RIKEN appoints new Executive Director

RIKEN national research institute, Japan’s largest research organisation for basic and applied science, has appointed Yuko Harayama as its new executive director for international affairs.

Dr. Harayama takes up her new role following a distinguished career in global science, technology policy and academia. Widely regarded as a pioneer of the Society 5.0 concept, she served as an executive member of the Japanese Council for Science, Technology and Innovation from 2014 to 2018. Previously, she held positions as Professor, Department of Management Science and Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University and as Fellow, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, among others. Harayama also served for two years as deputy director of the Science, Technology and Industry Directorate at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris (2010-2012), member of the High Level Expert Group, Ex-Post Evaluation of the 7th EU Framework Programme (2014-2015), and board member of the Global Young Academy  (2015-2021).

Her international experience adds an important dimension to RIKEN’s management team at a time when stronger scientific collaboration between Japan, Europe and other leading R&D nations is more critical than ever, particularly considering the need for a strong global response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Dr. Harayama holds a BSc in mathematics from the University of Besançon in France, PhDs in educational sciences and economics from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, and the title of emeritus professor at Tohoku University in Japan. She was named a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French state in 2011. Her term in office with RIKEN formally began on April 1.

For any related enquiries, please contact:

Jens Wilkinson

RIKEN International Affairs Division

[email protected]

Tel: +81-(0)48-462-1225

http://www.riken.jp/