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[News from Cyber Civilization Research Center (CCRC) ] Keio University and UNESCO Establish Partnership to Advance Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific

2024.11.07

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Keio University Global Research Institute (KGRI) - Cyber Civilization Research Center (CCRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNESCO to promote a shared vision of mobilizing scientific and technological knowledge through the Internet. This joint initiative is titled Mobilizing Science Knowledge for Sustainable Development in East Asia and wider Asia and the Pacific through Information and Communication Technologies and Open Science. The MoU was signed by Prof. Yuko Kimijima, former Director of KGRI, Keio-CCRC Chief Prof. Tatsuhiko Yamamoto and Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and UNESCO Representative of the Regional Office for East Asia.

The agreement sets the groundwork for cooperation through the CCRC-led School on Internet Asia (SOI Asia) to offer its infrastructure and technical resources that comprise 28 leading technical universities and research institutes across 14 Asian countries, supporting educational advancement through cutting-edge internet technology.

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Keio University faculty members visited the UNESCO Jakarta office on August 14, 2024, as part of the ongoing collaboration between both institutions.


The primary goals of this initiative include:

  • Strengthening scientific and technical literacy, bringing together regional universities to broaden educational reach, and strengthening the role of ICT and open science in sustainable development.
  • Enhancing education processes and expanding access to materials in higher education across the region.
  • Introducing innovations and open science principles into teaching science, technology, and engineering to leverage scientific knowledge.
  • Increasing public access to knowledge, fostering connectivity among educators and researchers, and developing human resources across Asia and the Pacific through open science initiatives.


    • This MoU marks a significant milestone for Keio University and UNESCO, representing the continuation of a deepening commitment to collaborative actions started in 2008. Both institutions aim to create a more sustainable future by combining resources and expertise, advancing scientific knowledge, and enhancing educational opportunities in Asia-Pacific.


    For more information about the involved institutions, please visit their websites:
    UNESCO: https://www.unesco.org/en/open-science
    CCRC: https://www.ccrc.keio.ac.jp/
    SOI Asia: https://www.soi.asia/