EduAsiaNews, Tokyo – UTokyo International Research Center (IRC) Meeting, themed “Exploring the Future of Society,” was held in person on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at the Ito International Research Center of the University of Tokyo.
The meeting aimed to review the achievements of research collaboration between the University of Tokyo and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), as well as discuss opportunities for future joint research and researcher exchanges.
The University of Tokyo and CNRS have a long history of active research collaboration, built on strong partnerships among individual researchers and laboratories. The Laboratory for Integrated Micro-Mechatronic Systems (LIMMS), established in 1995, is one example of this longstanding cooperation. Today, several International Research Laboratories (IRLs) support research collaboration between the two institutions.
In 2022, the CNRS–UTokyo International Research Center (IRC) was established to further develop collaboration at the institutional level, building on existing IRLs. In 2025, an Inter-IRC meeting in Paris, France, brought together CNRS and all universities hosting IRCs, creating opportunities to expand collaboration among the participating centers.
Exploring New Joint Research Across IRLs and Disciplines
One of the main topics at this year’s meeting was the potential for new joint research initiatives extending beyond individual International Research Laboratories (IRLs) and disciplinary boundaries.
Participants discussed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration across fields including artificial intelligence (AI), natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities, including philosophy. They explored how the two institutions could build on their respective strengths to identify new areas of research.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and encouraging interaction among IRLs through joint events, turning these exchanges into concrete collaborative activities.
Mathematics and the mathematical sciences were highlighted as particularly promising areas for interdisciplinary collaboration, given their connections to fields such as AI, physics and climate science. Participants also exchanged views on future opportunities for collaboration in climate research, building on work already undertaken by both institutions.
Promoting Exchange and the Development of Early-Career Researchers
The meeting also addressed the development and mobility of early-career researchers.
In addition to the University of Tokyo–CNRS Joint PhD Program, participants discussed opportunities to leverage programs such as COFUND, selected in September 2026, under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation framework program.
These initiatives could help promote exchanges among postdoctoral researchers and other early-career scholars, contributing to the development of the next generation of researchers who will strengthen ties between the two institutions.
Participants also emphasized the importance of moving beyond occasional visits and researcher exchanges. Sustained interaction over time can help establish long-term collaborative relationships and foster research networks that may lead to future joint projects.
Toward More Strategic Research Collaboration
Research collaboration between the University of Tokyo and CNRS has traditionally been driven by strong relationships among individual researchers and laboratories. Going forward, the two institutions are expected to build on this solid foundation while preserving the researcher-led nature of their collaboration and pursuing larger, more strategic joint research initiatives that transcend laboratory and disciplinary boundaries.
The IRC meeting provided an important opportunity to take the longstanding research partnership between CNRS and the University of Tokyo to the next stage.
As the University of Tokyo approaches the 150th anniversary of its founding in 2027, it continues to consider the future direction of its research, education and overall institutional development. Collaboration with CNRS is also expected to build on the strong networks already established among researchers, connect scholars across a broader range of disciplines, and generate new initiatives in research, researcher exchanges and efforts to address societal challenges.
