OMU News

Feb 13, 2025

President Tatsumisago makes 1st visit to DFKI and University of Ljubljana

In a significant step toward strengthening international academic collaborations, President Masahiro Tatsumisago, accompanied by Vice President for International Affairs Toshiyuki Matsui and Professor Koichi Kise from the Graduate School of Informatics, made his inaugural visit to the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia on February 6 and 7, 2025.

DFKI

OMU and DFKI have built a robust partnership for over 25 years, collaborating on fundamental and applied research in artificial intelligence, as well as facilitating personnel exchanges. The OMU Kaiserslautern Office in Germany, established within DFKI, serves as a testament to this enduring relationship.

During his visit, President Tatsumisago toured the DFKI labs and received briefings on cutting-edge research from experts. He also held talks with Professor Andreas Dengel, a longtime research collaborator with Professor Kise, and Yuta Nonomiya, a third-year doctoral student from OMU’s Graduate School of Medicine currently conducting research at DFKI.

Looking ahead, the Japan Science and Technology Agency’s “ASPIRE for Top Scientists” initiative, granted to Professor Kise in December 2024, is set to further invigorate researcher and student exchanges between OMU and DFKI, fostering even greater academic synergy.

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^{President Tatsumisago experiencing the KatWalk-demo.}

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^{Touring the DFKI research facilities.}

^{In the OMU Kaiserslautern office, from left: Mr. Nonomiya,
Professor Dengel, President Tatsumisago.}

University of Ljubljana

Since the signing of an academic exchange agreement in 2019, OMU and the University of Ljubljana have engaged in short-term study programs and joint research. The relationship was further strengthened through a courtesy call from University of Ljubljana President Gregor Majdič to President Tatsumisago in April 2024.

Prompted by an invitation from President Majdič, President Tatsumisago’s visit coincided with the renewal of the academic exchange agreement. The signing ceremony, held in the presence of Japanese Ambassador to Slovenia Akiko Yoshida, was a grand affair. Following the ceremony, a dinner meeting at the ambassador’s residence provided a platform for lively discussions on scientific and technological cooperation between Slovenia and Japan, as well as future academic exchanges.

Soon, OMU will host eight students from the University of Ljubljana from February 15 to 21 through the JST Sakura Science Program, under the guidance of Associate Professor Kunihito Tobita from the Graduate School of Sustainable System Sciences. Additionally, four OMU students are scheduled to visit the University of Ljubljana in March, further cementing the vibrant academic exchange between the two institutions.

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