Symposium outline

Collaboration between academia and industry is always one of the most powerful drivers of innovation in modern economy. Academia contributes cutting-edge research, scientific expertise, and a pipeline of highly skilled talents, while industry brings real-world challenges, funding, market insights, and commercialization capabilities. Together, these complementary strengths accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to societal and economic success. Many advances in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and semiconductor technology originated from academic laboratories and achieved widespread impact through successful industry partnerships.
This symposium aims to bring together professional insights and perspectives from distinguished presenters to explore how strong collaboration between academia and industry can accelerate innovation, facilitate technology adoption, and address complex societal and economic challenges. The discussions will examine successful partnership models, emerging opportunities, and practical strategies for translating research excellence into real-world impact. We would appreciate it if this symposium provided opportunities for new collaboration between Aramco and Japanese stakeholders.

Registration

Registration

Participation fee: Free

Date

  • October 6 (Tue.), 2026
    (Registration starts: 9:15)
    10:00 - 18:20Symposium
    12:25 - 14:00Networking Lunch
Venue
CONRAD TOKYO 2F Kazanami
1-9-1, Higashi-shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel:+81-3-6388-8000
  • Shiodome Station of Toei Subway Oedo Line and Urikamome Line: 1 min. walk
  • Shinbashi Station of JR Line and Tokyo Metro Ginza Line: 7 min. walk
Capacity
300
Language
English / Japanese simultaneous interpretation

Contact

About Symposium
Symposium Secretariat
(Mr. Hattori, JCCP)
E-mail: yoshiyuki-hattori@jccp.or.jp
About Registration
Registration Secretariat
(Ms. Tamura)
E-mail:
Tel: +81-3-6417-0968
Registration

Participation fee: Free

Program

* The program is subject to change.

* Simultaneous interpretation is provided.

 

  • Opening Session 10:00

  • 10:00

    Opening Remarks

  • Haruhiko Ando/CEO, Japan Cooperation Center for Petroleum and Sustainable Energy (JCCP)
    Takayuki Homma/Vice Provost, Executive Vice President, Waseda University
    Hajime Wakuda/Director-General, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI
  • 10:15

    Keynote Speech

  • Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter/Executive Vice President, Technology & Innovation, Aramco
  • 10:25

    Special Speeches

  • Chiharu Tokoro/Dean, Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
    Takeshi Yoshida/Executive Director, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
    Innovating the Oil Value Chain: Toward Scalable CCUS Enabled by Japan-Saudi Collaboration Masahiko Matsukata/Professor, Department of Applied Chemsitry, Waseda University

  • Session 1: Empowering the Energy Industry with AI and Digitalization: Delivering Holistic and Optimized Solutions 11:10

  • Advancing Refinery Operations with AI Masayuki Omote/Senior Staff, Digitalization Planning Group, Engineering & Capital Planning Department, ENEOS Corporation
    Operational Excellence Through Unified Data Kiyohide Yoshii/Maintenance Strategy Manager, Mechanical Reliability Department, Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd.
    Development of an AI-Based Corrosion Diagnosis System for Instrumentation Components Satoshi Kibata/Chief Associate, System Innovation Technology Office, Technology & Engineering Center, Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.
    Masaru Nishiyama/Sr. Manager, AI & Cloud Solution Center, Digital Solution HQ, Yokogawa Digital Corporation
    Architecting the Intelligent Refinery: Embedding Data Science in Downstream Business Abdullah Munir Alshaarawi/Lead Data Scientist, Global Optimizer Department, Downstream, Aramco
    Raghuraj R. Pandya/Senior Data Scientist, Global Optimizer Department, Downstream, Aramco
  • 12:25 - 14:00

    Networking Lunch

  • Session 2: Driving Future Transformation Through AI Adoption Across the Entire Value Chain 14:00

  • Converting the World’s Gas Storage Fleet Is the Only Route to Hydrogen Storage That Arrives on Time VO, Thanh Hung/Assistant Professor, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University
    Challenges in Realizing Practical Quantum Computing Masao Kondo/Senior Director, Quantum Laboratory, Fujitsu Limited
    Terumi Umematsu/Principal Researcher, Biometrics Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation
    Mishary G. Al-Thani/Manager, Emerging Technologies, Aramco
    Roman Pavlyuk/ Digital Solutions Lead - Energy & Heavy Industries, Hitachi Digital
    Making the World a Safer and More Sustainable Place with Robotics and AI Michele Guarnieri/CEO, hibot Corporation
    Karim Hamzaoui/VP of Global Business Development, Corporate Planning Division, Preferred Networks, Inc.
    Breakthrough Innovation of IOWN Katsuhiko Kawazoe/Chief Executive Fellow, NTT, Inc.

  • Session 3: Shaping Innovation to Build Sustainable Future and Unlock New Opportunities 16:00

  • Bridging Science and Industry: The 20-Year Journey of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Takeshi Hashimoto/CEO, Meijo Nano Carbon Co.,Ltd.
    Tiago Ramalho/CEO, R&D, Recursive Inc.
    Yu Yamashiro/CEO, JIJ Inc.
    Yurika Ishikawa/General Manager, Global Business Department, Liberaware Co.,Ltd.
  • 16:40

    Coffee Break / Networking

  • Panel Session: Driving Innovation Through Diverse Perspectives 17:00

  • Moderator
    Bashir Dabbousi/Director, Technology & Innovation Business Support Department, Aramco
    Panelist
    Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter/Executive Vice President, Technology & Innovation, Aramco
    Katsuhiko Kawazoe/Chief Executive Fellow, NTT, Inc.
    Hiroaki Kanokogi/Corporate Officer, Yokogawa Electric Corporation / President and CEO, Yokogawa Digital Corporation
    Motohiro Suzuki/Senior Executive Officer, Executive Lead for R&D Integration Proiect and Head of Innovation Center, Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.
    Suguru Noda/Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University
    Michele Guarnieri/CEO, hibot Corporation
  • 18:10

    Closing Remarks

  • Waleed Murad/Representative Director, Aramco Asia Japan K.K.
    Hitoshi Masuda/Chief Technology Officer, Senior Executive Director, JCCP
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