YCAPS & the Sasakawa Peace Foundation are pleased to announce the next event in the Community Conversations seminar series focused on Okinawa.

In the 20th century, Japan was known as a land of technological innovation with its electronic "gadgets" fascinating the world. However, there is a sense that it has lost its innovative edge in the modern era. Yet, Japan still possesses remarkable resources in terms of technological and scientific know-how. Anna Nagamine, Manager of Business Development Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) will describe Japan's national policies to promote innovation and the roles of sci-tech "hubs" such as OIST. A native Okinawan, she will also describe the specific challenges and opportunities the current era of innovation pose for her prefecture.

This event will be a webinar. Future Community Conversations events will be held in person so long as health and safety conditions permit.

Anna Nagamine is the Manager of Business Development Section, Technology Development and Innovation Center (TDIC) at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). TDIC fosters innovation at OIST and in Okinawa to accelerate economic growth. Anna's work involves developing industry partnerships, supporting entrepreneurship and incubating startups in the region. She was an integral part of the team that established the first OIST startup (focused on biotechnology) in 2014. Her interests are in understanding how science and technology can impact society in solving local and global challenges and how policies, programs and ecosystems support this process. Ms. Nagamine holds a BA from Chuo University, Faculty of Policy Studies, and an MA in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where she was an East-West Center Obuchi Student Scholarship recipient.

Webinar Cost: Free of charge