On 9 August 2018, the JSPS Bangkok Office, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), and JSPS Alumni Association of Thailand (JAAT) held an academic seminar “Thai-Japan Academic and Scientific collaboration–past, present and future” at Bangkok Convention Center, Central World.

This seminar was organized as a component of Thailand Research EXPO 2018 which is known as one of the biggest exhibitions regarding Science-Technology affairs in Thailand.

JSPS and NRCT concluded a collaborative MOU in 1978, and this year is the 40th anniversary of the relationship between the two funding agencies. To celebrate this, Prof. Dr. Sirirurg Songsivilai, Secretary-General of NRCT and Dr. Susumu Satomi, President of JSPS delivered keynote speeches in the opening session.

Based on the above-mentioned MOU, JSPS and NRCT have been supporting several bilateral research projects every year. For this seminar, the JSPS Bangkok Office and NRCT jointly selected the following four projects which can be evaluated as excellent models of bilateral cooperation, and invited each representative to have presentations on their projects.

1. “Development of unifying multiplex target amplification for detection of medically important pathogens in clinical samples by high throughout sequencing”
Speaker: Prof. Takaaki Nakaya (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine)

2. “Development of a novel technology for targeted differentiation of iPS cells by Notch signaling inducible biomaterials”
Speaker: Prof. Prasit PAVASANT (Chulalongkorn University) and Prof. Hiroshi Egusa (Tohoku University)

3. “Application of the sole transformation technique of Arthrospira (Spirulina) for heterologous expression of thermostable phycocyanin”
Speaker: Dr. Kalyanee PAITHOONRANGSARID (National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)) and Prof. Iwane Suzuki (University of Tsukuba)

4. “Biological evaluation and enhanced capacity to produce secondary metabolites of Morus alba L. cell cultures and its fungal endophyte”
Speaker: Prof. Waraporn PUTALUN (Khon Kaen University) and Assoc. Prof. Hiroyuki Tanaka (Kyushu University)

During presentations, Assoc. Prof. Suraphong Lorsomradee and Assistant Prof. Wichet Leelamanit moderated each session on behalf of JAAT.

To conclude the seminar, Prof. Kuniaki Yamashita, Director of JSPS Bangkok Office delivered closing remarks. He expressed expectation for the future fruits of Thai-Japan collaboration and extended appreciation to all those whose efforts accrue to strengthening the close relationship enjoyed between JSPS and NRCT.