Press Release (for immediate release)

Japanese-German-French DWIH Symposium on
Artificial Intelligence
BULLET POINTS:-AI is a key topic in several national research agendas – exchange about its
potential and risks is needed on an international level-The first Japanese-German-French Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (Nov,21-22) brings together key actors from all 3 countries in Tokyo-Addressing academia, policy and business/industry, the symposium provides aplatform to facilitate international as well as intersectional exchange andcollaboration.

SHORT VERSION:

Trilateral Symposium on AI: Experts from France, Germany and Japan
gather in Tokyo to discuss latest developments in Artificial Intelligence
On November 21–22, the German Centre for Research and Innovation Tokyo(DWIH Tokyo) will hold the first Japanese-German-French Symposium on ArtificialIntelligence. At the trilateral symposium, experts from all 3 countries will discuss
the latest advances in AI research and applications. Addressing key actors fromacademia, policy and business/industry, the symposium will provide a platform
to facilitate international as well as intersectional exchange and collaboration.
Organizer: German Centre for Research and Innovation Tokyo (DWIH Tokyo) (website: www.dwihtokyo.jp)
Co-organizer: Embassy of France in Japan
Patronage: Federal Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Supported by: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Japan, Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry (METI), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan
Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Japan Science & Technology Agency(JST), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organization (NEDO)
Date & Venue: November 21-22, 2018, at Toranomon Hills (Tokyo)
Symposium Title: “Artificial Intelligence – International Research and Applications: 1st JapaneseGerman-French DWIH Symposium”
Further Information: www.dwih-tokyo.org/aiLONG VERSION:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most promising and discussed research
topics today. Several countries already invest heavily in AI - Japan, Germany andFrance are among them, promoting research on AI in their national high-techstrategies. Given the revolutionary potential AI bears in almost every industry
sector and the impact it will have on our lives in the future, the global interest inAI calls for international exchange and discussion.
The Japanese-German-French DWIH Symposium on Artificial Intelligence answers
this demand. Bringing together experts from all 3 countries in Tokyo, it offers achance to discuss the latest advances in AI research and trigger transnational
cooperation. Addressing experts from academia as well as from policy andbusiness/industry, it also provides a platform to facilitate intersectional exchangeand collaboration.
The symposium is organized by the German Centre for Research and Innovation
Tokyo (DWIH Tokyo), which acts as an umbrella for German scientific andresearch interests in Japan. The Embassy of France in Japan is co-organizer, theEmbassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Japan, the Ministry of Economy,Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology (MEXT), the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development(AMED), the Japan Science & Technology Agency (JST), the Japan Society for
the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organization (NEDO) have provided support.

Press Information
Journalists from all media (e.g., print, radio, TV, online) are welcome to attend
the symposium. Please register by direct mail to press@daadjp.com
If you wish for interviews with certain speakers or have further questions, pleasefeel free to contact us by email.
Press Contact: press@daadjp.com
Laura Blecken (Ms.) & Yuko Kawamura (Ms.)
German Centre for Research and Innovation Tokyo (DWIH Tokyo)
7-5-56 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
Tel: +81 (0)3 6807 4340 www.dwih-tokyo.org/ai

Quotations (free to use for DWIH symposium media coverage)
STATEMENTS OF ORGANIZERS AND SUPPORTERS:
Prof. Dr. Margret Wintermantel / President of the German Academic Exchange
Service (DAAD) (Germany):“Countries from all around the world are heavily investing in AI research, and wethink that in this heated market, collaboration – rather than competition – is thekey to finding innovative approaches and to proactively creating the future wewould like to live in. I am confident that this symposium gives vibrant and newdynamics to trilateral cooperation in AI science and research.”
Takuya Hirai / Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy (Japan):“In Japan, we are currently discussing the principles that are necessary to createa society ready for AI. I hope that this symposium allows a thorough exchange
between Japan, Germany, and France on AI-related ethics and principles andprogresses the readiness for AI on a global level.”「日本では、AI-Ready な社会を構築するために必要となる社会原則について、活発に議論しています。このシンポジウムにおいて、日本、ドイツ、フランスの関係者が AI 倫理・原則について意見交換を行うことによって、グローバルなレベルでの AI-Ready 化が進展することを期待しています。」
Heiko Maas / Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany):“We need to discuss which standards we might need to establish in order toshape digital transformation and make it a success on a global level. This trilateral
symposium provides an excellent forum to address these issues, support
networking among national research activities and foster cooperation on
innovative research between policymakers, scientists and the businesscommunity.”
Dr. Yuichiro Anzai / Senior Advisor, Director of Center for Science Information
Analysis, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS):“Rather than fearing advances in the AI field, we have to ask ourselves how we
can use AI technologies in order to build a better society and better world.”「人工知能分野の発展を恐れるよりも、より良い社会、より良い世界を築くために、私たち人間自身がいかに人工知能技術を役立たせることができるかを自問しなくてはいけない。」
STATEMENTS OF SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS:
Dr. Joseph Reger / Fujitsu Fellow, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Fujitsu EMEIA:“As with all technological advances in the past, impacts on society will depend
as much on the society as on the technology. What will happen is what wechoose to have happen. AI will certainly enable huge changes.”
Dr. Arisa Ema / Project Assistant Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute,
The University of Tokyo, Visiting Researcher, RIKEN Center for AdvancedIntelligence Project:“AI's ethical and legal impact, its challenges and risks, are becoming more andmore the subject of public discussion. AI technologies do not stand alone butfunction within an ecosystem consisting of organizational cultures, legal systemsand human values.”