Speaker

Mr. Kenji Kurata

After finishing the Master’s Degree in Applied Chemistry at Keio University, Mr. Kurata joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) under the Government of Japan. Within METI, he has gained experiences in various positions related to industries, technology, energy and environment. Mr. Kurata has served as the director in some sections within METI and served as the Deputy Director-General for Planning and Management at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). He has also served as the President of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). After more than 30 years of service within METI, he had left the Government and assumed the Executive Director of Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association in 2016. He received a Ph.D. in Energy Science from Kyoto University. In terms of academic profession, Mr. Kurata has been a professor of Public Policy School at Hokkaido University. Now, he serves as a special adviser for Keio Leading-Edge Laboratory of Science and Technology at Keio University as well as a visiting professor at Hokkaido University.