NAIST has been selected for the "Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (New Spring)" program since FY2024 by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Under the program, NAIST is working to maintain/improve the number and quality of doctoral students, as a pioneer of a graduate school without faculties since its foundation　which has been developing our strength of accepting students with a wide range of backgrounds, developing them into excellent master's and doctoral candidates, and sending them out into the world, and promoting diversity in both entry (backgrounds of students) and exit (career paths of graduates). In the next 10 years, NAIST aims to enhance our presence as "a graduate university that provides society with doctoral students who can lead the development of science and technology and the creation of innovations".

 In this first year of the program, the "Interdisciplinary Workshop," was held on November 5 (Tuesday) at the Lecture Hall and Information Plaza in the Nara Park Bus Terminal. It aims to enhance students' ability to apply their knowledge to real-world issues through interdisciplinary research projects, sessions to improve communication skills, and panel discussions by industry experts.

 64 students, 15 faculty and staff from NAIST, and 34 general participants from companies, etc. attended the workshop. Granite/Granite-AI students gave a presentations and poster sessions, and participants from companies took part in a panel talk on the theme of "What kind of doctoral human resources do companies seek?".

 At the poster session, all participants voted to select the best presenters, and awards were presented to the best presenters. The panel talk was a great success, with a lively question-and-answer with students and general participants on the content of the discussion.