The 2023 Research Grant Presentation Ceremony in U.S.A. was held at Hotel Nikko San Francisco on November 21, 2023.
Similar to previous years, the grant recipients were nominated by six leading universities in the field of information and communications in the USA (UC Berkley, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Southern California, California Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University), and seven outstanding research projects were selected based on criteria including creativity, innovativeness, and usefulness. Each grant recipient received a grant of US$10,000.
The 2023 presentation ceremony in the USA is the first to be held in four years since 2019. It brought together a diverse group of guests, including the Deputy Consul General of the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, grant recipients, the deans from the respective universities that nominated the grant recipients, and members of companies in the USA that are involved in industry-academia exchanges.
The presentation ceremony began with the screening of a video introducing the Okawa Foundation, followed by an opening address from Director Yuichiro Anzai. Next, Hideyuki Tokuda, Chairman of the research grant selection committee explained selection process and results, and then Director Anzai presented the research grant certificate to each recipient.
 “Opening Address” Dr. Yuichiro Anzai, Director
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 “Presentation of Grants” Dr. Yuichiro Anzai, Director |
 “Explanation of Selection Process” Dr. Hideyuki Tokuda, Chairman of the Grant Selection Committee |
Hajime Kishimori, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, also delivered a messages of congratulation and encouragement to recipients on behalf of the guests.
 “Speech by the Research Grant Recipient” Dr. Daniel Fried, Carnegie Mellon University |
 “Congratulatory Speech” Mr. Hajime Kishimori, Dupty Consul General of Japan in San Francisco |
At the dinner party held after the ceremony, researchers from Japan and the USA as well as members of the industry took the opportunity to engage in a lively exchange of opinions. Deans from the respective universities that nominated the grant recipients gave congratulatory speeches, and the presentation ceremony concluded on a high note.
 Research Grant recipients and their nominators |
Going forward, the Okawa Foundation will continue to engage in such activities with the aim of promoting international academic and cultural exchange as well as the further development of research in the field of information and communications.