University of Oulu's 6G Flagship signs a MoU with the Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology

ICT collaboration between Oulu, Finland and Japan broadens again

The University of Oulu and National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) of Japan have agreed on collaboration in the information and communications technology field, particularly with respect to beyond 5G and 6G technologies. The joint Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration was signed by Professor Hideyuki Tokuda, President of NICT and Professor Jouko Niinimäki, Rector of the University of Oulu when the delegation of the University of Oulu visited Tokyo at the beginning of September.

The collaboration aims to launch new joint projects and build a basis for long-term collaborative research. The MoU complements the University of Oulu’s ICT network of Japanese partners, as the University has already agreed on a collaboration with Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium, the University of Tokyo, and Shimizu Corporation.

The launch of a new collaboration with NICT opens an even more successful outlook for Finnish-Japanese ICT cooperation.

Rector Jouko Niinimäki is pleased with the launch of the collaboration and sees it as a concrete result of Prime Minister Marin’s visit to Japan in May 2022.

Prime Minister Marin highlighted the relevance of the Finnish-Japanese 6G collaboration during her visit to Tokyo. I am grateful to Prime Minister, as her visit created a fantastic basis also for our negotiations with NICT. The launch of a new collaboration with NICT opens an even more successful outlook for Finnish-Japanese ICT cooperation, Niinimäki says.

Director of 6G Flagship, Prof. Matti Latva-aho, who also serves as a Global Fellow of the School of Engineering of the University of Tokyo, is content with the new collaboration.

In 6G, a mix of technologies will be used, so even more ICT expertise is needed in 6G development. As NICT is Japan’s primary national research institute for ICT, its role is vital also beyond 5G and 6G development in Japan but also globally. We are looking forward to achieving many successful joint innovations with them.

NICT is Japan’s sole National Research and Development Agency specializing in information and communications technology. It is responsible for promoting the ICT sector, as well as research and development in ICT in Japan. The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary University located in Oulu, Finland. The world’s first 6G R&D program, 6G Flagship, was founded at the University of Oulu. Cooperation with Japan is part of the expansion of 6G Flagship’s international ecosystem.