During a recent mission to Japan, Pavel Kabat, Secretary-General of the Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO), engaged in productive discussions with the new Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Toshiko Abe. The meetings underscored Japan's vital role in HFSPO and explored pathways for future collaboration, especially in support of basic science and international cooperation.
On October 6, 2024, only five days into her new role, Minister Abe participated as a distinguished speaker in the Basic Science, Innovation, and Policy session at the annual STS Forum in Kyoto. Pavel Kabat chaired this session, which brought together global leaders to discuss the critical intersections of science, innovation, and policy in today's world. The session addressed pressing issues, such as the evolving landscape of research funding, the importance of international scientific collaboration, and the challenges young scientists face within academic institutions.
From left to right: Toshiko Abe, Minister, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan; Teruo Fujii, President, The University of Tokyo, Japan; Cynthia Friend, President, The Kavli Foundation, U.S.A.; Katja Becker, President, German Research Foundation (DFG), Germany; Tim Hunt, Emeritus Group Leader, The Francis Crick Institute, U.K. [Nobel Laureate 2001 (Physiology or Medicine)]; Pavel Kabat, Secretary-General, International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO).
Two days later, the HFSPO Secretary-General met with the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology at her Tokyo office, where he highlighted Japan's significant contributions to HFSPO over the past 35 years. Pavel Kabat noted Japan's continued leadership in advancing the frontiers of life sciences through its support for the program. During the meeting, future plans to enhance participation from Japan were also outlined, including an intensified outreach effort to increase successful applicants and expand HFSP's international membership base.
Minister Abe expressed her hope that discussions will continue regarding further cooperation and collaboration between Japan and HFSPO. The meeting also touched on preparations for the upcoming Science Summit in Japan, scheduled for October 2025.
The visit underscored the enduring and significant relationship between HFSP and Japan, highlighting the shared commitment to fostering basic science and scientific collaboration on a global scale.