On May 15, 2013, Director Yoichi Nakatani of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Strasbourg Office (France) visited NAIST. The JSPS Strasbourg Office was established in 2001 in Maison Universitaire France-Japon as the only JSPS office in France to contribute to the promotion of international academic exchange. One of our staff worked there as a part of a JSPS training program last year.

The main purpose of this visit was an official visit to the president and the inspection of our research, and at the courtesy visit, President Naotake Ogasawara, Executive Director Mikio Kataoka and the Center for International Relations Director Steven Nishida welcomed Director Nakatani. First, Director Nakatani introduced JSPS activities and higher education in France. This was followed with Executive Director Kataoka giving an overview of NAIST and an exchange of opinions.

After that, Director Nakatani visited laboratories in the Graduate School of Biological Sciences and Materials Science. Through this visit he came to a better understanding of NAIST's specific research areas. This occasion was a beneficial opportunity for both sides to exchange information and opinions