JICA Chair Lecture by Prof. Someya from University of Tokyo in Ethiopia
Day：2024.05.28
event ｜
Overview
Event：JICA Chair Lecture by Prof. Someya from University of Tokyo in Ethiopia
Date：May 10, 2024
Sponsors：JICA & Addis Ababa University
Location：Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Participants
●Speaker
- Professor Takao Someya, Executive Director and Vice President／Professor of Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo
- Mr. Selamyhun A. Haile, Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT), Ethiopia
●Participants:About 100 people
- President Samuel Kefle, Vice-Presidents, professors and students of Addis Ababa University
- Officials from MInT
- Officials from Ministry of Education
- Staffs from other universities
- Local medias
Background and Objectives
Since 2021, JICA has dispatched "Start-up Ecosystem Advisor" to MInT and conducted training in Japan to strengthen the start-up ecosystem in Ethiopia. Through these activities, the Government of Ethiopia has designated Addis Ababa as a city for strengthening start-up ecosystem. Addis Ababa University is expected to strengthen its functions as a base for start-up ecosystem, utilizing its incubation center.
In addition, JICA has held a total of three JICA Chair Lectures at Addis Ababa University to cultivate young leaders, and in February 2024, JICA invited participants from three universities including Addis Ababa University to Japan (see related link). The invited participants received presentations from Professor Someya of the University of Tokyo and others, and have strengthened their relationship with Japanese universities and increased their interest in fostering university-launched start-ups.
In light of the above background, JICA and Addis Ababa University arranged the JICA Chair Lecture by Professor Someya of the University of Tokyo about "Japan's experience in fostering start-ups through universities and the current state of support for social entrepreneurship development".
Content
Professor Someya gave a lecture titled "U-Tokyo startup ecosystem and Electronic Skins", about an overview of his research on e-skin and the University of Tokyo's efforts to create start-ups.
In addition, Mr. Selamyhun A. Haile, Lead CEO of Innovation Development from MInT gave a lecture on "The Ethiopian Startup Ecosystem at its Activation Life Cycle".
Participants asked Professor Someya a wide range of questions, including what is necessary for utilizing research results for the benefit of society, the status of start-ups from the University of Tokyo, and the protection of intellectual property rights. In addition, questions were asked of Mr. Selamyhun A. Haile regarding administrative support for university start-ups and venture capital, and a lively exchange of views took place.
The special lecture was timely, as Addis Ababa University is now also keenly involved in nurturing university start-ups as part of its incorporation, and MInT had just launched a policy to support start-ups in April.
JICA will continue to cooperate to strengthen relations between universities and to build and enhance the start-up ecosystem in Ethiopia.
Special Lecture by Prof. Someya
MoU was signed between JICA and Addis Ababa University
Group Photo
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