The 2018 Research Grant Presentation Ceremony in U.S.A. was held at Hotel Nikko San Francisco on September 13, 2018.
This year, as did in previous years, the Okawa Foundation awarded research grants to 6 creative, innovative and applicable research projects in the field of information and telecommunications, nominated from major 6 US universities (UC Berkeley, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Southern California, California Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University). At the Research Grant Presentation Ceremony, 10,000 US dollar-grant was awarded to each recipient.
 “Opening Address” Dr. Takayasu Okushima, President
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 “Presentation of Grants” Mr. Mitsuo Igarashi, Chairman (Left) Dr. Ayfer Ozgur, Stanford University (Right) |
 “Explanation of Selection Process” Mr. Hiroshi Akuto, Chairman of the Grant Selection Committee |
With honorable guests, including Mr. Shoichi Nagayoshi, Dupty Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, Dr. Constance Chang-Hasnain, the 2018 Okawa Prize winner and Associate Dean for Strategic Alliances, College of Engineering, UC Berkeley 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.
 “Congratulatory Speech” Dr. David E. Culler, Interim Dean of Data Science, UC Berkeley |
 “Congratulatory Speech” Dr. Constance Chang-Hasnain, Associate Dean for Strategic Alliances, College of Engineering, UC Berkeley |
 “Congratulatory Speech” Mr. Shoichi Nagayoshi, Dupty 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. Tokyo TV, a SF Bay Area broadcasting station reported the ceremony. 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.