Latest news with #MEXT
India Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Japan's talent crunch could be your career break: Why students should apply in 2025
If you've ever dreamed of studying abroad in a country known for innovation, safety, and world-class education, Japan in 2025 might be your best bet. But what makes Japan stand out today more than ever? Japan will face a shortage of 6.44 million workers by 2030, according to a 2024 report by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).This massive talent gap is opening doors for international students to build not just a degree, but a global career. 2025 is the perfect time to choose Japan for higher WORKFORCE CRISIS: A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITYJapan is battling a demographic crisis, its population is rapidly aging, with over 28% aged 65 or older. This leads to a shrinking to METI: Japan will face a shortage of 6.44 million workers by 2030, especially in tech, healthcare, and manufacturing. To address this, Japan is not only relaxing visa rules but actively encouraging international students to study, stay, and work in the SECTORS IN URGENT NEED OF TALENT WHAT MAKES JAPAN AN ATTRACTIVE STUDY DESTINATION? Japan offers high-quality education at a fraction of the cost compared to the US or UK. advertisement And don't forget: Japan offers generous scholarships like MEXT and JASSO, which often cover tuition, living expenses, and WORK OPTIONS: STAY AND THRIVEJapan offers a Designated Activities Visa for job hunting after graduation (up to 1 year).The "Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)" visa allows graduates to work long-term in key are increasingly offering English-speaking roles, especially in 2023, over 75% of international students in Japan secured employment post-graduation (MEXT data).CAREER-LINKED EDUCATIONJapanese universities often have strong ties with industry. This means:Internships at companies like Sony, Rakuten, Toyota, or fairs and placement cells geared toward international tracks in AI, Robotics, Sustainability, and INNOVATIVE, AND CULTURALLY RICH EXPERIENCEJapan ranks among the top countries for:Safety: 12th in the Global Peace Index 3rd in the Global Innovation Index (WIPO, 2024).Cleanliness, punctuality, and public transport not just about studying. It's about experiencing a unique blend of tradition and futuristic living."After my Master's in Data Science from Kyoto University, I got hired by a Tokyo-based fintech firm with a 9M salary package. Japan has given me a career I couldn't have imagined elsewhere."- Ravi Mehta, IndiaDON'T MISS THE 2025 ADVANTAGEadvertisementStudying in Japan in 2025 is not just about academics , it's about positioning yourself at the heart of an economy that desperately needs your talent. With over 6.44 million jobs expected to be vacant by 2030, your degree in Japan could be your gateway to a successful global IN JAPAN FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 1. MEXT (Monbukagakusho) ScholarshipOffered by: Government of JapanType Undergraduate / Research / Master's / PhDCoverage Full tuition, monthly stipend (~117,000-145,000), airfareEligibility Excellent academic record, non-Japanese citizenDeadline April-May (via Japanese Embassy), or university-recommended route in FallDuration Entire course duration + Japanese language training if needed2. JASSO Scholarship (Gakushu-shoureihi)Offered by: Japan Student Services OrganizationType Short-term and degree studentsCoverage Monthly stipend (48,000 for exchange, 30,000-75,000 for full-time)Eligibility Enrolled in Japanese institutions; financial need + merit-basedDeadline After admission (university applies on your behalf)3. University-Specific ScholarshipsMost top universities offer their own funded scholarships. Examples:University of Tokyo FellowshipCovers full tuition + monthly allowance (~200,000)Kyoto University International ScholarshipPartial to full funding based on academic meritOsaka University Global 30 ScholarshipTuition waiver + monthly support for English-taught programsadvertisement4. Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)For students from ADB member countriesPrograms Master's in selected development-related fieldsCoverage Full tuition, living expenses, airfare, research supportParticipating Universities Hitotsubashi, Keio, University of Tokyo, December-April (varies by university)5. Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation ScholarshipsOffered by: Rotary JapanCoverage 100,000 - 140,000 per monthLevel Undergraduate / Master's / PhDDeadline August-October (for April intake)Tips for Scholarship ApplicationsApply early: Deadlines are often 6-12 months before the program basic Japanese: Even for English programs, it helps with forms and a strong SOP and academic profile: Especially for MEXT and InMust Watch
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Japan offers scholarships, top STEM Programs — So why aren't Indian students going?
As of May 2024, there were approximately 1,600 Indian students studying in Japan, a relatively low figure compared to other countries. For instance, China had over 123,485 students, Nepal over 64,816 and Vietnam over 40,323 in Japan during the same period, as per the International Student Survey in Japan, 2024. Last week, IIT-Bombay announced plans to open an international centre in Japan by 2025 to launch joint PhD programmes, a move aimed at bridging the academic gap between Indian and Japanese institutions. Land of possibilities Indian students who studied in the country by chance or by choice are taken aback by the culture, the many opportunities and the Japanese way of life. Japan was the first choice for Shibani Melba, 25, when she pursued under-graduation in International Relations and Peace Studies. 'A combination of factors motivated me to pursue higher education in Japan. At fourteen, I had the opportunity to visit the country through a trip organised by the Japan government after winning a Japanese speech contest. I was deeply drawn to the Japanese way of life—their hospitality, discipline, and respect for others. Since I was already familiar with the language, applying to a Japanese university felt like a natural choice,' Shibani Melba, who graduated from the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, said. The Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) provides substantial financial support to international students, including Indians, which helps alleviate monthly expenses. Additionally, Japan offers advanced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses that are popular among Indian students. Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering are a few of the best programmes in the University of Tokyo, the top-ranked institution in the country. In 2011, it came second only to Harvard for the number of alumni in CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies. Kyoto University, the second most ranked in the country, boasts of producing world-beating researchers, including 13 Nobel Prize laureates. Advanced studies in Environmental, Nuclear, Materials Science and Energy Engineering at Kyoto University are well regarded. 'There are two common ways Indians come to Japan for higher education and research,' says an Assistant Professor (Research) at the University of Tohoku. 'One is through the Japanese embassy in India, which offers the MEXT scholarship covering studies from Bachelor's to PhD. The other is through direct guidance from Japanese professors. They often support international collaborations and help students navigate the research landscape here.' Institutes like the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) are well known among Indian students, especially those keen on research. Many IIT graduates choose these institutes for their postdoctoral studies. Top universities like the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and Osaka University are globally recognised. Jai (name changed on request), a postdoctoral fellow in organic chemistry, chose to study in a Japan University 'to adopt their research culture and to learn their way of thinking.' 'Their development in organic chemistry is just enormous,' Jai said. 'They are hardworking, strict in data collections and there would be no manipulations,' he adds. Students who pursue education in Japan often recommend the country to their peers. Ashwin Rajeev, a former student of IIT Gandhinagar, was selected for a student exchange program between IIT Gandhinagar and Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. 'Having spent a year in Japan and liking the place, I did my masters there. If everything falls in place, I would do my PhD in Japan,' he told The Hindu. Post COVID, foreign enrollment in Japan is drastically increasing. According to ICEF monitor, a market intelligence resource for the global education industry, Japan hosted more than 336,000 students in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers, representing a historic high, and reflecting year-over-year growth of 21%. In 2023, Waseda University, a Tokyo-based private institution, accepted 5,560 international students, while the national institution, the University of Tokyo, accepted 4,658 students from abroad. That year, there were more than a quarter of a million international students in higher education institutions in Japan, as per Statistica. Here is another advantage: GRE and GMAT scores are not required for undergraduate admissions in Japan. Only the SAT is mandatory for engineering courses, while it is optional for Arts and Science programs. The language barrier While nursing care and construction sectors in Japan have seen a growing influx of Indian workers over the past five years, the same trend hasn't translated into education. So why are fewer Indian students choosing the land of blossoms? The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has five levels from N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced). Achieving at least N3 level can provide advantage during admissions. From getting a scholarship to landing a part-time job to meet the monthly expenses, mastering Japanese is a necessity. 'After my undergraduation, I needed to be proficient with N1 and N2 levels of Japanese to get a job while I had cleared N3 (a level less) way back when I was in Class 11,' Shibani said. For students starting from scratch, it may take over two years to reach N3. When P. Krithika, a Chhattisgarh resident, wanted to do Masters in Management, she chose Canada over Japan even though the extreme climatic conditions in the former scared her. 'Learning a whole new language with an unfamiliar script felt impossible,' she said. However, learning Japanese pays off by opening doors to deeper cultural engagement, financial independence, and valuable career-building experiences. Shibani, who received scholarships from Rotary International and Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), shared how reaching even the N3 level significantly broadened her horizons. 'That said, language skills alone are not enough. Good academic performance and active involvement in extracurricular activities also play a key role in accessing scholarships and work opportunities,' Shibani said. Secondly, though it is perceived that the cost of living in cities like Tokyo is considerably high, it is actually lower than the U.S. and Europe. 'When people think about the conversion rate (since Japanese Yen is lower than INR), they prefer not to go to Japan, but prefer the West, where the exchange rate is way higher,' Ashwin Rajeev said. In Tokyo, living expenses, including accommodation and food, can amount to approximately ₹1 lakh per month for students staying outside the campus, while those living in university hostels typically spend around ₹30,000 to 40,000 per month. In smaller cities across Japan, the cost of living is generally 10 to 15 percent lower than in Tokyo, said S Kamalakkannan, deputy representative of Non-Resident Tamil Indians Association (NRTIA) Japan, who has been living in Tokyo for the past ten years. There is a misconception that the tuition fees in Japan are just unaffordable. In Japan, tuition fees for a four-year course in government-aided universities in Japan cost approximately ₹3 lakh in total for Engineering (about ₹75,000 per year) and around ₹2 lakh in total for Arts and Science courses (about ₹50,000 per year), without any scholarship support. In comparison, private universities charge typically two to three times higher than government institutions, Mr. Kamalakkannan said. Career concerns, awareness The Hindu reached out to six consultancies involved in facilitating overseas education. While all of them had extensive information about universities in the U.S. and Europe, none expressed interest or expertise in opportunities in Japan. There are other factors affecting preferences of Indians in Study abroad programs. A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Management in Education identified key factors influencing Indian students' decisions to study abroad. These include scholarships, social media influence, institutional reputation, country image, program structure, and personal aspirations. Research in the Journal of Teaching in International Business highlighted that quality of education, safety and the reputation of host institutions are significant considerations for Indian students. Despite being one of the safest countries in the world in terms of crime, parents hesitate to send their children to a place they perceive as volatile even if the facts say otherwise. 'Earthquakes and Tsunamis, these are real fears for Indian families,' Maria Charles, who runs a consultancy at Ramanathapuram, said. A 2021 study found that Indian students often prefer destinations with better understanding of Western education systems and migration opportunities. 'Japan has failed to market itself in India,' Ms. Charles said. It may be noted that countries like Germany, Canada and the U.K. regularly host education fairs and build institutional partnerships in India. Indian students have limited word-of-mouth support or alumni guidance. 'It's hard to trust what you don't know. Many students can't even gauge the credibility of Japanese universities without rankings or Indian references,' Ms. Charles added. Japan's fixed curriculum structure gives little room for exploration. 'In the U.S. or Canada, students can mix disciplines, take electives and even change majors. Japan doesn't easily allow that,' A Mahendran, a study abroad consultant, said. For many, the goal of studying abroad is to build a global career. In Japan, landing a high-paying job post-graduation is tougher than in English-speaking countries. 'Most companies expect fluent Japanese speakers, and even then, career growth can be limited for foreigners. Getting Permanent Residency (PR) in Japan is a long, unclear process,' said Mr. Mahendran. And the hurdles don't stop at employment. Mr. Kamalakkannan, who has been living in Tokyo for the past ten years, said that there is a lack of awareness about Japanese universities among Indian students. 'There are Japanese universities that offer English medium courses. The Indian embassy in Japan should be aggressive in creating awareness among students through the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) about the many opportunities Japan offers,' Mr. Kamalakkannan said.
15-05-2025
- Politics
Japanese-Language Schools at a Crossroads: New Regulations Pose Tough Challenge for Unsubsidized Industry
In March 2023, the government of former Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced a national target of hosting 400,000 international students within 10 years. By the end of 2024, the target had already been surpassed, according to the Immigration Services Agency. A substantial portion of this total consists of students enrolled at registered private Japanese-language schools, often in hopes of securing employment at a Japanese company or gaining admission to a Japanese college or university. At last count, there were about 870 such schools operating nationwide, more than double the number recorded a decade ago. But controversy has swirled around the schools for years now. Critics charge that they have helped thousands of 'fake students' enter Japan in search of low-skilled jobs. There is no question that some of these schools have been habitually lax in both their admissions standards and their monitoring of student attendance. Inadequate faculty and facilities have also been a recurring problem, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, or MEXT. Tough New Accreditation Law The Act on the Accrediting of Japanese-Language Educational Institutes is the government's latest response to such concerns. Enacted in 2023, the law came into effect in April 2024, it gives MEXT direct jurisdiction over Japanese-language education (previously under the Agency for Cultural Affairs), as well as the certification of Japanese-language schools (previously carried out by the Ministry of Justice, which handles immigration). To secure accreditation henceforth, a school must meet detailed standards pertaining to curriculum (tailored to different needs, such as employment or college admissions), staffing, facilities, and finances. Each institution must also be able to show that it is paying reasonable sums for overseas recruiting services and that its founders are respected members of society with adequate knowledge of Japanese-language education and business management. Under the new law, registered Japanese-language schools will have until the end of March 2029 to earn accreditation if they wish to continue sponsoring international students for student visas. As of the end of March 2025, 120 schools (including newly established institutions) had submitted applications, of which 41 had earned accreditation. In addition, Japanese-language instructors employed at nationally accredited schools are now required to obtain a new professional certification. For new teachers, this involves passing the Japanese Language Teacher Examination and undergoing practical training in the classroom. (Previously, instructors could earn qualification either by passing the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test, completing an approved Japanese-language teacher training course, or completing the Japanese-language education course at a university.) Thus far about 18,000 candidates have sat for the new examination, first held in November 2024, and 11,000 have passed. Language Schools as Labor Brokers The Japanese government launched its first concerted effort to attract international students back in 1983. Determined to enhance Japan's international profile and influence, Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro announced an ambitious plan to expand the number of international students in Japan by a factor of 10, from roughly 10,000 to at least 100,000. The idea was to nurture understanding of and friendship toward Japan while contributing to the training of human resources in the developing world. Pursuant to this policy, the government simplified procedures for obtaining student visas. To attract more privately-financed students, it promoted Japanese-language education while relaxing restrictions on part-time work. One result was the proliferation of profit-driven schools geared to helping young people enter Japan for the purpose of securing work. As it happened, this trend meshed perfectly with the needs of industry in the 1980s—the period of the 'bubble economy'—when certain jobs were becoming difficult to fill. In the 1990s, amid growing controversy, the government cracked down by instituting a certification system for Japanese-language schools and tightening requirements for student visas. As a result, the number of incoming students dropped substantially, forcing some schools out of business. It was not until 2003, two decades after Nakasone announced his initiative, that the target of 100,000 international students was finally reached. Of that number, about 70,000 were Chinese nationals, who continue to make up the largest group of foreign students by nationality. Policy shifted again in 2008, when the government, alarmed about the impact of demographic aging on the labor force, adopted a new target of 300,000 international students. Once again the screening of student visa applications was loosened, and Japanese-language schools sprouted up. Before long, the influx of 'fake students' reemerged as a public issue. Role of Chinese Capital Meanwhile, legitimate schools have found themselves under growing financial pressure. Since the 1990s, registered Japanese-language schools have been required to own their own buildings and grounds. The purpose of this requirement was to ensure stability and continuity in the learning environment. It was a high hurdle that forced a considerable number of operators to shut down or sell their schools. According to one former school administrator, the influx of Chinese capital began around this time. 'The ownership requirement was a heavy burden for Japanese school operators, but for Chinese investors, who have typically done very well with real estate, it may have seemed like a great business opportunity.' In my own research on Japanese-language schools, I have found that a considerable number are foreign-owned, with Chinese and South Korean operators predominating. In some cases, Chinese and South Korean nationals who came to Japan as international students in the 1980s eventually decided to go into business themselves. According to some industry insiders, the last few years have witnessed another spurt of Chinese buyouts, as schools have struggled to adapt to a changing environment, including an increasingly multinational student population and the growing needs of Chinese students seeking advanced degrees from Japanese universities. The former school administrator cited above speculates that close to a third of Japan's registered Japanese-language schools may be Chinese-owned, but there is no way to be sure, since the government does not keep such statistics. Losing the Recruitment Battle Another challenge facing Japanese-language schools is recruitment of foreign students, and here Chinese-owned schools have an inherent advantage. Recruitment is typically carried out either through links with foreign educational institutions or through the services of overseas-based commercial brokers. Schools that rely on the latter must budget for substantial brokerage fees, which can have a major impact on their bottom line. According to one consultant specializing in foreign human resources, brokerage costs began to soar after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the anti-Japanese demonstrations that broke out in China (protesting Japan's nationalization of the disputed Senkaku Islands) the following year. 'It became much more difficult to recruit Chinese students, and the brokerage fees recruiters charged per student rose to more than 20 percent of tuition,' he says. Furthermore, schools that want to attract serious students often feel compelled to send their own employees overseas to monitor or supervise the process. Professor Emeritus Tanaka Hiroshi, who devoted himself to Japanese-language education for years at Daitō Bunka University, recalls the struggles his university had recruiting international students. 'A number of Japanese universities, including ours, established permanent overseas offices with full-time Japanese staff in order to recruit international students. I don't think it was a very efficient approach,' he says. 'Most schools seem to have shut down such operations because it wasn't worth the cost.' Foreign-operated schools, by contrast, can leverage their local connections, and with no language barrier to contend with, they can communicate more easily with recruiting services. This obviates the need to station staff overseas and leads to substantial reductions in recruitment costs. Underpaid, Overworked Teachers It is notoriously difficult to make a decent living teaching Japanese as a foreign language in Japan. I recently visited a famously conscientious Japanese-owned school in Tokyo and found the instructors up to their ears in work inside and outside the classroom. In addition to teaching, they are expected to monitor and support each student individually, taking note of absences, tardiness, and attitude issues while checking to be sure they understand each day's homework. The teachers I spoke to said they found their work fulfilling. But their low pay per classroom hour was a source of dissatisfaction and anxiety. An instructor at a Chinese-owned school in Tokyo told me that the working conditions were better there. 'The rate per classroom hour is higher,' she said, 'and we're not required to submit lesson plans, so that lightens the burden.' While she has occasional misgivings about the school's educational policy and how clean it keeps the facilities, she finds it best not to be too fastidious. I found that the going rate for Japanese-language teachers in Tokyo was about ¥1,800 per classroom hour at Japanese-owned language schools and between ¥2,000 and ¥3,000 at Chinese-run schools. Backing up Standards with Support Thus far, policies to increase the number of international students in Japan have outrun measures to monitor the language schools that sponsor many of those students. Through the new accreditation law, the government is responding to rising pressure to screen out 'fake students' and improve the quality of Japanese-language education. The hope is that the law's requirements will have the effect of weeding out shady operators. But tougher standards alone will not solve the industry's biggest challenge—hiring and retaining qualified teachers. As part of its bid to raise the quality of education at Japanese-language schools, MEXT has increased the required number of full-time teachers to one per 40 enrolled students from the previous 1:60 ratio. At present, more than half of the teaching staff at such schools are part-time instructors. Securing enough certified full-time teachers to meet the needs of a burgeoning number of international students will be next to impossible unless schools can offer higher pay along with steady employment. If, as some believe, high fees paid to overseas brokers are forcing schools to skimp on teacher pay, then the government needs to address that issue. Yet the new law simply calls for 'reasonable brokerage fees' without offering clear-cut guidelines. Since their inception, private Japanese-language schools have had to make do without public grants or subsidies, despite the key role they have played in helping the government reach its targets for international students. They are supported exclusively by student tuition, leaving them highly vulnerable not only to rising brokerage costs but also to sudden business slumps, such as that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. MEXT's plan is to create mechanisms to encourage private companies, universities, and local governments to support accredited language schools as an investment in the future. The idea is to shore up the fragile finances of those schools and improve conditions for teachers through partnerships with industry, academia, and local government. Under the government's Specified Skilled Worker system and its new training and employment program, businesses in particular will be expected to support the education of foreign talent to address worsening labor shortages. By creating this sort of environment, Japan may also achieve its long-cherished goal of fostering deeper understanding and friendship overseas. (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NTT Research's Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima Receives MEXT Young Scientists' Award
Teshima studying self-assembly of nano and soft materials to support bio digital twin initiative News Highlights: Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima awarded national Japanese prize for research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. MEXT award recognizes young scientists "who have made notable research achievements" for studies that are "pioneering" or "based on original perspectives." Teshima leads the Munich-based office of the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics Lab and supports the lab's cardiovascular bio digital twin initiative. SUNNYVALE, Calif. & TOKYO, May 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), announced that Tetsuhiko Teshima, Ph.D., received the Young Scientists' Award from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for his research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. The award, according to MEXT, recognizes researchers under the age of 40, "who have made notable research achievements that demonstrate high research and development capabilities, such as pioneering research or research based on original perspectives." Nominated for the recognition by The University of Tokyo, Teshima received the award at a ceremony on April 15, 2025. "I am delighted to hear that Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima has received the MEXT Young Scientists' Award," said Professor Shoji Takeuchi, a project professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo and Teshima's academic advisor. "Even during his Ph.D. studies, he explored novel ways to integrate thin-film technology and cell manipulation, such as folding cell-laden films using magnetic fields for unique observations. His continued dedication to interdisciplinary research has led to impressive progress in the field of bio-digital twins. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements, and I look forward to his future scientific contributions." Teshima is a research scientist with the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics (MEI) Lab's Munich office, created to support a joint research agreement with the Neuroelectronics Group within the Technical University Munich (TUM) Institute of Biomedical Engineering, where Teshima also works as a senior researcher. Focused on the design and fabrication of bioelectronic interfaces and sensor arrays, this group supports the MEI Lab's mission of advancing the medical and health sciences by empowering the application of precision-based medicine practices. Specifically, the MEI Lab is pursuing the creation and application of bio digital twins to achieve optimized, individualized therapies, beginning with the realization of a cardiovascular bio digital twin (CV BioDT) and an in vitro heart-on-a-chip digital twin platform. "Dr. Teshima has played a vital role in the MEI Lab's advancement of bio digital twin technologies, and his recognition by MEXT is very well deserved." said MEI Lab Director Joe Alexander (M.D., Ph.D.). "His leadership of our office in Munich has seamlessly enabled a global research collaboration that is producing findings fundamentally evolving our understanding of biomaterials." For example, in the 2021 paper, "Bioelectronics for Biodigital Twin," Teshima introduced the research framework of the MEI Lab's Munich office, its three main research topics—flexible bio-electrodes, soft neural interfaces, and shape-morphing electrodes—and concluded with an outlook on future technological development to achieve the ultimate goal: a bio digital twin. A 2022 paper published by Teshima, "3D and 4D Biointerfaces and Bioelectronics for CV BioDT," outlined his study of cardiomyocytes to induce electrophysiological behavior similar to that of the natural heart as well as the creation of an electrical signal amplitude and frequency database. In January 2025, Teshima co-authored the paper, "Self-Foldable Three-Dimensional Biointerfaces by Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials on Polymers," published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The research explored engineered tissues and organoids—miniaturized, three-dimensional structures formed of cells mimicking the architecture and function of real organs, enabling researchers to study organ development, model diseases and test new therapeutics in a controlled and physiologically relevant environment. For more information about that research, please read the NTT Research blog post on its findings. In addition to his affiliations with NTT Research and TUM, Teshima is a member of the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. Previously, he was a researcher in the NTT Basic Research Laboratories and Bio-Medical Informatics Research Center in Japan. Teshima received his Ph.D. in information science and technology from the University of Tokyo, Japan. For more information about the NTT Research MEI Lab and the CV BioDT initiative, please visit: About NTT Research NTT Research opened its offices in July 2019 in Silicon Valley to conduct basic research and advance technologies as a foundational model for developing high-impact innovation across NTT Group's global business. Currently, four groups are housed at NTT Research facilities in Sunnyvale: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab, and the Physics of Artificial Intelligence (PAI) Group. The organization aims to advance science in four areas: 1) quantum information, neuroscience and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; 3) medical and health informatics; and 4) artificial intelligence. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D investment of thirty percent of its profits. ### NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION View source version on Contacts NTT Research Contact:Chris ShawChief Marketing OfficerNTT Research + Media Contact:Nick GibiserWireside Communications®For NTT Research+1-804-500-6660ngibiser@
Business Wire
14-05-2025
- Science
- Business Wire
NTT Research's Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima Receives MEXT Young Scientists' Award
SUNNYVALE, Calif. & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), announced that Tetsuhiko Teshima, Ph.D., received the Young Scientists' Award from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for his research into the analysis and control of biological dynamics based on the self-organization of functional thin films. The award, according to MEXT, recognizes researchers under the age of 40, 'who have made notable research achievements that demonstrate high research and development capabilities, such as pioneering research or research based on original perspectives.' Nominated for the recognition by The University of Tokyo, Teshima received the award at a ceremony on April 15, 2025. 'I am delighted to hear that Dr. Tetsuhiko Teshima has received the MEXT Young Scientists' Award,' said Professor Shoji Takeuchi, a project professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo and Teshima's academic advisor. 'Even during his Ph.D. studies, he explored novel ways to integrate thin-film technology and cell manipulation, such as folding cell-laden films using magnetic fields for unique observations. His continued dedication to interdisciplinary research has led to impressive progress in the field of bio-digital twins. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements, and I look forward to his future scientific contributions.' Teshima is a research scientist with the NTT Research Medical & Health Informatics (MEI) Lab's Munich office, created to support a joint research agreement with the Neuroelectronics Group within the Technical University Munich (TUM) Institute of Biomedical Engineering, where Teshima also works as a senior researcher. Focused on the design and fabrication of bioelectronic interfaces and sensor arrays, this group supports the MEI Lab's mission of advancing the medical and health sciences by empowering the application of precision-based medicine practices. Specifically, the MEI Lab is pursuing the creation and application of bio digital twins to achieve optimized, individualized therapies, beginning with the realization of a cardiovascular bio digital twin (CV BioDT) and an in vitro heart-on-a-chip digital twin platform. 'Dr. Teshima has played a vital role in the MEI Lab's advancement of bio digital twin technologies, and his recognition by MEXT is very well deserved.' said MEI Lab Director Joe Alexander (M.D., Ph.D.). 'His leadership of our office in Munich has seamlessly enabled a global research collaboration that is producing findings fundamentally evolving our understanding of biomaterials.' For example, in the 2021 paper, ' Bioelectronics for Biodigital Twin,' Teshima introduced the research framework of the MEI Lab's Munich office, its three main research topics—flexible bio-electrodes, soft neural interfaces, and shape-morphing electrodes—and concluded with an outlook on future technological development to achieve the ultimate goal: a bio digital twin. A 2022 paper published by Teshima, " 3D and 4D Biointerfaces and Bioelectronics for CV BioDT," outlined his study of cardiomyocytes to induce electrophysiological behavior similar to that of the natural heart as well as the creation of an electrical signal amplitude and frequency database. In January 2025, Teshima co-authored the paper, " Self-Foldable Three-Dimensional Biointerfaces by Strain Engineering of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials on Polymers," published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The research explored engineered tissues and organoids—miniaturized, three-dimensional structures formed of cells mimicking the architecture and function of real organs, enabling researchers to study organ development, model diseases and test new therapeutics in a controlled and physiologically relevant environment. For more information about that research, please read the NTT Research blog post on its findings. In addition to his affiliations with NTT Research and TUM, Teshima is a member of the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. Previously, he was a researcher in the NTT Basic Research Laboratories and Bio-Medical Informatics Research Center in Japan. Teshima received his Ph.D. in information science and technology from the University of Tokyo, Japan. For more information about the NTT Research MEI Lab and the CV BioDT initiative, please visit: About NTT Research NTT Research opened its offices in July 2019 in Silicon Valley to conduct basic research and advance technologies as a foundational model for developing high-impact innovation across NTT Group's global business. Currently, four groups are housed at NTT Research facilities in Sunnyvale: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab, the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab, and the Physics of Artificial Intelligence (PAI) Group. The organization aims to advance science in four areas: 1) quantum information, neuroscience and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; 3) medical and health informatics; and 4) artificial intelligence. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D investment of thirty percent of its profits. ### NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
