Press Release

July 30, 2019
Keihanna Research Complex
Public Foundation of Kansai Research Institute
Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)
Mitacs

ATR and Mitacs, a Leading Research Supporting Organization in Canada,
Sign Memorandum of Understanding- Strengthen and Accelerate Exchange of Young Researchers and Cons truction ofInnovation Ecosystem in the Keihanna Science City -Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) and Mitacs signed amemorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities to collaborate on the exchange in young
researchers (graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows) and the construction of innovation
ecosystem. So far, ATR has been dedicated to nurturing new business and building an innovation hub
as a core organization of the Keihanna Research Complex project (Keihanna RC), which aims togenerate globally recognized innovations in the Keihanna Science City. Mitacs is a leading not-for-profit
organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by solving business challenges with researchsolutions in collaboration with young researchers from the best academic institutions at home andaround the world.
ATR is conducting “the Keihanna International Internship Program” as a global human exchange
program in the Keihanna RC to assist participating organizations in effectively using skilled younginterns from overseas in both R&D and business. In this effort, ATR, a company with abundant
experience and accomplishments in welcoming interns from abroad since its foundation in 1986
(accepted more than 2650 overseas researchers from 66 countries, as of the end of March 2019),
works as a liaison between participating companies and universities, helps interns with the visa
application procedures, and offers the newcomers support in everyday life.
This MoU makes it possible for ATR to expand the framework of the above internshipprogram as well as to strengthen and accelerate the construction of innovation
ecosystem in the Keihanna Science City in collaboration with young researchers, whocarry out joint industrial internships, strengthen bilateral academic research networks and act as
conduits of collaboration between Japanese and Canadian innovation ecosystems.

1◼

About Keihanna Research Complex (RC)Keihanna Research Complex project, called Keihanna RC, is promoted by the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency(JST). Since its start in September 2016, Keihanna RC supports the construction of a mechanism
producing continuous scientific and technological innovations in the regions where universities,
research institutes and companies are strategically integrated. So far, 45 organizations in the Keihanna
Science City participate in this project and cooperate with other large enterprises, SMEs, start-ups, andlocal residents in the pursuit of world-class innovations and creation of a global innovation ecosystem.
・URL：https://keihanna-rc.jp/en/◼

About Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)

Location: 2-2-2 Hikaridai Seika-cho, Sorakugun, Kyoto, Japan (Kansai Science City)

Aiming to promote innovations and contribute to regional revitalization, ATR pursues world-leading,ingenious research achievements in computational neuroscience, life-supporting robots, wirelesscommunications, and life science as well as their business developments, in collaboration between
industry, academia and government.

Promoting global business-to-business matchings and supports start-ups as one of the coreorganizations in charge of business development support and creation of an innovation hub In theKeihanna RC project.

URL：https://www.atr.jp/index_e.html◼

About Mitacs

A not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by solving businesschallenges with research solutions in collaboration with more than 20,000 young researchers fromthe best academic institutions during the last 18 years.

Building partnerships that support industrial and social innovation by working with more than 60
universities, more than 4,000 companies, and both federal and provincial governments, and signing
an MoU with 12 governmental organizations of other countries.

Funded by the Government of Canada and every provincial government, along with academic andindustry partners.

URL：https://www.mitacs.ca/en

Contact:◼ Keihanna Research Complex
Mr. Nakajima (ATR), Ms. Tatsumi (ATR) and Mr. Yamato (KRI)
Email: rc-presspr@keihanna-rc.jp
TEL: 0774-95-2540 (ATR)

2