Solvay and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) will provide exchange programs in STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and DEI.
Brussels, December 5, 2022
Solvay and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate and cooperate on an exchange program that will enhance STEM education and DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion).
AIST and Solvay had already agreed to establish a long-term partnership and signed a joint research agreement in January 2019. Since then, several joint research projects have been launched to address long-term global challenges such as resource efficiency and circularity for building a sustainable society.
On top of this, the innovation-leading partners today agreed on an ambitious exchange program that includes internships, training and missions between Europe and Japan for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in Japan, France and Belgium. Young employees from both institutions will also have the opportunity to be a part of the exchange program, which will provide them with work and cross-cultural experience, and expand the number of next-generation researchers who will lead scientific breakthroughs in the future.
To support the future of the Chemical industry, Solvay has for many years embarked on various initiatives to actively support science, technology, engineering and math education (STEM). In doing so, such actions have been challenged by the lack of diversity of STEM candidates, a global trend also felt in Japan.
“It is a great opportunity for future talents that we are happy to share today,” said Pascal Metivier, Senior Executive Vice President Research Shared Operations of Solvay. “Creating bonds and bridges for science education between continents is indeed a great way to enable a rich diversity of future researchers, needed to take up the challenges of our future society”.
A ceremony was held at the Hotel Okura Tokyo in the presence of HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium on the occasion of the Belgian Economic Mission in Japan, where Mr. Pascal Metivier and Ms. Kazumi Kato, Vice President and Director of the Innovative Human Resources Department of AIST signed their Letter of Intent.
About Solvay
Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 21,000 employees in 63 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet roadmap crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering a better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities and delivered net sales of €10.1 billion in 2021. Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (SOLB). Learn more at www.solvay.com.
About AIST
AIST, one of the largest public research organizations in Japan, focuses on the creation and practical realization of technologies useful to Japanese industry and society and on “Implementing technologies in society“, in other words, “bridging” the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialization with the hope of building a sustainable society. AIST has about 2,300 researchers in 11 research bases across Japan. AIST is actively building a global network by signing memorandums of understanding for comprehensive research cooperation with major research institutes around the world. As STEM education and DEI activities, AIST is operating the Innovation School, which aims to train human resources to contribute to innovation and is expanding the recruitment of female researchers with the aim of increasing the ratio of female researchers.