On July 14, the Canon Foundation held its 10th “Creation of Industrial Infrastructure” Technical Meeting and the “Science and Technology that Create New Industries” Interim Report Meeting 2021 at the STATION CONFERENCE TOKYO facility in Chiyoda City, Tokyo as well as online.

For this meeting, interested parties viewed a video prior to the meeting that covered three reports on findings in the “Creation of Industrial Infrastructure” Research Grant Program, research for which concluded this March, as well as eleven interim reports in “Science and Technology that Create New Industries,” the Canon Foundation’s new Research Grant Program. The meeting proper centered mainly of an associated Q&A.

By viewing the report details in advance, members of the Screening Committee proactively took part in the proceedings online in addition to venue attendees, adding a deeper level to the discussions moderated by the chairpersons designated for each session. While the event was simultaneously held online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the questions posed by attendees to researchers on their wonderful findings from sharp points of view and the precise advice given to help them expand their research in the future made the event a highly meaningful endeavor.

At the end of the meeting, Chief of the Screening Committee Yoshihito Osada offered his general comments on the event and expressed his expectations for the future, saying: “Much of the research agenda presented was challenging and long-sighted, and allowed us to hold deep discussion at this meeting. Such congregations of researchers in diverse fields to engage in discussion are of the essence for researchers to form an understanding of their positioning from a broad perspective and pursue creative research. I hope that you take advantage of the opportunity presented by this event unique to the Canon Foundation to achieve further developments in your research and become leaders in your respective fields.”