Abstract:
NIRS International Open Laboratory (IOL) was established at the end of 2008 in order to pursue the following aims: 1) To conduct high quality worldwide research by collaborating with distinguished researchers from leading research institutes in USA and Europe. 2) To further promote internationalization at NIRS by networking with foreign scientists. I was closely involved with the 1st term IOL as a unit leader (November 2008 to March 2011) and the 2nd term IOL as Scientific Secretary/Research Scientist (April 2011-March 2014). We had excellent scientific review results for the 1st and the 2nd term IOL activities by international experts in the field of radiation sciences. During the 2nd term IOL, we had a total of over 110 international researcher visits to NIRS through the IOL system, and many joint publications resulted out of our operations. The IOL ripple effect is still continuing many months after the completion of its 2nd term. I believe this kind of international coll aborative movement can become a good model for further globalization of Japanese academic institutions.