Research visit to Sony and meeting with Qataris studying in Japan

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), today led a high-level QF Research and Development (QF R&D) visit to the Sony headquarters in Japan.

Her Highness met with Sony Corporation President and CEO Mr Kazuo Hirai, Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc. President and CEO Dr Hiroaki Kitano and Executive Vice President of Sony Corporation Mr Shoji Nemoto to discuss the computing research landscape in both Qatar and Japan.

Her Highness was accompanied by a scientific delegation including President of QF Research and Development Mr Faisal Alsuwaidi and Executive Director of the Qatar Computing Research Institute, Mr Ahmed El Magarmid.

The delegation then held a roundtable discussion with representatives of Sony, the Japanese National Institute of Informatics, the Japanese National Institute of Information and Communication Technology, the University of Tokyo and Keio University. The discussion focused on the application of new technologies for social good and the possible synergies between Japan's top technology institutes and the QCRI.

“Our visit this week seeks to accelerate a new phase in the relationship between Qatar and Japan - one based on scientific collaborations that can help both our nations address some of the challenges we face in the 21st-century,” said Her Highness.

The QF R&D delegation visit follows a series of meetings in Doha in late 2013, between Sony senior executives and Qatari entities, including Northwestern University in Qatar.

Her Highness also met with eight young Qataris studying in Japan to hear about their experiences. The eight students described their motivations for pursuing higher education in Japan, such as the country’s achievements in the fields of scientific research and engineering, as well as their eagerness to get to know the Japanese culture, which shares similar values to Arab culture and traditions.

Her Highness confirmed her support and encouragement to the students on their educational journey and encouraged them to return to Qatar not only with an academic degree but also with a positive Japanese outlook.