Events

Memorial Symposium: Opening of Fraunhofer x AIST "Fraunhofer Project Center"

Date & Time: October 2nd, 2014 (Thu.), 14:00-17:30
Venue: Grand Front Osaka, North Tower, Tower B, Conference Room B01+02
Capacity: max. 100 people (registration needed)
Participation Fee: for free *Reception Participation 4,000 JPY

hosted by: Health Research Institute, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology AIST
co-hosted by: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, AIST Kansai
supported by: METI Kansai, NEDO Kansai, Osaka Chamber and Commerce (tbc.), Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Osaka-Kobe, German Research and Innovation Forum Tokyo

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Electroactive polymers (EAP) generically mean electrically-active polymers. By using EAPs, wide variety of industrial applications such as electrically-driven soft actuators, sensors, energy harvesting is expected.

The Health Research Institute at the National Institute of Industrial Science and Technology AIST has been working together with Fraunhofer IPA on developing EAP actuator devices since 2012. Now, we are happy to announce that both parties are about to launch a joint laboratory "Fraunhofer Project Center for Electroactive Polymers" at AIST Kansai to intense mutual collaborative research and proceed an international joint research project towards technology transfer of EAP devices to the industry. 

We would like to show you our collaborative research results from last years and introduce our plans on the joint laboratory as well as how to collaborate with us. We are very honored to have a keynote speech from Dr. Noritaka Fukushima, one of the pioneers in the EAP field. 

We woule be very happy to welcome you at the symposium and at the joint poject as a project partner. 

＜PROGRAM＞※with simultaneous interpretation

13:30    Entry

14:00    Opening Remarks
            - Dr. Masahiro Seto, Vice President, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science
            and Technology (AIST)

            - Prof. Thomas Bauernhansl, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing
            Engineering and Automation IPA

14:15    Greetings
            - Dr. Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy Director-General, Industrial Science
            and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau, Ministry of　Economy,
             Trade and Industry (METI)
            - Dr. Ingo Karsten, Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Germany in
            Osaka-Kobe

14:30    Keynote Speech "Bucky-Gel Actuator"(tentative)
            Dr.Takanori Fukushima, Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology

15:20    Talk 1 "Introduction of Fraunhofer Project"
            Dr. Kinji Asaka, Group Leader, Health Research Institute, AIST

15:40    Talk 2 "Introduction: EAP Research at AIST"
            Dr. Takushi Sugino, Senior Researcher, Health Research Institute, AIST

16:05    Break

16:25    Talk 3 "Introduction: EAP Research at Fraunhofer IPA"
            Mr. Carsten Glanz, Group Leader, Functional Materials, Fraunhofer IPA

16:50    Talk 4 "Advantages of the International Collaborative Research"
            Mr. Ivica Kolaric, Head, Functional Materials, Fraunhofer IPA

17:10    Discussion and Q&A

17:20    Closing Remarks
            Dr. Noboru Yumoto, Vice President, AIST

17:30    Closing

17:45-19:00    Reception
at Conference Room B08 (Participation Fee: 4,000 Yen)

＜Registration＞

Please register to the symposium online by September 25th, 2014 at 
https://unit.aist.go.jp/kansai/event/2014/eap/registration.html

or let us know with following information:
1) Full name 2) Organization 3) Participation into the reception 

＜Contact＞

Dr. Kinji Asaka, Health Research Institute, AIST Kansai 
TEL: 072-751-9180
E-mail: asaka-kinji(at)aist.go.jp