RIKEN hosted a special online seminar on its research related to COVID-19 on July 15, 2020. The event was organized for an international audience in order to strengthen collaboration with research institutes, universities and companies all around the globe.

As Japan’s flagship research institute, RIKEN bears an important role for tackling the current pandemic as well as preventing future ones. In this context, Executive Director Dr. Yuko Harayama provided an overview of RIKEN and Jens Wilkinson of the International Affairs Division introduced the institute’s latest activities. This includes the development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and research utilizing artificial intelligence and supercomputers to support humankind and societies to overcome the crisis among many other endeavors.

The introduction was followed by special lectures given by RIKEN researchers. Dr. Yuji Matsumoto (Knowledge Acquisition Team, Goal-Oriented Technology Research Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project) presented a scientific paper analysis method and its application to COVID-19 related papers. Dr. Kazuhiro Sakurada (Deputy Program Director, Medical Sciences Innovation Hub Program) talked about the development of precise prediction models with the objective of identifying people at high risk from the current pandemic. Dr. Rikiya Watanabe (Chief Scientist, Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Cluster for Pioneering Research) introduced SATORI, an accurate, rapid and robust detection method for SARS-CoV-2. At last, Dr. Satoshi Matsuoka (Director, Center for Computational Science) presented the supercomputer Fugaku and its numerous applications to effectively fight the new coronavirus.

The event was jointly organized with the Science and Technology Diplomatic Circle (S&TDC).