The 2017 Research Grant Presentation Ceremony in U.S.A. was held at Hotel Nikko San Francisco on September 20, 2017.
This year, as did in previous years, the Okawa Foundation awarded research grants to 8 creative, innovative and applicable research projects nominated from major 6 US universities (UC Berkeley, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Southern California, California Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University) in the field of information and telecommunications. At the Research Grant Ceremony, 10,000 US dollar-grant were awarded to each recipient.
 “Opening Address” Dr. Takayasu Okushima, President
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 “Presentation of Grants” Mr. Mitsuo Igarashi, Chairman (Left) Dr. Mona Jarrahi, UCLA (Right) |
 “Explanation of Selection Process” Mr. Hiroshi Akuto, Chairman of the Grant Selection Committee |
With honorable guests, including Mr. Jun Yamada, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, Dr. John L. Hennessy, the 2016 Okawa Prize winner and President Emeritus, Stanford University, and Dr. David E. Culler, the 2013 Okawa Prize winner and Interim Dean of Data Science, UC Berkeley, we also welcomed research grant recipients and their spouses, deans and department chairs from each university who nominated recipients, representatives from organizations involved in exchanges between U.S.A and Japan at the ceremony. Clues from Tokyo TV, a SF Bay Area broadcasting station also attended to report the ceremony.
 “Congratulatory Speech” Dr. John L. Hennessy, President Emeritus, Stanford University |
 “Congratulatory Speech” Dr. David E. Culler, Interim Dean of Data Science, UC Berkeley |
 “Congratulatory Speech” Mr. Jun Yamada, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco |
 “Closing Speech of the Ceremony” Mr. Takuji Matsumoto, Senior Managing Director |
The Research Grant Presentation Ceremony was conducted smoothly in a friendly atmosphere. In the Dinner Party after the ceremony, researchers communicated with each other and actively exchanged opinions.
 Research Grant recipients and their nominators |
 “Closing Address” Dr. Hideyuki Tokuda, Vice Chairman of the Grant Selection Committee |
 Dinner Party |
With the aim of advancing further development of information technology and promoting international academic and cultural exchanges, the Okawa Foundation will continue the activities of awarding prizes and research grants.