Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Renee Hoffman
Date: February 29, 2008 Phone: 919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES N.C.-NAGOYA UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP
Informational Gateway With Japan To Spur Technology Sharing, International Cooperation
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced the opening of the Nagoya University Technology Transfer Office, a first-of-its-kind state project designed to facilitate innovation and business ties between North Carolina and Japan. Nagoya University is internationally known as one of Japan’s leading research centers.
“North Carolina will gain new business from this partnership while Nagoya University benefits from our state’s strong academic and research communities,” said Easley. “It is another way that we are building on our state’s strengths and planting the seeds for future success and job growth in the global economy.”
Nagoya University Tech will provide information on new technology and patents from Japan and work to find North Carolina companies for joint research projects. The office will help build new relationships with existing businesses and explore the possibility of new start-ups in North Carolina. Nagoya University has helped spur a high-technology rebirth in its own region, which is home to Toyota, NGK, Aisin and other companies, and sees North Carolina as a prime outreach partner.
Nagoya University is located in the Tokai region of central Japan, between Tokyo and Osaka and features biotechnology, nanotechnology, environmental and information communications technology clusters, forming a good fit for existing and future North Carolina academic and manufacturing sectors. Nagoya University is paying for the new outreach venture.
Project partners include N.C. State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nagoya University and the N.C. Department of Commerce, which is hosting the first office of NU Tech. A permanent office is expected to open in April in Research Triangle Park. The office will also facilitate visits between the two countries for those involved in research and production.
Nagoya University Tech will host “University-Industry Collaboration: From Japan to the World,” a March 3 seminar at the N.C. Biotechnology Center, and an Academic Consortium 21 forum on “Innovation and Technology Transfer” and other topics, July 27-30 at N.C. State. Nagoya University Tech will help organize the 32nd Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan Association at the Raleigh Convention Center, Oct. 18-21.
For more information on Nagoya University Tech, contact Professor Suzuki at hsuzuki@sangaku.nagoya-u.ac.jp or Jean Davis, director of the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Division, 919-715-5746 or jdavis@nccommerce.com.
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