The Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC), operating under the University of Oulu banner, is preparing in partnership with the Japanese Yokohama National University (YNU) to establish a telecommunications research unit in the Yokosuka Research Park in Yokohama.

According to president Lauri Lajunen, who headed the University of Oulu delegation in Japan, co-operation with Japanese universities and research institutes is a strategic choice for the University of Oulu. “The Japanese are conducting very high-caliber research into wireless telecommunications, and in order to utilize results it pays to be located in the large markets from the start,' Lajunen explains. According to CWC director Ari Pouttu, Japan is a real bridgehead to Asia with regard to commercializing research results.

The University of Oulu delegation also paid visits to the Hokkaido, Kyoto and Keio Universities as well as the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). A partnership contract in the field of electrotechnology was made with Keio University.

The University of Oulu has researcher and student exchange programs as well as joint research projects with all of these universities. Oulu has partnered with JAIST to offer a doctorate program resulting in a dual degree. Co-operation has been greatly aided by the FiDiPro program, funded by the Academy of Finland and Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation). This funding has enabled the CWC to employ two part-time professors; professor Ryuji Kohno from Yokohama National University and professor Tadashi Matsumoto from JAIST.

Moreover, some members of the delegation participated in a Japanese-Finnish seminar, held in Hokkaido, concerning environmental research in the Nordic countries.

More information:
Lauri Lajunen, Rector, University of Oulu, tel. +358 (8) 553 4071
Ari Pouttu, Director, CWC, University of Oulu, tel. +358 (8) 553 2827