Nobel Laureate Susumu Kitagawa Delivers Commemorative Lecture in Indonesia

iCeMS' Distinguished Professor Susumu Kitagawa delivered a commemorative lecture on February 5, 2026, at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in South Tangerang, Indonesia. The event celebrated his 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and was held at the invitation of BRIN in collaboration with iCeMS. The lecture provided a platform to discuss the evolution of his research and its growing impact on global scientific development.

Titled "The Usefulness of Useless: Fundamental Curiosity, Enduring Impact", the lecture emphasized that breakthroughs like Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) come from years of basic curiosity. BRIN leadership noted that his visit strengthens "science diplomacy"—using scientific cooperation to build stronger ties between Japan and Indonesia. This partnership focuses on sharing knowledge to inspire the next generation of scientists and build a community of researchers dedicated to advanced materials.

This collaboration is already solving practical problems in the Indonesian archipelago, where the many islands make it difficult to build traditional gas pipelines. A joint team involving the Kyoto University venture Atomis, Yachiyo Engineering, and BRIN is using MOFs to create a flexible gas distribution network. By storing gas in portable, high-efficiency containers, the partnership is bringing stable energy to remote areas through a "local production for local consumption" model, showing how laboratory science can solve everyday infrastructure challenges.