University of Manchester launches new strategic partnership with Osaka University

The University of Manchester and Osaka University are delighted to announce the launch of a new strategic partnership. The new alliance complements the ongoing civic engagement between our two cities with the university-to university partnership being launched on the same day as a mayoral memorandum of understanding is signed by Andy Burnham and Hideyuki Yokoyama.

The new partnership will promote and facilitate increased levels of research engagement between our two institutions with several areas of mutual interest and complementarity already identified. Thematic research areas to be explored are as follows, which mirror the research and innovation priorities of our respective governments: Environmental Sustainability, Advanced Materials including Photonic Materials and Nanomaterials, Biological Science and Biotechnology, and Quantum Materials and Technologies.

The UK and Japanese governments reaffirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening science and innovation ties after agreeing to renew the two countries’ longstanding Science and Technology Agreement in May 2023.  It’s anticipated that funding opportunities such as the UK’s International Sciences Partnerships Fund and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science funding programmes will be able to support collaboration between our two institutions as we seek to address global challenges and strive for cutting edge innovations.

Professor Stephen Flint, Associate Vice President for Internationalisation for The University of Manchester, commented “This is an exciting development in global partnering around key research themes for our universities. It aligns perfectly with both regional and national priorities and the UK becoming a member of the CPTPP Pacific trade group”.

Professor Manabu Tanaka, Executive Vice President for Global Engagement at Osaka University commented “We are delighted and thrilled to embark on this strategic partnership with The University of Manchester as a university located in Osaka, once known as the ‘Manchester of the East’ as Japan’s leading industrial city. We wish to further foster our academic partnership to create and deepen scientific knowledge, as well as develop advanced technologies contributing to our community, nations, and global society.”

Professor Beverley Yamamoto, Executive Vice President for International Affairs (Education) at Osaka University commented “This is an exciting new chapter in the partnership between The University of Manchester and Osaka University. As we move to a new strategic partnership level, we will be able to work together to identify and secure new sources of research funding to greatly enhance our joint research profiles. At the same time, opportunities for joint educational programs to foster the next generation of researchers working at the cutting-edge of science and technology. We have already been actively involved in identifying mutual priority areas around key research themes that we will pursue as we move head based on this renewed shared commitment.”

Dr Clara Cheung, Head of Internationalisation for ASEAN, Japan, and Korea, Faculty of Science and Engineering,  The University of Manchester, said “We sincerely thank our counterparts at the University of Osaka for their dedication to building bridges between our academic communities. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and preparing the next generation of leaders in science and engineering.”

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester recognises forging closer links with Japan, a leading and innovative economy, as a mutually beneficial opportunity and The University of Manchester has an important role to play.

"We’re an outward-looking city and co-operation such as this, combining the academic expertise we have here with the knowledge which exists in Osaka, will strengthen our research specialisms and open up new avenues for innovation.”