Joint Symposium of iCeMS-Related On-Site Laboratories in ASEAN Held in Bangkok
On February 11, 2024, the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) at Kyoto University held a joint symposium with researchers from two On-site Laboratories in the ASEAN region. The event took place at the Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand. Participating On-site Laboratories included the Laboratory for Green Porous Materials (LGPM), established by iCeMS at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), part of the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, and the Smart Materials Research Center at Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) in Thailand.
The symposium was organized by Dr Thidarat Imyen, a lecturer at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Engineering and a former iCeMS Junior Kyoto Fellow. The event opened with remarks from Prof Susumu Kitagawa, Kyoto University Executive Vice-President and Director of LGPM, who introduced Kyoto University and emphasized the importance of international collaboration. Following this, Prof Wanchai Yodsudjai, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Kasetsart University, delivered a welcome address.
Prof Eiji Nawata, Director of Kyoto University ASEAN Center, then provided an overview of Kyoto University’s initiatives in the ASEAN region, highlighting the long-standing relationship between Kyoto University and Kasetsart University. Next, Prof Kanapol Jutamanee, Director of the Kasetsart University Research Institute for Advanced Studies, introduced key research projects at Kasetsart University, particularly those focused on agricultural-industrial collaboration.
A special lecture was delivered by Ms Pavadee Aungkavattana, Advisor at Thailand’s Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMU-B), who explained Thailand’s public research funding system. The symposium concluded with a presentation by Prof Satoshi Horike, iCeMS Collaborative Professor and Professor at the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University. He provided an overview of the research activities at the On-site Laboratories in the ASEAN region, shared recent research achievements, and discussed potential collaborative research, education, and human resource development among the four institutions. A commemorative gift exchange between Kyoto University and Kasetsart University followed.
During the research presentation sessions, 12 researchers from iCeMS, IMRE, the Smart Materials Research Center, Kasetsart University, the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS, Japan), and the University of Vienna (Austria), a strategic partner of Kyoto University and a research collaborator with IMRE, delivered presentations. Additionally, 10 student-led poster presentations were held, leading to lively discussions among participants.
This symposium strengthened international collaboration between iCeMS, its On-site Laboratories in the ASEAN region, and institutions such as Kasetsart University. It is expected to further advance joint research and educational initiatives in the future.
