The 2013 SFC Open Research Forum (ORF) was held November 22–23 at Tokyo Midtown Hall and Conference. ORF is hosted every fall by the Keio Research Institute at SFC, with the aims of presenting to a wider audience the efforts of leading-edge research conducted on campus, giving back the fruits of this research (new research ideas, or “seeds”) to society, and promoting further collaboration between government, business, and academia.
For this 18th ORF, the theme “bazaar of creation” was inspired by key words such as “creative”, “emergent”, “original”, and “inventive.” The theme represents the expectation that the ORF will be a platform where new bonds are formed, and new values and possibilities created. Taking another step forward beyond the 2012 ORF theme “bazaar of intelligence,” this year’s ORF aimed to create new intelligence for finding the silver bullet that will bring new vitality to society. The ORF was set forth with the strong spirit of Jiga sakko—creating history to define the future.
The Midtown Hall featured various exhibition booths introducing research projects, as well as a display of books from SFC related researchers. Panel discussions on those same books, and other events such as the Smartphone Future Contest were also held as part of this year’s ORF. Over 150 different research projects were showcased in the following five categories:
A. High-Integrity Information Society—Ubiquitous, Infrastructure, Communication, Technology
B. Healthy Aged Society—Embodied Knowledge, Healthcare, Life Sciences
C. International Strategy Design—Policies, Culture, Governance
D. Social Innovation—Social, Global, Regional, Educational
E. Environmental Symbiosis—Design, Environmental Design
Other Keio participants included Shonan Fujisawa Junior and Senior High School, Mita Campus's Global Security Research Institute, and the Keio SFC Academic Society, all of whose contributions added even more variety to the display. Thirty-two projectors were used on the upper walls to create spectacular displays of imagery from the presentation booths, distribution of the people at the venue, and the “bazaar of creation” logo.
The Midtown Conference was bustling with visitors to the ORF who were treated to a total of sixty sessions by researchers and business leaders on a variety of topics over the course of the two days. In one of the premium sessions, “With Great Data Comes Great Health,” researchers from various fields and business leaders examined the issues that arise, and their solutions, in relation to implementing medical innovations that would create the future. In another premium session, “Future of 3D Printer and Personal Fabrication,” the possibilities and limits of 3D printers, which are gaining wide attention; the synchronicity of information and materials; and the connection between digital fabrication and society were explored. Elsewhere, in the premium session, “The Aims and Future Direction of the ‘School of Future Creation’ (SFC),” faculty members discussed the direction that SFC will take in the coming years.
Photography by Susumu Ishito and others
(This information is released by the Office of Research Administration, SFC)