99 university students and businesspeople from 13 countries and regions gathered for international exchange in Sapporo
– Creating international internships and collaborative research projects –
The 7th International Exchange Meeting (IEM), sponsored by Amino Up Co., Ltd. (Sapporo, JAPAN), was held at the Hotel Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Park on Friday, July 19th 2024. The purpose of this exchange meeting was for 99 participants, including researchers, university students, and businesspeople from 13 countries and regions, including Japan, to introduce and exchange their research themes and business concepts with each other.
【Details】
The 7th International Exchange Meeting (IEM)
Organized by: International Congress on Nutrition and Integrative Medicine (ICNIM)
Sponsored by: Amino Up Co., Ltd. / Tsukushi Fellowship and Research Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Supported by: Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry / Hokkaido / Sapporo City
- Number of participants: 99
- Participated countries and regions: 13 (Japan, Indonesia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, India, Azerbaijan, China, Bangladesh)
- 11 overseas universities
- 16 domestic universities (6 of which are from Hokkaido)
- 13 domestic companies (9 of which are from Hokkaido)
- 9 government agencies and other organizations
【Background】
This International Exchange Meeting (IEM) was held as a related event to the 32nd Annual Meeting of the International Congress on Nutrition and Integrative Medicine (ICNIM, held in Sapporo), which is also sponsored by Amino Up Co., Ltd. The first IEM was held in 2015 with the aim of promoting international exchanges between universities and companies in Hokkaido and the top-level researchers from around the world who gather in Sapporo to participate in the annual meeting of ICNIM. Since then, new international exchange projects have been created, such as a joint wine research project between the University of California-Davis, USA and Hokkaido University, and an international internship agreement between Hasanuddin University, Indonesia and Amino Up.
【Outlook】
The IEM which began in 2015, resumed last year in 2023 after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s seventh IEM saw a record number of participants, 99 people. This year too, there was lively exchange across research fields and industries, and we hope to see the launch of new international research projects and the exchange lectures across borders.
The President Jun Nishihira of Hokkaido Information University praised the role of the IEM, saying, “This IEM is an effective and efficient opportunity to invigorate collaboration between academia and industry partners. It also provides a place to gain energy for educating the younger generation, making it an important opportunity for educators as well.”
Furthermore, Dr. Toshinori Ito, the president of the ICNIM, expressed his hopes for the further expansion of the international exchange project in the future, saying, “I hope that through this kind of face-to-face, direct communication, you will inspire each other and broaden and develop your respective research fields.”