CNRS-UTokyo IRC Meeting 2026 - Exploring the Future of Society -

The CNRS-UTokyo IRC Meeting 2026, themed “Exploring the Future of Society”, was held in-person on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Ito International Research Center of the University of Tokyo.
 
The meeting aimed to review the achievements of research collaborations between the University of Tokyo and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and to discuss opportunities for future joint research and researcher exchange.
 
  

The University of Tokyo and CNRS have a long history of active research collaborations, built on strong partnerships among individual researchers and laboratories. The Laboratory for Integrated Micro-Mechatronic Systems (LIMMS), established in 1995, is one of the longstanding examples of this collaboration. Today, several International Research Laboratories (IRLs) support research collaborations between the two institutions.
 
In 2022, the CNRS-UTokyo International Research Center (IRC) was established to further develop collaboration at the institutional level, building on the existing IRLs. In 2025, an Inter-IRC meeting held in Paris, France, brought together CNRS and all universities hosting IRCs, providing an opportunity to broaden collaboration among the participating centers.
 

Exploring New Joint Research Across IRLs and Disciplines

One of the key topics at this year’s meeting was the potential for new joint research initiatives that extend beyond individual IRLs and disciplinary boundaries.
 
  

Participants discussed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration across a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities, including philosophy. They explored how the two institutions could build on their respective strengths to identify new areas of research. The discussion also highlighted the importance of fostering dialogue across disciplines and encouraging interaction among the IRLs through joint events, thereby translating these exchanges into concrete collaborative activities.
 
  

Mathematics and mathematical sciences were highlighted as particularly promising areas for interdisciplinary collaborations, given their connections with diverse fields such as AI, physics, and climate science. Participants also exchanged views on future opportunities for collaboration in climate research, building on the work undertaken by the two institutions to date.
 

Promoting Early-Career Researcher Exchange and Development

The meeting also addressed the development and mobility of early-career researchers.
 
  

In addition to the Ph.D. Joint Program between the University of Tokyo and CNRS, participants discussed opportunities to make greater use of programs such as COFUND, selected in September 2026 under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), part of the European Union’s research and innovation framework program, Horizon Europe. These initiatives could help promote exchange among postdoctoral researchers and other early-career researchers, contributing to the development of the next generation of researchers who will strengthen ties between the two institutions.
 
Participants also emphasized the importance of moving beyond one-off researcher visits and exchanges. Sustained interaction over time can help establish long-term collaborative relationships and foster researcher networks that may lead to future joint research projects. 
 

Toward More Strategic Research Collaborations 

Research collaboration between the University of Tokyo and CNRS has traditionally been driven by strong relationships among individual researchers and laboratories. Looking ahead, the two institutions are expected to build on this solid foundation while preserving the researcher-led nature of their collaboration, and to pursue larger-scale, more strategic joint research initiatives that transcend IRLs and disciplinary boundaries.
 
The IRC Meeting provided an important opportunity to take the long-standing research partnership between CNRS and the University of Tokyo to the next stage.
 
As the University of Tokyo approaches the 150th anniversary of its founding in 2027, it continues to consider the future direction of research, education, and the development of the University as a whole. Collaboration with CNRS is also expected to build on the strong networks established among researchers, connect researchers across a broader range of disciplines, and generate new initiatives in research, researcher exchanges, and addressing societal challenges.