The opportunity to speak directly with researchers from a wide range of fields, including those from overseas SRLs, prompted comments even from senior researchers, such as, "It was really useful to discuss my research area with other researchers from different fields, getting new perspectives," and "I was glad to participate in discussions from a viewpoint I can't get at regular academic conferences." It appears that the conference, with its frank and cross-disciplinary discussions, was highly stimulating for the researchers.
In addition, a student commented, "I was able to understand clearly what companies expect from the SRLs. For students, industry-academia collaboration makes us realize how research evolves into social value." The research outcomes, as a culmination of three years of industry-academia partnership, seem to have given students a clear image of how research connects to making a definite social contribution and provided a valuable opportunity for them to consider their future as researchers. Professor Tsubokura of the Kobe University SRL also shared his expectations as an educator, which echoed the students' candid impressions: "Students have overwhelmingly few connections with companies. This is a very valuable venue where they can encounter social issues from a corporate perspective and see how they can contribute to society."
The energy of this 3rd SRL was encapsulated in a comment from one participant: "By attending the conference, I truly felt that Fujitsu is functioning as a 'hub (connector) ' for industry-academia collaboration." By connecting diverse research fields as well as bridging industry and academia, the Fujitsu Small Research Lab Conference has become an important and highly-valued event for everyone involved in this collaboration, especially the researchers.
In this article, "Part 1," we provided an overview of the 3rd Fujitsu Small Research Lab Conference, focusing on it as an opportunity for experiencing and discussing cutting-edge technology, highlighting the insights researchers gained there. The conference provided a wide range of inspiration to researchers at all levels, from management to junior staff. This went beyond just technical impact, offering them new perspectives on the role of research facilities as "ecosystems," insights from multiple and diverse fields, and a clear vision of how research can lead to social contribution.
In addition, a panel discussion titled "The SRL: Past and Future" was held at the conference, featuring members of Fujitsu's management team as panelists. Here, professors from the universities posed challenging questions at the very core of industry-academia collaboration, asking about Fujitsu's level of "commitment" to fostering and supporting doctoral talent, and how Fujitsu will respond to and work with university researchers dedicated to academic pursuits. The Fujitsu management team answered these questions head-on. This heated debate is covered in "Part 2," – don’t miss it!
