We have secured funding for three new research projects from the prestigious Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, further strengthening our partnership with Japan.
These funding successes come at a pivotal moment in the UK-Japan bilateral relationship, following the launch of new science, technology and innovation partnerships during Prime Minister Takaichi's recent visit to London.
Building on a long-standing partnership
The grants support collaborations in bioelectricity, advanced mathematics and the history of artificial intelligence (AI).
Together, they highlight the breadth of Durham's research links with Japanese universities and demonstrate the University's continued commitment to working with partners in Japan to tackle global challenges.
The awards build on more than 160 years of connections between Durham and Japan.
Over the past five years alone, researchers from all four of our faculties have collaborated with colleagues at around 200 Japanese institutions, producing more than 600 joint research publications.
Grants for three pioneering projects
The first grant will establish a new research collaboration between Professor Margarita Staykova, from our Department of Physics, and Professor Junichi Ikenouchi at Kyushu University.
Together, they will investigate how electrical activity at the surface of cells influences cell behaviour, helping to develop the emerging field of bioelectricity through workshops and seminars bringing researchers from both countries together.
A second grant supports a collaboration led by Dr Fernando Galaz-García, Dr Martin Kerin and Dr Kohei Suzuki from our Department of Mathematical Sciences.
The team has brought together researchers from the UK and Japan for a week-long workshop in Durham exploring metric geometry, analysis and probability, creating new opportunities for future research partnerships.
The third project sees Dr Hansun Hsiung, from our School of Modern Languages and Cultures, working with Dr Yasuhiro Okazawa at Kyoto University.
Their research will record the experiences of pioneers in cybernetics, exploring how Japanese research from the 1960s to the 1980s helped shape modern AI.
Continuing to grow Durham's links with Japan
The latest Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation awards reflect the strength and diversity of Durham's partnerships with Japan.
Our researchers continue to actively engage with industry partners, including major Japanese multinationals based in the North East of England. Durham spin-out enterprises are also attracting backing from Japanese investors.
Durham University works closely with Japanese universities, cultural organisations and industry. We are also the UK co-Chair of the Japan-UK Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives (RENKEI) consortium, bringing together eleven UK and Japanese research-intensive universities.
