KIKUKAWA Jingo, Director-General of the Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau of METI and his delegation visit Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI) and other facilities

On July 3, 2026, the University of Osaka held a reopening ceremony and commemorative lecture to celebrate the renovation of Building No. 2 of the Research Center for Additive Joining Application at the Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI). On this occasion, KIKUKAWA Jingo, Director-General of the Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and his delegation visited the building as well as other research facilities at UOsaka.

The renovation of the building was carried out as part of a project selected by METI under its Program for Developing Incubation and Industry-Academia Collaboration Hubs at Regional Universities. The project was adopted as the Industry-Academia Collaboration Hub for 3D Manufacturing and Joining/Separation Technologies.

Built on two core pillars-innovative 3D printing technologies and integrated joining and separation technologies-the project aims to translate the research seeds of JWRI into practical applications through collaboration with private-sector companies. It will also contribute to addressing the societal challenge of advanced resource circulation and establish a new industry-academia collaboration hub in the Osaka-Kansai region.

On the day of the visit, the delegation first visited the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC). TAKEDA Kiyoshi, Director of IFReC, provided an overview of its research activities and initiatives. Following a question-and-answer session, the delegation toured the facility.

The delegation then paid a courtesy visit to KUMANOGOH Atsushi, President of the University of Osaka, followed by a roundtable discussion attended by FUJIO Yasushi, Senior Executive Vice President; ONOYE Takao, Executive Vice President; and IIMURA Akiko, Senior Vice President, creating a warm and cordial atmosphere for the exchange.

The delegation then visited JWRI to participate in the reopening ceremony and commemorative lecture to celebrate the renovation of Building No. 2 of the Research Center for Additive Joining Application. After the lecture, the participants toured the facility.

At the Graduate School of Engineering, the delegation received an explanation of the research and related activities of the Advanced Device Engineering Area from OMASA Takeshi, Dean of the School and WATANABE Heiji, Honorary Professor of the School. Following the question-and-answer session, the delegation toured the 21st Century Plaza facilities.

Last of all, the delegation visited SANKEN. SUGANUMA Katsuaki, Director of the Flexible 3D System Integration Laboratory provided an overview of its research activities and initiatives. Following the question-and-answer session, the delegation toured the facility.

Throughout the visit, the participants engaged in lively and productive discussions, making it a highly meaningful and fruitful occasion.

[Related links]

Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI) https://www.jwri.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/

Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) https://www.ifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/

School/Graduate School of Engineering https://www.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/

SANKEN https://www.sanken.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/