Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a recipient of the "COI-NEXT" program in 2022, which aims to realize a sustainable society based on mind, body, and natural environment, and will establish the "Global Bioconvergence Innovation Center" in 2023.

One year after its establishment, how has the Center's project developed and how will it develop in the future?

On February 20, 2024, the Center's annual symposium "Cutting-Edge Science for Social Implementation" was held. Many stakeholders gathered to share the current status of the Center's projects and confirm the future direction of the Center's activities.

This time on the OIST Podcast, DJ Nick Luscombe, OIST Podcaster-in-Residence reports on the event.

In this episode, you can listen to:

• Opening remarks by Prof. Nicholas Luscombe
• Special remarks, “Expectation to COI-NEXT Program at OIST” by Mr. Ichiro Ikeda, Director, University-industry Collaboration and Regional R&D Division, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
• Plenary Lecture by Prof. Fumihiro Haga, The University of the Ryukyus (Deputy Project Leader of COI-NEXT.

Learn more about the OIST COI-NEXT Program: https://bioconvergence.jp/en/

About the COI-NEXT Symposium 2024: https://groups.oist.jp/bioconvergence/fy-2023-coi-next-annual-symposium