Currently, Japan's industrial sector faces a major transitional period amid labor shortages and global competition for talent acquisition. Foreign professionals with advanced expertise and international experience are expected to support Japan’s future cutting-edge research and innovation.
In April 2026, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (President: Karin Markides, hereinafter "OIST") and Nara Institute of Science and Technology (President: Kazuhiro Shiozaki, hereinafter "NAIST") will launch a new platform called the "Foreign Doctoral Talent Recruitment and Development Salon" to promote the recruitment, development, and retention of foreign doctoral talent within Japan.
As a first step, the second half of fiscal year 2025 has been designated as the “salon concept period” and will involve a series of introductory seminars led by government, industry and academic experts.
The first kickoff seminar (online) on Monday, October 20, 2025 will introduce the current status of international doctoral students and graduates at both universities, as well as the universities’ specialized career support initiatives. The speakers will also discuss the background behind the salon launch, and explore the challenges and possibilities that companies, the government, and universities must tackle together in order to promote foreign talent within Japan.
More information about this first seminar and subsequent planned events can be found below.
Foreign doctoral talent, who possess both advanced expertise (doctoral degrees) and international experience (foreign nationality and English proficiency), are expected to serve as immediate assets and future core personnel supporting Japan's cutting-edge research and industry. However, currently there is limited sharing of visions, initiatives, and knowledge among companies, universities, and government agencies. We believe that multi-layered dialogue and strategic collaboration are essential for true reform. NAIST and OIST aim to promote the success of foreign doctoral talent in Japan by combining their experience in supporting doctoral international students and fostering dialogue and collaboration across industry-academia-government boundaries.
This salon will develop activities centered on the following four pillars: