The National Institute of Informatics, its main research activities and International Cooperation policy

Abstract: The National Institute of Informatics - NII- in Tokyo is the only national academic research institute for Informatics in Japan. Its activities deal with: - “Fundamental” research performed by around 100 permanent researchers and 130 Ph.D candidates in one of the 4 research divisions (Principles of Informatics, Information Systems Architecture Science, Digital Content and Media Sciences and Information and Society)  - “Strategic” research developed by additional researchers under contract and visiting academics in one of the 9 “research centers” and 3 projects, some being national projects e.g Big data mathematics, Quantum information, etc. - “Construction/Operation” of Cyber Science infrastructure academic network and contents including development of Interuniversity backbone SINET, the fifth version has been launched in April 2016. Moreover NII has “Education activity” for graduate students in the frame of the Department of Informatics of SOKENDAI University, a special university that receives only Ph.D students. After a general presentation of the research activities in the four Divisions, NII policy for International cooperation will be presented. Some aspects will be discussed that are implemented with financial support from NII with partner institutions in the frame of a MOU.  In particular the "NII International Internship" to receive Master or PhD students for a short period 2-6 months, supported by NII will be explained. Finally some examples of Cooperation with UK Universities and German Universities will be described and last but not least the DAAD-NII special program to support post-docs at NII will be presented  

Short Bio Professor Henri Angelino is a Visiting professor at National Institute of Informatics (Tokyo-Japan)-NII- and currently Acting Director of the Global Liaison Office (GLO) of that Institute. Prof Angelino has received his Ph.D. from the School of Chemical Engineering Toulouse. Until 2000 he has been a faculty member of “Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse” (INPT). He has been director of the School of Chemical Engineering (1983-1991) and then President of INPT until 1996. From May 1996 to September 2000 he was the Science & Technology Counselor to the French Embassy in Japan (on leave from INPT). Since December 2000 he is Visiting Professor at NII in charge of International policy. He is Invited Professor at The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) and gives lectures on “R&D policy and International cooperation in changing world”.