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The Foundation's Chairman, Toshiaki Ikoma, attended the 14th annual conference of the STS Forum.

The 14th annual conference of the STS Forum* was held at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto on October 1–3 (Sunday–Tuesday) with the attendance of the Foundation's chairman, Toshiaki Ikoma.
（* STS Forum: Science and Technology in Society Forum）

The Annual Meeting of the STS Forum is an international forum held in autumn in Kyoto. Global leaders in fields as varied as science and technology, politics, business, and media gathered to hold discussion about science and technology and long-term sustainable societies of the future that transcend the boundaries of nations and regions.

In the main hall, Koji Omi, the chairman and one of the founders of the STS Forum, delivered the opening address. He was followed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Hiroshige Seko, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who delivered speeches to open the first day of the forum. Over this three-day event, the approx. 1,400 participants networked, attended subcommittee meetings, and held active discussions that included interactive talks between Nobel Prize winners and leaders of the next generation.

  • Koji Omi, Chairman
  • Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
  • Interactive discussion between Nobel Prize laureates and leaders of the next generation
  • Networking
  • Subcommittee meeting

This year, a meeting of leaders of non-governmental foundations was held for the first time, and four foundations participated in this meeting. Toshiaki Ikoma, the chairman, was invited as one of the leaders of Japanese non-governmental foundations.

After announcing the aim and characteristics of the Canon Foundation, the chairman reported that the Canon Foundation is focusing on funding emerging research as a means of supplementing governmental research grants for science and technology. He also introduced the ways the foundation is cultivating young researchers. Participants exchanged opinions with the heads of the Leibniz Association of Germany and the Qatar Foundation of Qatar. Another such meeting has been planned for next year.

photo by STS Forum