Aramco-JCCP-Waseda University Symposium
Transforming Challenges into Opportunities:
How Industry-Academia Collaboration Drives Innovation
and Accelerates Technology Adoption

Prof. Haruhiko ANDO is CEO of Japan Cooperation Center for Petroleum and Sustainable Energy (JCCP) and Consulting Fellow of Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI). Joined MITI (now METI) in 1985. He was the newly established Director for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Promotion Office as well as a founding member of IPHE (International Partnership for Hydrogen Economy), and then, Directors of New and Renewable Energy Division and Recycling Promotion Division, and Deputy-DGs for Trade Policy, and for International Projects Promotion. In Cabinet Secretariat/Office, he was Directors for Economic-Fiscal Management and for Science, Technology and Innovation, and for Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, and Councillor as Head of Indo-Pacific Economic Development.

He was a founding member of RIETI as Director and later Vice Chairman. He has several teaching experiences as Visiting Professor at UEC (University of Electro-Communications, 2004-24) , Kyoto (2007-8), Hitotsubashi  (2012-14)  and among others as lecturers at Waseda and Sofia. He has many publications regarding Modularity, Venture Economy and H2FC-related matters. Awarded Cruz de Oficial from Spain.

Biography

Graduated from the School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University in 1987, and completed his doctorate in 1992.
1991 Assistant Professor, Lecturer, and Associate Professor at Waseda University, 2005 Professor​
(1997-1998 Stanford University, 2021- Nippon Medical School)
2006 Associate Dean for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, 2018 Dean of Academic Affairs, 2022 Trustee, 2023 Executive Vice President

Committee members, etc.

JST innovative GX creation project Area advisor, MEXT Expert Committee for the Study of Distinguished Graduate Schools (tentative name), MEXT Central Council for Education University Subcommittee, METI Study Group on the Ideal Way of University Management to Compete and Grow Globally, etc.
Vice President, International Society of Electrochemistry (2021-2023)
Technical/Associate Editor, Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2003-)
2010 American Electrochemical Society Research Achievement Award (Electrodeposition Division)
2015 Electrochemical Society Academic Award
2019 Fellow of the American Electrochemical Society, etc.

Research Field

Electrochemistry, Functional thin films and interfaces

Major research projects

JST CREST (High purity Si material for solar cells)
JST A-STEP (Highly sensitive surface analysis)
NEDO RISING2,3 (Post-Li battery)
NEDO pioneering research (hydrogen electrolysis production), etc.

June 2024
Director-General, Natural Resources and Fuel Department,
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE),
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

April 2024
Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs,
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI

April 2020
President, JOGMEC (Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security)

March 2018
Director, Policy Planning Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI

July 2014
Director General, Business Strategy Department, JOGMEC

June 2012
Director for Defense Industry, Aerospace and Defense Industry Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

April 1992
Joined Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(METI, formerly Ministry of International Trade and Industry)

Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter was appointed Executive Vice President Technology & Innovation, effective April 1, 2023.

Prior to this role he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Aramco, a role he undertook in May 2015.

Al-Khowaiter joined the company in 1984 and completed a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 1988. His first assignment was as an engineer with Southern Area Oil Operations, where he worked on the commissioning of the ‘Uthmaniyah gas-oil separation plants.

After earning an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Al-Khowaiter joined the Process & Control Systems Department in July 1996.

After joining the Hawiyah Gas Plant Project as a project engineer in 1997, he became a senior project engineer in 1999. In 2000, Al-Khowaiter was given a division-level leadership role and led the commissioning of the Hawiyah Gas Plant.

In 2002, he was transferred to the Haradh Gas Plant during the construction and commissioning phase and served as superintendent of Gas Plant Operations.

Between 2004 and 2005, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan Fellowship Program, earning an M.S. degree in Business Administration.

In July 2005, Al-Khowaiter was named Manager, Facilities Planning, and in 2006, he led the development of the master plan for the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology. In 2007, he was seconded to the university, where he served as Interim Provost, then named interim vice president for Economic Development.

Al-Khowaiter returned to Aramco in November 2009 and became Director of New Business Evaluation, before being elevated to Chief Engineer from August 2011-2014. In 2014 he was appointed Executive Director of Power Systems.

Al-Khowaiter is also currently a member of the Board of Directors of SADCO (Saudi Aramco Development Co.) and the King Abdulaziz City of Science & Technology (KACST).

Chiharu Tokoro is Professor of Environmental Resources Engineering at Waseda University. She served as Dean of the School and Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering from 2024 to September 2026 and became Senior Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering in September 2026. She also holds a cross-appointment as Professor at the University of Tokyo.

Her research focuses on resource recycling, mineral processing, powder technology, and innovative separation technologies for a circular economy. Her recent work includes the recycling of critical materials from end-of-life products, particularly lithium-ion batteries and
photovoltaic modules.

In addition to her academic activities, she serves as an Outside Director of JX Advanced Metals Corporation and an Independent Director of Tekscend Photomask Corp. She also contributes to national policy discussions on resource circulation and critical minerals in Japan.

She has received several awards for her research and contributions to environmental and resource engineering, including awards from Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Minister of the Environment.

Mr. YOSHIDA Takeshi is an Executive Director at NEDO. He oversees the Startup Support Department, the Frontier Department, and the Technology and Innovation Strategy Center (TSC). Mr. Yoshida has been with NEDO since 1991. In 2008, he was appointed Chief Representative of the NEDO office in New Delhi. Since 2019, he has held two Director General positions, focused on startup support and general affairs. He was a visiting scholar at Stanford University in 1995. He holds a Master of Technology degree from Waseda University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Rikkyo University.

Masahiko Matsukata is a Professor at Waseda University, where he has served since 2001. He began his academic career as a Research Associate at Seikei University (1989–1991), followed by positions at Osaka University (1992–1997). He joined Waseda University in 1997 as Associate Professor and became Professor in 2001.

Professor Matsukata is a leading figure in catalysis, zeolites, reaction and separation engineering, and sustainable chemical processes. He currently serves as President of the Japan Petroleum Institute and President of the Japan Union of Chemical Science and Technology), reflecting his central role in Japan’s chemical and energy communities. His past leadership includes President of the Japan Association of Zeolites (2016–2022), Council Member of the International Zeolite Association (2012–2018, 2020–2021), Chair of the Green Sustainable Chemistry Network (2022–current), and President of the Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan (2022–2023).

His research spans zeolite catalysis, reaction engineering, and sustainable energy technologies, with strong emphasis on bridging academic innovation and industrial application.

Masayuki Omote is a Senior Staff member in the Digitalization Planning Group, Engineering & Capital Planning Department at ENEOS Corporation, Japan.

Prior to joining ENEOS in 2024, he spent more than ten years in the IT industry, where he was engaged in the development of industrial IoT platforms, cloud-based data services, connected vehicle technologies, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for clients in the electrical and automotive sectors.

Since joining ENEOS, he has been involved in the development, evaluation, and implementation of industrial data platforms, AI, and IoT technologies to accelerate refinery digital transformation, improve operational performance, and enhance refinery reliability.

He currently leads the digital transformation deployment team within the refinery organization, driving the deployment and enterprise-wide adoption of digital solutions across refineries.

Mr. Kiyohide Yoshii joined Cosmo Oil in 1998 and have built my career in maintenance and asset reliability management within the refining industry. Throughout my career, I have worked as a Rotating Equipment Engineer, Inspection Engineer, Reliability Engineer. Today, I lead digital transformation initiatives in maintenance, focusing on unified data, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven reliability improvement.

Satoshi Kibata is a Chief Associate Engineer at the Technology & Engineering Center of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Japan. Since joining the company, he has been engaged in process simulation, advanced process control, alarm management, and overseas projects, gaining extensive experience in refinery operation optimization and industrial digitalization.

From 2017 to 2021, he was seconded to Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC (NSRP), Vietnam, where he worked on control system development, operational troubleshooting, production optimization, and energy-efficiency improvement. His work focused on enhancing plant performance and reliability through the application of data analytics and control engineering technologies.

Since returning to the Technology & Engineering Center in 2021, he has participated in operational system modernization projects and has led the development of AI-based anomaly detection and image-based diagnostic systems for industrial applications.

His current research focuses on industrial AI, machine learning-based inspection technologies, image-based equipment diagnostics, and decision-support systems for plant operation and maintenance.

Professional Summary

Senior technology and AI leader with over 25 years of experience in software engineering, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and global business leadership. Proven track record of leading multicultural teams, driving enterprise-scale technology initiatives, and delivering business value through innovation. Experienced in bridging technology strategy and execution across the software, manufacturing, and industrial sectors.

Core Expertise

- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Digital Transformation Strategy
- Global AI Center of Excellence Development
- Global Team Leadership
- Software Development & Architecture
- Technology Program Management
- Business Process Optimization
- Industrial AI & Smart Manufacturing
- Cross-Functional Stakeholder Engagement

Professional Experience

Sr. Manager, Yokogawa Electric Corporation 2026 – Present
- Leading strategic digital transformation and AI-driven business initiatives.
- Driving global technology programs and innovation projects.

Global AI CoE Head, Yokogawa Saudi Arabia Company 2025 – 2026
- Established and led the Global AI Center of Excellence.
- Defined AI strategy, governance, and deployment frameworks across regions.
- Promoted enterprise-wide AI adoption and best practices.

Sr. Manager, Yokogawa Digital Corporation 2023 – 2025
- Led digital innovation initiatives for industrial customers.
- Oversaw AI and advanced analytics programs supporting operational excellence.

Sr. Manager, Lenovo Japan 2019 – 2022
- Managed large-scale technology projects and cross-functional teams.
- Drove operational improvements and business transformation initiatives.

Software Engineer, Lenovo Japan 2011 – 2019
- Developed enterprise software solutions and supported product innovation.

Software Engineer, Microsoft Corporation 2001 – 2011
- Designed and developed software products and enterprise applications.
- Collaborated with global engineering teams to deliver high-quality solutions.

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science
University of Oregon, 2001

Abdullah Alshaarawi is a downstream oil industry expert with nine years of experience spanning planning, optimization, and digitalization at Saudi Aramco. He currently serves as Lead Data Scientist at the Global Optimization Center, where he established the Development & Solution group and leads a team of data scientists delivering solutions with measurable impact on the downstream commercial operation.

Abdullah holds a Master’s in Business Analytics and Data Science from IE School of Sciences and Technology in Madrid, a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from KFUPM and a CMA certification.

Raghuraj Pandya is a Chartered Civil Engineer (UK) with more than 20 years of experience, a financial analyst with CFA Level II credentials and over 10 years of experience, and a quantitative-finance professional holding the Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF), with 8–9 years of experience in the field. He brings more than 24 years of interdisciplinary expertise spanning engineering, quantitative finance, and data science.

As a Senior Data Scientist at Saudi Aramco, he has architected and led the definition and development of the Intelligent Global Optimizer (iGO), a commercial digital twin for the Global Downstream business. This strategic initiative supports Aramco’s vision by optimizing gross refining margins across the downstream portfolio, increasing incremental trading margins, and improving crude-placement decisions through digital transformation.

Dr. Vo Thanh Hung is an Assistant Professor at the Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University. He earned his Ph.D. in Earth Resources Engineering from Kyushu University in 2020 and previously held research positions at Seoul National University and Ewha Womans University.

His research advances sustainable subsurface energy systems through the integration of multiphase flow simulation, geomechanics, geochemistry, and machine learning. He focuses on carbon capture and storage, underground hydrogen storage, geothermal energy, and computational geoscience. His work improves predictions of CO₂ trapping, plume migration, pressure propagation, storage integrity, and geomechanical stability while supporting safer and more efficient low-carbon energy development.

Dr. Vo has developed high-resolution numerical simulators and AI-assisted frameworks that connect pore-scale physics with reservoir-scale engineering decisions. His contributions span hydrogen migration, cyclic operations, wettability, interfacial processes, cushion-gas requirements, and fluid-mineral-microbial interactions.

He was included in the 2024 and 2025 Stanford University–Elsevier top 2% scientist databases and ranked among the top 0.5% of scholars worldwide in machine learning by ScholarGPS. A JSPS KAKENHI principal investigator, he leads international collaborations and supports education, innovation, climate action, and global net-zero goals. His publications include several Web of Science Highly Cited Papers, demonstrating their broad international scientific influence.

Completed doctoral program in Department of Inorganic Materials at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, in 1995; Ph.D. in Engineering. Joined Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. in the same year, engaging in research and development of functional material devices and environmental/energy technologies. Served as Director and General Manager (CEO) of Fujitsu Research and Development Center Co., Ltd. in 2019, and has been in the current position since 2022.

Terumi Umematsu is a Principal Researcher at the Biometrics Research Laboratories of NEC Corporation, where she has been conducting research since 2013. Her research spans speech recognition, physiological signal processing, stress estimation, and affective computing. She currently leads a research team developing AI technologies that model human mental and physical states from multimodal biosignals, particularly physiological information extracted from facial videos, and is actively advancing their deployment in real-world applications. She also leads multiple domestic and international industry-academia collaborative research projects, fostering innovation from fundamental research through to practical deployment.

Dr. Umematsu has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and received several awards, including the Best Paper Award (1st Prize) at the 2019 IEEE International Conference on Biomedical and Health Informatics. She holds 29 granted patents worldwide and has contributed to the advancement of practical AI technologies for healthcare, well-being, and human-centered applications.

She received her Ph.D. in Engineering from Waseda University in 2024, following her M.Eng. and B.Eng. degrees from the same university. She was a Visiting Researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2017 to 2019 and a Visiting Researcher at RIKEN from 2024 to 2026. She serves as Secretary of the IEEE Women in Engineering Tokyo Section and as a committee member of several professional societies, including the IEICE Technical Committee on Signal Processing, promoting diversity and professional development in engineering and AI research. Through her research and professional activities, she is committed to advancing technologies that promote well-being and enable healthier, more fulfilling lives, both mentally and physically.

Mishary Al-Thani is Manager of the Emerging Technologies Division within the Digital & AI Center of Excellence at Saudi Aramco. He leads initiatives to identify, pilot, and scale frontier technologies enabling next-generation digital transformation in the energy sector. His work advances Generative AI, Edge AI, Industrial AI, and space-enabled intelligence, collaborating with global tech firms, startups, and research institutions to translate emerging technologies into operational value.

Previously, leading the IT Solutions Engineering Division, he directed major enterprise initiatives and the corporate Smart City program, introducing AI-enabled infrastructure and IoT solutions across corporate environments. These efforts demonstrated how advanced technologies improve operational efficiency and create resilient industrial ecosystems. He championed industrial wireless innovation, including Industrial 5G, supporting next-generation connectivity and Edge AI solutions.

His contributions earned the IT Hero Award from Enterprise Connect and the Saudi Aramco CEO Excellence Award for pioneering AI-enabled smart infrastructure.
Beyond corporate duties, he served as a Fellow at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation, engaging with international leaders on how AI and digital infrastructure shape future cities and industrial systems.

Mr. Al-Thani holds a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals and dual Master’s degrees in Telecommunications Engineering and Engineering Management from the University of Colorado Boulder. His executive education includes the Chief Digital Officer Program at MIT, Oxford Saïd Business School, and London Business School. With over two decades spanning telecommunications, AI, and digital platforms, he bridges frontier technologies with industrial operations, driving innovation at the intersection of AI, connectivity, and emerging technologies.

Roman Pavlyuk is Global Digital Solution Lead at Hitachi, working at the intersection of operational technology, enterprise IT, industrial data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. He designs digital solutions that help asset-intensive organizations translate emerging technologies into practical operational and business value.

Roman's areas of expertise include IT/OT integration, industrial IoT, advanced analytics, AI and machine learning adoption, infrastructure management, digital transformation, and high-performance enterprise applications. He has led complex transformation and product-development initiatives and has contributed to technology programs spanning the complete solution stack, from infrastructure and hardware platforms to predictive analytics.

His career includes senior technology and digital strategy roles in global consulting, software, industry, and technology organizations. He has worked across energy and oil and gas, manufacturing, mobility, telecommunications, financial services, retail, and the public sector. Roman holds an MSc in Telecommunications and Network Management from Lviv Polytechnic National University, is a Certified Product Manager, and actively contributes to open-source projects.

Michele Guarnieri is the Co-Founder and CEO of hibot Corp., serving in this role since 2020. Michele earned his degree in Computer Science from the University of Verona, Italy, before going to Japan as a recipient of the MEXT scholarship from the Japanese government. He later obtained a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

His leadership has driven numerous award-winning projects, earning prestigious accolades such as the Japan METI Robot Award, Edison Gold Award, recognition as a World Economic Forum "Technology Pioneer" , and the IEEE Inaba Technical Award. In 2019, he was honoured with the Rotary Galileo Galilei Award for outstanding contributions to the field of engineering.

Since 2019, Michele has also served as the Asia-Pacific Coordinator for Sprint Robotics, actively advancing robotics technology in industrial inspection and maintenance.

Karim Hamzaoui leads global business development and international partnerships at Preferred Networks (PFN). With a foundational background in computer science, his 20-year career centers on the intersection of technology innovation and value creation across diverse industries.

Since joining PFN in 2015, Karim has directed projects from early-stage R&D incubation through to commercial deployment. His work spans a broad spectrum of AI-based applications, including cancer diagnostics, autonomous driving, petroleum refinery automation, and materials discovery in collaboration with industry-leading companies in Japan. Appointed to his current role in 2025, he focuses on scaling these deep-tech solutions on the global stage.

Karim began his career as a Software Engineer at IBM Japan's R&D Lab before transitioning into technology strategy planning, later gaining startup experience driving customer engagements at Taiwanese startup Ubitus in Japan. This combination of engineering roots and commercial strategy enables him to evaluate how emerging technologies can transition from research into practical, high-impact industry applications.

He holds a master's degree in computer science from Nagoya University and is fluent in Japanese, English, French, and Arabic.

Joined NTT in 1987 and began a career in R&D focused on radio and satellite communications, specializing in high-efficiency data transmission technologies. He led NTT Service Evolution Laboratories and NTT Service Innovation Laboratories before becoming Head of R&D Planning and a Senior Vice President in 2018. He subsequently served as Executive Vice President (2020), Senior Executive Vice President (2022), and Chief Executive Fellow (2025).

Beyond NTT, he has contributed significantly to the ICT community, serving as President of ITE (2018–2019) and President of IEICE (2022–2023). Since 2020, he has been President and Chairperson of the IOWN Global Forum, promoting next-generation digital infrastructure and communications technologies.

He received the TTC Information and Communication Technology Award in 2019. He earned B.E. and M.E. degrees in Engineering from Waseda University and a Ph.D. in Informatics from Kyoto University.

Takeshi Hashimoto is President and CEO of MEIJO NANO CARBON CO., LTD., a Japan-based company specializing in single-walled carbon nanotubes. He leads the commercialization and global expansion of advanced CNT technologies for semiconductor, battery, and other industrial applications, working closely with universities and major industry partners.

Tiago holds a Master's degree in Theoretical/Mathematical Physics and a PhD in Biophysics from Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich. After graduation, he joined Google DeepMind. As a senior research engineer, he worked on cutting-edge projects such as reinforcement learning, predictive models and self-directed learning and published numerous papers in international journals such as Nature. He then joined Cogent Labs, a multinational Tokyo based AI start-up, as a lead research scientist. In August 2020, Co-founded Recursive Inc, and became the CEO.

Yu Yamashiro is the Founder and CEO of JIJ, a technology company advancing quantum computing and mathematical optimization.

With a background in theoretical physics and quantum information science, he studied quantum annealing at the Nishimori Laboratory at Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Institute of Science Tokyo) and conducted research on quantum information processing at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST).

After working on the industrial applications of quantum annealing through a Japanese research commercialization program, he founded JIJ in 2018. Today, he leads the company’s research, technology development, and business strategy, applying advanced computing and optimization technologies to real-world challenges across energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, and logistics.

Under his leadership, JIJ has expanded globally, establishing subsidiaries in the UK and Germany while growing its team and presence in the United States.

Yu was named to Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 in 2021 and Forbes JAPAN’s 30 UNDER 30 in 2023. In 2025, he received the 30th Paper Award from the Physical Society of Japan as a co-author.

Yurika Ishikawa is General Manager of Global Business Strategy at Liberaware, a Japanese technology company specializing in indoor drone solutions for confined and hazardous environments. She leads the company’s global business development, market entry strategy, partnerships, and international expansion across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Liberaware, she worked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, where she was involved in international nuclear energy projects and new business development, and at SoftBank Robotics, focusing on business development for service robotics. She has more than 10 years of experience in global business, particularly in infrastructure, energy, robotics, and technology commercialization.

At Liberaware, she is responsible for expanding the use of the company’s compact indoor drone, IBIS, for inspection and digitalization of critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, pipelines, sewer systems, and other hard-to-access environments.

She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Bashir Dabbousi is the Director of Technology & Innovation Business Support reporting to the Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation at Aramco. He was the Interim Vice President of Research at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) from 2008-2012. He has occupied several administrative and technical positions in Aramco including Director of Technology Strategy & Planning, Senior Consultant, Strategic Transformation Office; and Coordinator of the R&D Division in the Research & Development Center. Bashir is co-recipient of 19 U.S. patents (11 patents were licensed to two U.S. and one leading South Korean electronics company). He has coauthored over 25 publications in peer reviewed technical journals including being first author of a publication with his PhD supervisor and 2023 Nobel prize recipient, Prof. Moungi Bawendi, that has been cited over 5,000 times. Bashir is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Award honoring inventors and the gifted. He was an academic visitor in the department of chemical engineering at Imperial College London. He received a B.S. degree in Chemistry summa cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He completed the Saudi Aramco Leadership Challenge and the Advanced Management and Leadership Program at the Oxford University Saïd Business School.

Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter was appointed Executive Vice President Technology & Innovation, effective April 1, 2023.

Prior to this role he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Aramco, a role he undertook in May 2015.

Al-Khowaiter joined the company in 1984 and completed a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 1988. His first assignment was as an engineer with Southern Area Oil Operations, where he worked on the commissioning of the ‘Uthmaniyah gas-oil separation plants.

After earning an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Al-Khowaiter joined the Process & Control Systems Department in July 1996.

After joining the Hawiyah Gas Plant Project as a project engineer in 1997, he became a senior project engineer in 1999. In 2000, Al-Khowaiter was given a division-level leadership role and led the commissioning of the Hawiyah Gas Plant.

In 2002, he was transferred to the Haradh Gas Plant during the construction and commissioning phase and served as superintendent of Gas Plant Operations.

Between 2004 and 2005, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan Fellowship Program, earning an M.S. degree in Business Administration.

In July 2005, Al-Khowaiter was named Manager, Facilities Planning, and in 2006, he led the development of the master plan for the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology. In 2007, he was seconded to the university, where he served as Interim Provost, then named interim vice president for Economic Development.

Al-Khowaiter returned to Aramco in November 2009 and became Director of New Business Evaluation, before being elevated to Chief Engineer from August 2011-2014. In 2014 he was appointed Executive Director of Power Systems.

Al-Khowaiter is also currently a member of the Board of Directors of SADCO (Saudi Aramco Development Co.) and the King Abdulaziz City of Science & Technology (KACST).

Joined NTT in 1987 and began a career in R&D focused on radio and satellite communications, specializing in high-efficiency data transmission technologies. He led NTT Service Evolution Laboratories and NTT Service Innovation Laboratories before becoming Head of R&D Planning and a Senior Vice President in 2018. He subsequently served as Executive Vice President (2020), Senior Executive Vice President (2022), and Chief Executive Fellow (2025).

Beyond NTT, he has contributed significantly to the ICT community, serving as President of ITE (2018–2019) and President of IEICE (2022–2023). Since 2020, he has been President and Chairperson of the IOWN Global Forum, promoting next-generation digital infrastructure and communications technologies.

He received the TTC Information and Communication Technology Award in 2019. He earned B.E. and M.E. degrees in Engineering from Waseda University and a Ph.D. in Informatics from Kyoto University.

After earning a Ph.D. in Science from the University of Tokyo Graduate School, Hiroaki joined Microsoft in 1996, where he worked on the development of machine learning applications.

In October 2007, he joined Yokogawa Electric Corporation, leading the development, application, and commercialization of AI (machine learning and reinforcement learning) for actual manufacturing sites, including industrial plants. He is one of the developers of the reinforcement learning algorithm FKDPP.

After serving as Head of the Information Technology Center in the IA Products & Services Business Headquarters at Yokogawa Electric, he assumed the role of President and CEO of newly established Yokogawa Digital in July 2022.

Since April 2026, he has also served as an Executive Officer of Yokogawa Electric.
He is the author of “Positive Sum Game” (Discover Twenty-One, 2023),
“Realizing an AI-First with Strong AI” (Discover Twenty-One, 2025), and
“AGI, the Brain and Manufacturing” (Sounds Good Company Ltd., 2025).

Born in Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan

March 1991: Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

April 1991: Joined Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., assigned to the Information Systems Department

July 2004: Planning Section, Integrated Supply & Trading Department

July 2008: Special Assistant to the Director, Integrated Supply & Trading Department

July 2009: Manager, Planning Section, Integrated Supply & Trading Department

April 2011: Manager, Planning Section 2, Corporate Planning Department

April 2012: Manager, Planning Section 1, Management Strategy Office, Corporate Planning Department

April 2014: Manager, Planning Section, Management Strategy Office, Corporate Planning Department

July 2014: Vice President, Idemitsu Asia

July 2017: General Manager, Integration Promotion Department, Corporate Planning Department

April 2018: General Manager, Corporate Sustainability Office

October 2019: Special Assistant to the Vice President (Responsible for the establishment and business development of the Americas company)

April 2020: President, Idemitsu Americas Holdings Corporation

July 2023: Executive Officer, General Manager of Advanced Technology Research Laboratories

July 2025:
Senior Executive Officer and Head of Innovation Center
General Manager of Advanced Technology Research Laboratories

July 2026:
Senior Executive Officer
Executive Lead For R&D Integration Project and Head of Innovation Center

Prof. Suguru Noda received his PhD in 1999 from The University of Tokyo, Japan, and subsequently served as an assistant professor and associate professor at the same university. He then joined Waseda University as a full professor in 2012. He is a chemical engineer conducting research in the field of materials processing. He has focused on the practical production of carbon and silicon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes and silicon films/nanoparticles, and their applications in energy and electronic devices, including rechargeable batteries. More recently, he has been developing new technologies and systems —such as lithium-ion battery recycling and CO2-absorbing concrete— while concurrently assessing their sustainability, such as lithium-ion battery recycling and concrete that absorbs CO2, all with the goal of achieving a sustainable society.

Michele Guarnieri is the Co-Founder and CEO of hibot Corp., serving in this role since 2020. Michele earned his degree in Computer Science from the University of Verona, Italy, before going to Japan as a recipient of the MEXT scholarship from the Japanese government. He later obtained a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

His leadership has driven numerous award-winning projects, earning prestigious accolades such as the Japan METI Robot Award, Edison Gold Award, recognition as a World Economic Forum "Technology Pioneer" , and the IEEE Inaba Technical Award. In 2019, he was honoured with the Rotary Galileo Galilei Award for outstanding contributions to the field of engineering.

Since 2019, Michele has also served as the Asia-Pacific Coordinator for Sprint Robotics, actively advancing robotics technology in industrial inspection and maintenance.

Value-driven executive with over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, strategy development & execution and business development within the energy sector.

Professional Experience

Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Luberef (2020-2025)
- Led the sales and marketing admin area, driving business growth and expansion

Head of Aramco Base Oil Alliance, Saudi Aramco (2019-2020)
- Spearheaded the alliance, fostering strategic partnerships and collaborations.

Various leadership roles at Saudi Aramco, including:

- Head of Aramco Base Oils and Lubricants Strategy Execution Team (2015-2019)
- Manager of Affiliates Investment Portfolio (2012-2015)
- Joined PetroRabigh Phase II expansion project team in Japan (2009-2011)
- Held Managerial positions in Engineering and Industrial Services (1993-2009)

Education

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
- Master's degree in Construction Engineering Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Industry Involvement

- Member, Aramco Base Alliance Steering Committee (2020-2025)
- Member, National Base Oils and Lubricants Committee, Council for Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (2021-2025)
-Member, Special Lubricants Investment Hub Committee (2024-2025)

Mr. MASUDA has overseen its technology cooperation since July 1, 2023, after working as a senior director of an electricity retail company and resource aggregator.

Previously he served as a government official for Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) since April 1987 after completing the Graduate School of University of Tokyo. Mr. MASUDA experienced as series of directors-general and directors in Manufacturing Bureau, Small and Medium Size Enterprise Agency, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Chubu and Kanto Regional Bureaus, and National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) as well as Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) at London and Berlin.

Mr. MASUDA holds MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University, MEng in petroleum engineering from Heriot-Watt University, and both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in resources development engineering at University of Tokyo. He was a lecturer (part-time) at his alma mater.