Report on JST ERATO International Symposium on 3D Tissue Fabrication

ERATO Takeuchi Biohybrid Innovation Project (Research Director: Professor Shoji Takeuchi, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo) organized the JST ERATO International Symposium on 3D Tissue Fabrication at the Convention Hall of the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, on May 20th and 21st, 2014. A total of ten researchers, specifically, four plenary speakers (three are overseas researchers), four invited speakers, and two researchers from the ERATO Project team, gave lectures. In addition, about 30 posters were presented. The symposium, which had more than 200 participants, was a success.

We have reported our research results at many international conferences since the project was launched. Our scientific literature has been adopted to be publicized in international journals many times. At this international symposium, the discussions focusing on the theme of the project allowed us to share the direction and accomplishments of the project with experts and corporate researchers from inside and outside Japan. We believe that the exchanges at the symposium will facilitate multilayered interactions among people and lead to the international development of the research, including possible joint research in the future.

Since many scientists everywhere intensively compete in the study area of this project, without incorporating the latest knowledge and technology into project research on a constant basis, we cannot achieve new developments before other researchers do and maintain the current advantageous position. Holding this international symposium at this phase of the research with less than two years to go before the project ends provided us with clues for solutions to difficult research problems and with a new viewpoint and a spark for new development. We believe that this international symposium was of huge value and significance as it will greatly contribute to the development of the project.

It is also notable that as many as 72 corporate researchers attended the symposium. This clearly demonstrates that companies have strong interest in our study area from a practical application perspective. Research derived from this project will lead to creating jobs in the future, effectively serving the industry-academia collaboration. The result will be our ability to increase the international presence of our group and JST, and to significantly contribute to mutual development in the future.