NCKU Forges Tie with Kyoto

Professor Mikio Takano, the principal project leader of the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) of Kyoto University (Kyodai) yesterday (2) led a research team of Kyoto University on an academic trip to the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) which is located in Tainan to participate in the forums as well as to give lectures. The iCeMS is one of the five World Premier International Research Center (WPI) sponsored by Japanese government. Professor Mikio Takano is widely known on the research of metal oxides and is expected to give productive and influential lecture in NCKU.

The Kyodai delegation also met with Academician Michael, M.C. Lai, the President of NCKU, to explore the feasibility of collaboration. Academician Michael, M.C. Lai compared NCKU to Kyodai because both universities are the second largest university in Taiwan and in Japan, respectively. Similarly, NCKU is located in Tainan, the historical and culture-rich city of Taiwan, while Kyodai is located in Kyodo, the historical and culture-rich city and the home to tradition in Japan. ¡§NCKU views Kyodai as a model of becoming top-tier World University,¡¨ added Academician Michael, M.C. Lai.

Professor Mikio Takano showed high interests in collaboration with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) of NCKU. They will discuss the collaboration details with representatives from MSE department at NCKU during their stay in the next few days. According to Professor Jen-Su Chen, the chairwoman of Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NCKU and Kyodai have similar research fields regarding materials science related to nanotechnology, chemical engineering and so on. ¡§We expect to initiate collaboration from researchers and student exchanges based on the field of materials science and engineering,¡¨ added Professor Jen-Su Chen.

The delegation from Kyoto University includes Professor Takano Mikio, Associate Professor Koyanaka Hideki, Professor, Shimakawa Yuichi, Associate Professor Saito Takashi, Mr. Kawai Masanori, Associate Professor Kobayashi Kensuke, Professor Isoda Seiji, Associate Professor Kurata Hiroki, and Mr. Haruta Mitsutaka.

About Kyoto University
Kyoto University (¨Ê³£¤j¾Ç) is a major national university in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest university in Japan, and formerly one of the Imperial Universities of Japan. The university has a total of about 23,000 students enrolled in her undergraduate and graduate programs.

Kyoto University has historically advocated a "spirit of freedom" in her academic activities. The university established herself as a premier research university with five Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medalists among her faculties and alumni. The university is also known as the home of the Kyoto School group of philosophers.
Kyoto University was ranked as the 22nd best university in the world in 2007 according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities. The Times Higher Education Supplement ranked Kyoto University as the 25th in the world and the 3rd in Asia in 2007.