conversation continued with discussions on startup culture in both countries and the importance of providing incentives for students, researchers, and industry partners. Both institutions recognized the need for strategic frameworks that prioritize creating value through innovation. Community-building was also identified as crucial to nurturing an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and finding and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders.

This meeting marks the next step in the Science Tokyo–Imperial College partnership, setting the stage for continued collaboration in research, innovation, and cross-border impact.