VIENNA/TOKYO, 28 June 2021 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) in Japan have concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an aim to explore innovative technologies, new business models and institutional frameworks.

“During my official visit to Japan in 2018, a joint symposium was organized with UTokyo to highlight the importance of linking young wisdom, innovation and SDGs in the new era of industrial revolution. I am pleased to see that the event serves as the catalyst for establishing such a comprehensive partnership. The utilization of innovative ideas emanating from young people is one of the keys to addressing complex global issues, and I am firmly convinced that new knowledge developed by UTokyo’s topnotch researchers shall contribute to the achievement of SDGs and our collaboration will promote the inclusive and sustainable industrial development of developing and emerging countries,” said UNIDO Director General LI Yong.

UTokyo’s Institute for Future Initiatives and related departments have been steadily expanding the cooperation with UNIDO, starting from the internship opportunities provided to the UTokyo graduate students in 2016 by the Ocean Alliance, and now a collaborative project between UNIDO and the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences has been conducted in the field of marine plastic litter reduction. Being one of the largest educational and research institutions in Japan, UTokyo nurtures rich knowledge and resources in a wide range of academic fields. UTokyo expects that the MoU will further consolidate institutional cooperation with UNIDO in many other industrial sectors, thereby greatly contributing to the activities of the Future Society Initiatives promoted by UTokyo.

The relationship between UNIDO and UTokyo has been deepening since 2018. In April 2019, a joint workshop was organized during the Director General’s visit to Japan where young UTokyo researchers presented innovative ideas to explore future industries. In August 2020, UNIDO’s ITP Network held a panel session as part of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit (GMIS) 2020 Virtual Summit, where a UTokyo faculty member showcased future technologies to conceptualize the future of manufacturing and industries. Under the MoU, joint activities and projects are foreseen in the areas including, but not limited to, future manufacturing and industries/societies, digitalization/4IR, marine plastic litter, circular economy, and carbon neutrality.

UTokyo was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan. As a leading research university, UTokyo offers courses in essentially all academic disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels and conducts research across the full spectrum of academic activity. UTokyo is comprised of 9 Faculties and 1 College for undergraduate education, 15 Graduate Schools, 11 affiliated institutes, as well as several other facilities such as the Joint-use Facilities for Education and Research, the International Institute for Advanced Studies, the Interdisciplinary Research Facilities, the National Collaborative Research Facilities, and the Collaborative Research Organization, to nurture global leaders with a strong sense of public responsibility and a pioneering spirit, possessing both deep specialism and broad knowledge.