HIRAKU-Global Office
Office of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration, Hiroshima University
E-mail: hiraku-global*office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp (replace * with @)
HIRAKU-Global Annual Conference FY2025
"Future Global Research Leaders from Chugoku-Shikoku"
Friday, February 27, 2026 1:00pm-4:55pm (JST)
Online via Zoom
HIRAKU-Global exists to support the development and growth of early career researchers in the Chugoku-Shikoku region, with several researchers joining the program each year as part of a new HIRAKU-Global Researcher (HGR) Cohort. This year, we will hold the HIRAKU-Global Annual Conference FY2025 on February 27th, 2026 online, and are looking forward to hearing updates from the 4th HGR Cohort, who have just reached the mid-point of their HIRAKU-Global journey since starting in 2023. These researchers come from a broad range of backgrounds, including engineering, chemistry, biology, and medical science. We look forward to hearing about not just how they got to where they are now in their respective research careers, but especially about where they believe they are headed in the years to come, as HIRAKU-Global Consortium Mentors will also provide feedback and advice during the conference. Finally, a keynote presentation featuring a senior researcher from Japan with extensive experience building and leading international research networks will hopefully inspire not only the 4th HGR cohort, but other HGRs and all attendees at-large as well.
Conference Details
Date: Friday Febuary 27th, 2026
Time: 1:00PM – 4:55PM (JST)
Online: Zoom
Language: English
Registration Fee: Free
The detailed schedule will be published at a later date once it is confirmed.
Registration
Please note that space is limited, and registration will close once capacity is reached
Link: https://forms.office.com/r/Cn576KUeWs
Registration Deadline: February 25th, 2026 – 11:59 PM (JST)
Speakers
13:00-13:05 Opening Remarks
- MITSUDA Noriaki
Ehime University
Executive Director/Vice President
HIRAKU-Global Operating Council Member
13:05-13:20 Introduction to HIRAKU-Global
- Tony Z JIA
Hiroshima University
HIRAKU-Global Program Manager
13:20-14:50 4th HIRAKU-Global Researcher Cohort Presentations
- Alberto GALLEGOS RAMONET
Tokushima University
Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences
4th Cohort HIRAKU-Global Researcher
- KATO Hirotaka
Ehime University
Graduate School of Science and Engineering
4th Cohort HIRAKU-Global Researcher
- KAWAHARA Daisuke
Hiroshima University
Hiroshima University Hospital - Department of Radiology
4th Cohort HIRAKU-Global Researcher
14:50-15:00 Break
15:00-16:00 4th HIRAKU-Global Researcher Cohort Presentations
- MINATO Takuo
Hiroshima University
Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering
4th Cohort HIRAKU-Global Researcher
- SHIMASAKI Kohei
Hiroshima University
Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering
4th Cohort HIRAKU-Global Researcher
16:00-16:50 Keynote Lecture - Building and Leading International Research Networks
- HARA Masahiko
JSPS London
Director
16:50-16:55 Closing Remarks
- SUZUKI Ei-ichiro
Kihara Memorial Yokohama Foundation for the Advancement of Life Sciences
Director
HIRAKU-Global Consortium Mentor
Host
"Home for Innovative Researchers and Academic Knowledge Users Driving Global Impact (HIRAKU-Global)" under the "Strategic Professional Development Program for Young Researchers" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Co-Hosts
“Program for Developing and Supporting the Next-Generation of Innovative Researchers at Hiroshima University (SPRING)” under the "Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation” by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
"Hiroshima University J-PEAKS" under the "Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS)" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

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