Kyutech conducts international research exchange with Khon Kaen University and Thaksin University under JST Sakura Science Program

Update:2026.03.05

Kyutech was selected for the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) competitive funding program, the Sakura Science Program (Collaborative Research Activities Course). Under the coordination of Professor Teruyuki Nakato, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Kyutech hosted eight researchers and students from Khon Kaen University and Thaksin University in Thailand for 20 days, from January 15 to February 3, 2026.The program was conducted under the theme“International Collaborative Research on the Development of Liquid Crystalline Materials from Rice Husk.”

The purpose of this program was to launch an international collaborative research initiative to develop colloidal liquid crystals from natural resources such as rice husk, whose effective utilization is increasingly sought in the Southeast Asian region. In addition to conducting preliminary experiments at an early stage, the invited participants engaged in multifaceted exchanges through discussions, facility tours, visits to related research institutions, and cultural activities in Japan. We also organized tours of the Department of Applied Chemistry facilities and held a joint symposium with the department, enabling broad-based discussions and exchanges of views with chemical researchers at our university. Furthermore, the group visited the Faculty of Engineering campus at Shinshu University, where they learned advanced knowledge on applications of silica-based natural resources and had the opportunity to experience the climate of Japan’s snowy regions.

These activities provided strong inspiration for both the invited participants and our students, and also fostered new connections between early-career faculty members in Thailand and at our university. Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyutech, has steadily built exchanges with young researchers and students from overseas through programs such as the Sakura Science Program. We will continue these international exchange activities and strive to further develop international collaborative research at our university.