The ASPIRE program dispatched five students to participate in workshops organized by the Ezaki project and the Otsuki project in the research area of telecommunications at the Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2025-Spring), which took place in Oslo, Norway from June 17 to 20, 2025. A debriefing session was held on June 30th at JST headquarters, with the participation of Dr. Kenjiro Miyano, Program Director of ASPIRE, and Dr. Naoaki Yamanaka, Program Officer in the research area of telecommunications.

In the field of telecommunications, fostering young researchers is a critical priority for Japan to maintain and enhance its international competitiveness. The purpose of sending students to the conference was to encourage them to broaden their global perspectives through attending presentations by prominent researchers and interacting with fellow researchers.

In conjunction with VTC2025-Spring, the Co-Principal Investigators team from the Otsuki project also held a workshop at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). During the debriefing session, a report on this workshop was also presented.

Developing global talents by combining broad vision with expertise

One student, who is conducting research on underwater communication using electromagnetic waves, commented that through discussions with international researchers at VTC2025-Spring, they realized the novelty of their own research and became interested in pursuing collaborative studies. Another student mentioned being inspired by the emerging trend of integrating telecommunications with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, robotics, and quantum technologies. Moreover, interacting with professor-level figures in other countries broadened student’s perspectives in considering various opportunities such as dual-degree programs and international joint research.

Dr. Yamanaka introduced the fact that Yukichi Fukuzawa, one of Japan’s most influential thinkers during the Meiji period, translated the word “society” as “human interaction.” Dr. Yamanaka emphasized that recognition comes not from working alone, but from having peers and collaborators. He commented that, for global success, it is important to develop one's own area of expertise while retaining a broad perspective in order to avoid being a "jack of all trades and master of none" and advised that presenting at prominent international conferences can be a strong advantage for one's career, to which the students indicated a boosted sense of motivation.

Lasting relationships are built through continuous effort

Dr. Miyano commented that he would like to see relationships other than those that are research-related, such as lifelong friendships, so as not to end up as "just encounters." Some of the students and Assistant Professor Nakazato at Tokyo University of Science, who was involved as a mentor in this dispatch program, mentioned that while improving language skills is important, they also realized that networking tools such as LinkedIn are effective for maintaining relationships and promoting public relations after making new connections.

Associate Professor Pan, Waseda University, reported that the ASPIRE workshops held at NTNU were very meaningful. These comprised campus and lab tours, presentations, and discussions involving young researchers from both Japan and Norway. In particular, for students planning to travel and stay in Norway in the near future, the workshops served as a valuable opportunity for prior research. Since the workshops were held at the same time as VTC2025-Spring, students showed strong interest in participating.

The students' presentations at the debriefing session were impressive in terms of their fresh individuality and creative expression. ASPIRE will continue to support young researchers in their pursuit of international opportunities.