On September 26, 2019, Asia Society Japan Center hosted OIST President Dr. Peter Gruss, President and CEO of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, for a discussion titled, “Innovate Okinawa: the role of OIST in cultivating an innovation ecosystem in Okinawa.”
Held at the International House of Japan, top leaders in venture capital and private equity from Japan attended to learn about the ways in which OIST is contributing to the sustainable development of Okinawa through tech transfer, entrepreneurship, and innovation. In addition, there was a discussion of OIST’s innovation campus that aims to work with Okinawa Prefecture and Onna-son to attract new businesses to the area.
OIST is a unique institution. Located in Okinawa, it is an interdisciplinary graduate school offering a 5-year PhD program in science. Over half of the faculty and students are recruited from outside Japan and all education and research is conducted entirely in English. Their mission is to conduct internationally outstanding education and research in science and technology, and thus contribute to the sustainable development of Okinawa, and promote and sustain the advancement of science and technology in Japan and throughout the world.