Trilateral Joint symposium held by the Graduate School of Agriculture, National Taiwan University, University of Bordeaux, and others
The KU-UB-NTU Trilateral Joint Symposium on Horticultural Science, a joint symposium between Kyoto University Graduate School of Agriculture and National Taiwan University, University of Bordeaux, and University of Florida, was held on March 5 and 6, 2025 at Kyoto University Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, with support from the Kyoto University SPRING Program and SP+Fund.
Kyoto University and National Taiwan University signed an inter-university academic exchange agreement in 2005, and have built a mutually beneficial relationship over the years. National Taiwan University is a national university established in 1928 (Taipei Imperial University at that time) and is the oldest university in Taiwan.
The two universities have been actively engaged in joint research, exchange programs, and double degree programs. This symposium was held based on the cooperative relationship between the two universities, and was attended by more than 100 people, including faculty and students.
The first day of the symposium opened with a welcome speech by Dean Ryutaro Tao. The symposium also featured an introduction of each university’s activities and a signing ceremony for the establishment of the “KU-NTU Joint Research Center” between the College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University and the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University.
The establishment of the Joint Research Center is intended to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two universities, which may contemplate the implementation of joint, educational, training, research and other activities: specifically, the following broad framework;
(1) Organize matchmaking workshops, seminars, and conferences;
(2) Exchange faculties, researchers and students;
(3) Promote the establishment of Joint Research Center of, but not limited to, Smart Agriculture, Net
Zero Carbon Emission, and One Health in real, virtual or hybrid form.
(4) Plan joint research projects and publications; and
(5) Promote co-advising and dual/double degree.
This was followed by “Plenary Sessions” and “Keynote Speeches” in which each participating university gave presentations in a variety of fields and engaged in lively discussions. This was followed by an interesting competition in the “3-minute Flash Talk Session” in which Kyoto University SPRING Program scholarship students competed to explain their research in an easy-to-understand manner within the limited time of three minutes.
In closing, Professor Lin, Yu-Pin, Dean of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, College of Bioresource and Agricultural Sciences, National Taiwan University praised the symposium as a very fruitful one.
Next, Kyoto University students gave “poster presentations,” in which participants visited the research Posters with great interest and engaged in heated discussions with the students and researchers.
After the poster presentations on the first day, a welcome dinner was held in the Former head office of Forest Research Station lounge. Assistant Professor Nagasaka presided over the dinner, which was opened with a welcome speech by the Dean, Ryutaro Tao and a speech of appreciation by a researcher, Ms. Wenden Bénédicte, Unversity of Bordeaux followed by a lively interdisciplinary exchange.
During the excursion on the second day, the participants were divided into two groups and boarded a bus to visit the “Kyoto Prefectural Bio-Resource Research Center,” “Kyoto University Kizu Farm,” “Suntory World Research Center,” and “Keihanna Open Innovation Center” , where they were exposed to cutting-edge research. At the company seminars, SPRING Scholarship students were able to obtain a lot of information that will be helpful for them in considering their career paths. In Wazuka Cho, the participants also toured a tea plantation and watched with great interest the process of growing tea leaves and manufacturing tea. Lively exchanges took place across various fields, and the symposium was a great opportunity for future cooperation among the participating universities and other related parties.
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Opening remarks by the Dean, Prof. Ryutaro TAO, Graduate School of Agriculture,Kyoto University |
Lecture by Kentaro Mori, Associate Professor at the University of Bordeaux |
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Signing ceremony for the establishment of the “Joint Research Center” by Dr. Yu-Pin Lin, Dean, Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University (left) and Dr. Ryutaro Tao, Dean, Graduate School of Agriculture (right) |
Group photo at the symposium hall |
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Poster Session |
Opening speech by Prof. Ryutato TAO |
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Introduction of research topics by Ms. Yamazaki, director of Biotechnology Research Department, Kyoto Prefectural Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Technology Center. |
Explanation of the laboratory and flower cultivars by Mr. Yomo, president of SUNTORY FLOWERS LIMITED. |
