December 5, 2024:

Congratulations to Ning LUO for successfully defending her doctoral thesis in the Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship) in the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) at HKUST! She investigated the impact of high-skilled talent policies on innovation and entrepreneurship by taking the case of the Peacock Plan implemented in Shenzhen.

December 2, 2024:

AIS Sustainability Seminar "Behavioural Perspectives on Personal Health Data Sharing and App Design" will be held on December 5 online and in person, jointly organized by the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), Division of Public Policy (PPOL), and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR). Based on the findings of the joint research project between PPOL and the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) at University College London, we will discuss the key factors that influence people's willingness to share personal data for digital health services and explore implications for public policy and governance concerning personal data in addressing sustainability challenges.

November 30, 2024:

The 2025 AUA Asia Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Conference on Public Policy will be held on May 22-23, 2025, hosted by the Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The theme of the conference is to explore how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can address sustainability challenges, including climate change, public health, and the circular economy. We would like to invite contributions that examine various opportunities and challenges in developing and implementing public policy and governance in the context of Asia Pacific and beyond. Submissions of research papers and panel proposals are open until December 30, 2024.

November 26, 2024:

In this paper with Takuro Kobashi, Eric Zusman, and Makoto Taniguchi, just published in Technology in Society, we explored key opportunities and challenges in implementing innovative initiatives to integrate photovoltaics with electric vehicles in Kyoto for a sustainability transition.

Kobashi, Takuro, Eric Zusman, Makoto Taniguchi, and Masaru Yarime, "Facilitating a Carbon Neutral Transition in Kyoto: Initiatives on Rooftop Photovoltaics Integrated with Electric Vehicles," Technology in Society, 80, 102774 (2025).

November 13, 2024:

We are very pleased to announce a call for papers for the Special Issue on AI Ethics, Governance and Risk Management, co-organized by AI Open and Risk Sciences. We are particularly keen to look for research contributions that explore the role of AI in addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, biodiversity, and the circular economy, and implications for public policy and governance. Submissions are open until June 30, 2025.

November 6, 2024:

The 2025 Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy (ATLC25) will be held on May 14-16, 2025, at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. As a member of the Conference Advisory Board, I would like to invite you to submit abstracts of your research findings for presentation at the conference. Research contributions that explore the role of science, technology, and innovation policy in addressing sustainability challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity, and the circular economy, would be particularly welcome. Submissions are open until November 17, 2024.

November 5, 2024:

An HKUST IEMS Thought Leadership Brief has been published by the Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS) at HKUST. In this brief, we discussed opportunities and challenges in data governance for smart cities in China and their implications for public policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data Governance for Smart Cities in China: Opportunities and Challenges," HKUST IEMS Thought Leadership Brief, No. 88, Institute for Emerging Market Studies, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Fall (2024).

November 4, 2024:

It was a great pleasure to participate in the 19th East Asian Economic Association (EAEA) International Conference held in Bangkok on November 1-2. Our paper with Prof. Asei Ito and Prof. Guanie Lim was presented to discuss China's impact on digital governance in countries of the Belt and Road Initiative. We had a fruitful discussion with experts and policy-makers in ASEAN countries.

Ito, Asei, Guanie Lim, and Masaru Yarime, "Digital China Effect: Belt and Road Initiative and Cyber Protectionism in Emerging Countries," 19th East Asian Economic Association (EAEA) International Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, November 1-2 (2024).

October 30, 2024:

Different approaches are taken in countries around the world to facilitate innovation in AI while securing consumer protection. In this paper with Keith Chan and Gleb Papyshev just published in Technology in Society, we analyzed top-down command and control and bottom-up self-regulatory approaches to balancing the trade-off by developing a game theoretic model.

Chan, Keith Jin Deng, Gleb Papyshev, and Masaru Yarime, "Balancing the Tradeoff between Regulation and Innovation for Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis of Top-down Command and Control and Bottom-up Self-Regulatory Approaches," Technology in Society (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102747.

October 24, 2024:

AIS Sustainability Seminar "Measuring Sustainability and Wellbeing" will be held on October 30, co-organized by the HKUST Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies, the Division of Public Policy HKUST PPOL, and the Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST. Prof. Shunsuke Managi of Kyushu University will discuss the inclusive wealth index and its implications for advancing sustainable development.

October 23, 2024:

AI & Innovation on Climate Action Panel will take place on October 27, co-organized by Climate Solutions Labs and CarbonCare InnoLab. This session will explore opportunities and challenges in utilizing AI to enhance environmental monitoring, develop innovative technologies, and scale up climate resilience practices.

October 19, 2024:

The Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is looking for applicants for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). Our research activities focus on three areas: 1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; 2. Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy; and 3. Social and Urban Policy. We are particularly keen to explore the policy implications of critical and emerging technologies such as AI for addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, biodiversity, and the circular economy. HKPFS provides an annual stipend of HKD 337,200 (USD 43,120) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HKD 14,000 (USD 1,790) per year for four years. Applications are open until December 1, 2024.

October 10, 2024:

I would like to thank the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy (STEaPP) at University College London (UCL) for kindly inviting me to give a seminar. It was a great opportunity to discuss emerging AI innovation in various sectors and its implications for governance and public policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Sectoral Approaches to AI Innovation: Implications for Governance and Public Policy," STEaPP Seminar, Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy (STEaPP), University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom, October 10 (2024).

October 9, 2024:

We are pleased to invite contributions to the Special Issue on AI Ethics, Governance and Risk Management for the journals AI Open and Risk Sciences. Topics of interest include Effective AI Governance Frameworks, Ethical Challenges in AI Deployment, Balancing Innovation with Risk Management, AI's Role in Advancing Sustainable Development, Integrating Governance, Risk, and Ethics for Sustainability, and AI Ethics Education. Submissions are open until June 30, 2025.

October 8, 2024:

It was a great pleasure to join the Plenary Session "Global Stories" at the REINFORCING Open and Responsible Research and Innovation Forum in Vienna, organized by the Austrian Institute of Technology. We shared ORRI practices in various sectors and discussed emerging challenges, including responsible governance of artificial intelligence.

Yarime, Masaru, "Experimentation in the Governance of AI Innovation: Facilitating Collaboration with Stakeholders in Regulatory Sandboxes for ORRI," REINFORCING Open and Responsible Research and Innovation Forum, organized by the Austrian Institute of Technology, die HausWirtschaft, Vienna, Austria, October 7-8 (2024).

October 2, 2024:

We organized a PPOL Seminar, Network Analysis of Scientific Papers' Policy Impact, by Dr. Kimitaka Asatani of the University of Tokyo on October 2 at HKUST. We had a fruitful discussion on the impact of scientific knowledge on policymaking with significant differences among policy domains, including climate change, COVID-19, and artificial intelligence.

September 30, 2024:

I was interviewed on RTHK's morning news program, Hong Kong Today, about the recent election of the leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and the policy challenges he faces in the economy, disaster management, and international relations.

"Former defence minister Ishiba to become Japan's PM," Hong Kong Today, RTHK, September 30 (2024).

September 27, 2024:

It was a great pleasure to join The Hong Kong Conference 2024 "Artificial Intelligence: Reality, Wishful Thinking, and the Future", co-hosted by ASIS International Hong Kong and The BCI Hong Kong. Academic researchers and business practitioners discussed the responsible development and deployment of AI in addressing emerging risks, resilience, and sustainability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Recent Developments and Future Opportunities and Challenges in AI Ethics and Governance," The Hong Kong Conference 2024 "Artificial Intelligence: Reality, Wishful Thinking, and the Future", co-hosted by ASIS International Hong Kong and The BCI Hong Kong, American Club, The Town Club, Hong Kong, September 27 (2024).

September 26, 2024:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will organize a seminar on Network Analysis of Scientific Papers' Policy Impact by Dr. Kimitaka Asatani of the University of Tokyo on October 2. We will discuss the impact of scientific knowledge on policymaking by conducting a network analysis of citations of academic papers in policy documents.

September 19, 2024:

Data for Policy made an interview with me, which has been uploaded to YouTube. In this interview, I talked about the emergence of data-driven innovation and its implications for public policy and governance.

"Navigating Data-Driven Innovation and Policy Challenges: Interview with Masaru Yarime," Data for Policy, YouTube, September 18 (2024).

September 14, 2024:

The Open and Responsible Research and Innovation Forum will be held in Vienna on October 7-8, 2024, organized by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology in collaboration with the REINFORCING Consortium funded by the EU. Experts and practitioners will share innovative ORRI practices in diverse sectors and regions and explore future opportunities and challenges in the context of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

September 13, 2024:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) is a non-profit initiative to recognize and showcase sustainability reporting best practices among enterprises in Hong Kong and beyond. I'm honored to serve on the independent panel of judges for the awards.

September 11, 2024:

It is my great pleasure to join the Advisory Board of The Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy. The conference is scheduled to take place on May 14-16, 2025, hosted by the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. A call for papers is coming soon.

September 6, 2024:

In this paper just published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change, we examined various problems in mobility caused by population aging and decline and key challenges in realizing expectations for emerging technologies such as Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and autonomous vehicles.

Trencher, Gregory, Masaru Yarime, and Jeongsoo Yu, "Using Emerging Technologies to Tackle Mobility Challenges Caused by Population Ageing: Experiences from Japan," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 208, 123729 (2024).

September 5, 2024:

The Hong Kong Conference 2024 "Artificial Intelligence: Reality, Wishful Thinking, and the Future" will be held on September 27, co-hosted by ASIS International Hong Kong and The BCI Hong Kong. Academic researchers and business practitioners will discuss the responsible development and deployment of AI in addressing emerging risks, resilience, and sustainability.

August 31, 2024:

It is a great honor to receive the Abe Fellows Network Research Grant from the U.S. Social Science Research Council (SSRC). Our project with Prof. Tomoyo Sasao and Prof. Yujia He explores data governance for innovation for sustainable smart cities in Japan, the U.S., and China.

August 28, 2024:

We will organize the AIS Sustainability Seminar on September 3, 2024 at 15:00-16:30. Prof. Dr. Daniel J. Lang from the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany will discuss Transdisciplinary Learning in Real-World Laboratories to Foster Sustainability Transformations of Socio-Technical Systems.

August 17, 2024:

I'm honored to be awarded a research grant by the U.S. Social Science Research Council (SSRC). The project is Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: A Comparative Analysis of Japan, the United States, and China.

August 1, 2024:

An article on the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been published in the South China Morning Post.

"HKUST breaks new ground in public policy studies," South China Morning Post, August 1 (2024).

July 30, 2024:

Congratulations to Hillary GIAM for successfully defending her MPhil thesis at the Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She conducted a lifecycle analysis of the development and deployment of generative AI in the financial and healthcare sectors. Her research makes a valuable contribution to understanding sector-specific risks and exploring measures for public policy and governance.

Giam, Hillary, "An Analysis of the Lifecycle of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Settings: Implications for Governing Risks and Responsibilities among Stakeholders" (Supervisor: Masaru Yarime), MPhil in Public Policy, Division of Public Policy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, August (2024).

July 19, 2024:

The 152nd STIG PoP Seminar "Stimulating Digital Innovation in China: Recent Development of Public Policies and Their Impacts" will be organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIG) Program at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo. We will examine cases of digital innovation in cities such as Shenzhen and the effects of policy measures and instrument and also look at the impact of the United States’ trade policies on innovation in China.

July 18, 2024:

In this paper just accepted for publication in Telematics and Informatics Reports, we discussed a human-centered approach to the smart by taking the case of Kashiwanoha in Japan. Active citizen participation and engagement remain a key challenge in smart city development.

Florentin, Kevin Macarius, Motoharu Onuki, and Masaru Yarime, "Facilitating Citizen Participation in Greenfield Smart City Development: The Case of a Human-centered Approach in Kashiwanoha International Campus Town," Telematics and Informatics Reports, forthcoming.

July 11, 2024:

Data governance was among the key issues intensively discussed at the Data for Policy 2024 Conference. Our paper, presented by Dr. Mushan Jin, examined what kinds of themes are focused on in research on data governance by conducting bibliometric and text analyses. Ms. Hillary Giam also presented another paper on an analysis of the lifecycle of generative AI in the financial and healthcare sectors and discussed implications for governing various kinds of risks and responsibilities involved among stakeholders.

Jin, Mushan, and Masaru Yarime, "Exploring Emerging Trends in Data Governance: An AI-Assisted Approach to Bibliometric and Text Analyses," Data for Policy 2024 Conference, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, July 9-11 (2024).

Giam, Hillary, and Masaru Yarime, "An Analysis of the Lifecycle of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Settings: Implications for Governing Risks and Responsibilities among Stakeholders," Data for Policy 2024 Conference, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, July 9-11 (2024).

July 10, 2024:

It was a great pleasure to participate in the Plenary Session "Responsible AI for Decision-Making" at the Data for Policy 2024 Conference held at Imperial College London. As principles of responsible AI, including transparency, explainability, fairness, and lack of biases, are addressed in recent policies and regulations, it would be important to explore how these principles can be implemented in practice, considering the characteristics of specific sectors and applications.

Yarime, Masaru, "Sectoral Approaches to AI Innovation and Implications for Public Policy," Plenary Session on Responsible AI for Decision-Making, Data for Policy 2024 Conference, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, July 9-11 (2024).

July 7, 2024:

The Data for Policy 2024 Conference will be held from July 9 to 11 at Imperial College London. As AI is increasingly adopted in diverse sectors, it is imperative to consider how we can implement responsible use of AI in decision-making. This Plenary Session will bring together experts from academia and policy communities to explore opportunities and challenges in AI governance and regulation.

July 3, 2024:

The International Conference on the Science of Science and Innovation (ICSSI) 2024, held on July 1-3 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., provided a valuable platform to facilitate dialogues between academic researchers and policy-makers. Emerging data-intensive methodologies will play a crucial role in exploring the impacts of various policies on creating innovation and tackling societal challenges.

Jiang, Xiaohui, and Masaru Yarime, "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation: Effects of Public-Private Data Collaboration on the Innovation Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in China," The International Conference on the Science of Science and Innovation (ICSSI) 2024, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., United States, July 1-3 (2024).

Xie, Siqi, Xuan Zeng, and Masaru Yarime, "Bless or Curse?: Effects of U.S. Sanction on China's Innovation Development," The International Conference on the Science of Science and Innovation (ICSSI) 2024, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., United States, July 1-3 (2024).

Luo, Ning, Masaru Yarime, and Ohchan Kwon, "Peacocks Fly to the Southeast: How Talent Policies Foster Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies," The International Conference on the Science of Science and Innovation (ICSSI) 2024, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., United States, July 1-3 (2024).

July 2, 2024:

The 21st Chinese Internet Research Conference (CIRC 2024) was held on June 17-18 at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society in Brisbane, Australia. At this conference, we explored how China's emerging generative AI regulatory framework balances promoting innovation and controlling risks by examining how different stakeholders engage in the process of policy-making and implementation.

Wagner, Gabriel, and Masaru Yarime, "China's Generative AI Regulations: The Role of Public Expert Debate in the Policy-Making Process," The 21st Chinese Internet Research Conference (CIRC 2024), ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, Brisbane, Australia, June 17-18 (2024).

June 30, 2024:

The latest issue of AI & Society (Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2024) has been published. In this paper, we explored key challenges in implementing ethics-based approaches to regulating artificial intelligence.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "The limitation of ethics-based approaches to regulating artificial intelligence: Regulatory gifting in the context of Russia," AI & Society, 39 (3), 1381-1396 (2024).

June 28, 2024:

Ms. Xiaotong LI successfully defended her doctoral thesis on June 28 at the Division of Public Policy at HKUST. She examined the behavior of physicians in China to explore the effects of patient violence, medical litigation, and the policy on multi-site practice.

Li, Xiaotong, "Understanding Physician Behaviors in China: Exploring the Impact of Patient Violence, Medical Litigation, and Multi-site Practice Legalization" (Supervisor: Masaru Yarime), Ph.D. in Public Policy, Division of Public Policy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, June 28 (2024).

June 18, 2024:

We had a great discussion at the Technology, Data, and Policy Conference held on June 16-18 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Our students at the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at HKUST presented research findings on the effects of recent U.S. policies on innovation in China.

Xie, Siqi, Xuan Zeng, and Masaru Yarime, "Bless or Curse?: Effects of U.S. Sanction on China's Innovation Development," Technology, Data, and Policy Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, June 16-18 (2024).

June 17, 2024:

This paper just published in Geoforum examined key drivers affecting water security in post-disaster resettlement communities in the Philippines. Policy implications are explored for improving institutional arrangements for water governance.

Cuaton, Ginbert Permejo, Yvonne Su, Pamela Katic, and Masaru Yarime, "Unpacking water governance dynamics and its implications for household water security in post-disaster resettlement communities in the Philippines," Geoforum, 154, 104053 (2024).

June 15, 2024:

It was a great opportunity to attend the DRUID 2024 Conference held on June 13-15 at Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France. Our paper was presented to discuss smart city projects and their effects on producing innovation in China.

Jiang, Xiaohui, and Masaru Yarime, "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation: Effects of Public-Private Data Collaboration on the Innovation Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in China," DRUID 2024 Conference, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France, June 13-15 (2024).

June 11, 2024:

The International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society (ISS) 2024 Conference was held on June 9-11 at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. We discussed various issues concerning innovation and industrial dynamics.

Jiang, Xiaohui, and Masaru Yarime, "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation: Effects of Public-Private Data Collaboration on the Innovation Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in China," International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society (ISS) 2024 Conference, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 9-11 (2024).

June 7, 2024:

Ginbert Permejo CUATON has successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) at HKUST. He examined the key factors that facilitate the resilience of disaster-displaced communities in the Philippines by developing a capability-based approach.

Cuaton, Ginbert Permejo, "Surviving and Managing Risks Toward the Resilience of Disaster-Displaced Communities in the Philippines" (Supervisor: Masaru Yarime), Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, June (2024).

May 23, 2024:

Data for Policy 2024 Conference – Decoding the Future: Trustworthy Governance with AI? will be held on July 9-11, 2024, at Imperial College London. The conference will be a great opportunity to discuss with global experts from academia, industry, and the public sector how AI can facilitate trustworthy decision-making and governance. Registration will be open until June 7, 2024.

May 17, 2024:

It was a great pleasure to give a talk at the online seminar organized by the Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS) at HKUST. We discussed key opportunities and challenges in data governance for smart cities in China.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data Governance for Smart Cities in China: Opportunities and Challenges," Online Seminar, Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, May 17 (2024).

May 13, 2024:

I'm honored to be named as Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS. Based on the productivity, impact, and quality of my publications, I'm ranked #53 in the specialty of Sustainability (Lifetime).

May 4, 2024:

Timothy Joseph Henares in the Environmental Science, Policy and Management program has received the Best Research Award from the HKUST Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies. Congratulations! His research examined the effects of Chinese investments on digital development and data sovereignty in Southeast Asia through a case study of the Philippines.

April 30, 2024:

There is growing concern about the environmental impacts of the rapid expansion of data centers around the world. This paper just published in Environmental Science and Policy provides a comparative analysis of policy responses in six countries in terms of the extent and duration of policy changes and their impact on data center development.

Soares, Ian Varela, Masaru Yarime, and Magdalena Klemun, "Balancing the Trade-off between Data Center Development and Its Environmental Impacts: A Comparative Analysis of Policy Responses in Singapore, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, USA, and the UK," Environmental Science and Policy, 157, 103769 (2024).

April 18, 2024:

Our paper on the barriers to the adoption of electric cars and electric motorcycles in Vietnam has been published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. We examined the influence of environmental, economic, social, and institutional conditions on psychological factors that affect the purchase intentions of ECs and EMs.

Truong, Nhi, Gregory Trencher, Masaru Yarime, Brendan Barrett, and Kazuyo Matsubae, "Barriers to the adoption of electric cars and electric motorcycles in Vietnam," Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 131, 104204 (2024).

April 14, 2024:

It was a pleasure to visit the College of Public Administration at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan on March 29-April 2. We had stimulating discussions on data governance, AI governance, and transformative innovation policy for sustainability.

April 10, 2024:

The AI Ethics and Governance Lab has been established at the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAiRE) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We work together with colleagues from various disciplines, including computer science, psychology, philosophy, political science, and public policy, to explore key ethical and governance challenges concerning AI and engage with a broad range of stakeholders in society.

March 24, 2024:

The International Symposium on Water Sustainability and Climate Resilience held on March 23 at the City University of Hong Kong was a great opportunity to share experiences of water management and adaptation to climate change across the globe. Among the key challenges emphasized in enhancing climate resilience were data-driven approaches, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and active engagement of stakeholders.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating the Use of Data for Climate Resilience: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Development," The International Symposium on Water Sustainability and Climate Resilience, City University of Hong Kong, March 23 (2024).

March 8, 2024:

AIS Sustainability Seminar "Development of Key Performance Indicators for Society 5.0 Smart Cities through Logic Models" will be held online on March 22, organized by the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), the Division of Public Policy (PPOL), and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR). Dr. Tomoyo Sasao at the University of Tokyo will discuss key performance indicators for smart cities in the context of Society 5.0 and explore their implications for developing sustainable human-centered smart cities.

February 29, 2024:

We had a stimulating panel discussion on Striking Efficiency in GenAI Governance, organized on February 28 by the Fintech Association of Hong Kong and the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA). Among the challenges we discussed are third-party models and services, intellectual property rights, and monitoring and enforcement to promote innovation while mitigating negative consequences.

Yarime, Masaru, "Key Challenges in Governing Generative Artificial intelligence," Panel Discussion on Striking Efficiency in GenAI Governance, organized by the Fintech Association of Hong Kong and the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA), Hong Kong, February 28 (2024).

February 15, 2024:

A panel discussion on Striking Efficiency in GenAI Governance will take place on February 28, jointly organized by the Fintech Association of Hong Kong and the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA). We will explore governance systems for generative artificial intelligence to facilitate innovation while mitigating negative impacts in addressing societal challenges including sustainability.

February 8, 2024:

Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence has just been published. Naomi Aoki, Melvin Tay, and I contributed a chapter on trustworthy AI for the public sector and future research agenda.

Aoki, Naomi, Melvin Tay, and Masaru Yarime, "Trustworthy Public-Sector AI: Research Progress and Future Agendas," in Yannis Charalabidis, Rony Medaglia, and Colin van Noordt, eds., Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence, Edward Elgar, 260-273 (2024).

January 26, 2024:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will organize an Online Information Session on the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program on Tuesday, January 30. Our division focuses on three areas: 1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2. Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy 3. Urban and Social Policy. We are particularly keen to look for students interested in exploring emerging technologies to address sustainability challenges, including climate change, biodiversity, and the circular economy.

January 22, 2024:

An editorial article on Environmental Data, Governance and the Sustainable City has been published in the section on Innovation and Governance of the Frontiers in Sustainable Cities.

January 17, 2024:

The Asia Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) will organize its ninth annual conference on April 25-27, 2024, at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (GZ) in Guangzhou, China. The theme of the conference is Transforming Asia: Fostering Governance and Policy Innovations for Technological, Entrepreneurial, and Sustainable Development. The Steering Committee invites you to submit proposals for papers and panels for presentation at the conference. Research contributions are welcome to explore the role of emerging technologies in addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, biodiversity, and the circular economy, and implications for public policy and governance. Submissions are open until January 31, 2024.

January 12, 2024:

SSRC-JFNY Japan Global Workshop: Alternative Economies for a Sustainable Future. took place on January 9-12, 2024 at Claremont McKenna College and Pomona College in Claremont, California, organized by the U.S. Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation New York. We had a fruitful discussion on the impacts of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and digital twins on stakeholder participation and inclusion and implications for public policy and governance.

Yarime, Masaru, "Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to the Study of Alternative Economies: Implications of Emerging Technologies for Addressing Sustainability Challenges," SSRC-JFNY Japan Global Workshop: Alternative Economies for a Sustainable Future, organized by the U.S. Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation New York, Claremont McKenna College and Pomona College, Claremont, California, United States, January 9-12 (2024).

December 29, 2023:

A conference summary is now available for Japan Update 2023, organized by the Australia-Japan Research Centre at the Crawford School of Public Policy and the ANU Japan Institute at the College of Asia & the Pacific at the Australian National University. You can watch the panels on Economy, Economic Security, Foreign Policy and Politics, and Science and Technology.

December 25, 2023:

In this article with Siqi Xie and Ning Luo just published in Policy Design and Practice, we discussed the development of data governance for smart cities in China and explored some crucial challenges by taking the case of Shenzhen

Xie, Siqi, Ning Luo, and Masaru Yarime, "Data Governance for Smart Cities in China: The Case of Shenzhen," Policy Design and Practice (2023). DOI: 10.1080/25741292.2023.2297445.

December 17, 2023:

Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) has published the Observation Platform of AI at the Workplace: AI Observation Platform Report. Students of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Management (MPM) programs at HKUST conducted case studies of enterprises based in Hong Kong and mainland China utilizing AI to address sustainability challenges, including renewable energy and environmental protection.

GPAI, "Observation Platform of AI at the Workplace: AI Observation Platform Report," Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), December (2023).

December 15, 2023:

Elgar Companion to Regulating AI and Big Data in Emerging Economies has just been published. In a chapter with Gleb Papyshev, we discussed key challenges in implementing industry self-regulation of AI in emerging economies and implications for public policy and institutional development.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "The Challenges of Industry Self-Regulation of AI in Emerging Economies: Implications of the Case of Russia for Public Policy and Institutional Development," in Mark Findlay, Ong Li Min and Zhang Wenxi, eds., Elgar Companion to Regulating AI and Big Data in Emerging Economies, Edward Elgar, 81-98 (2023).

December 13, 2023:

AIS Sustainability Seminar "Examining the Value of Satellite Data in Halting Transmission of Polio in Nigeria: A Socioeconomic Analysis" will be held online on Friday, December 15, jointly organized by the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies, Division of Public Policy, and the Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST. Professor Mariel Borowitz from the Georgia Institute of Technology will discuss her recent research that employs a value-of-information approach to estimate the net socioeconomic benefits associated with the use of satellite data in halting the transmission of polio in Nigeria.

December 11, 2023:

It was a great pleasure to participate in the International Workshop "Ethical AI" Pioneering Progress in the Asia-Pacific," organized on December 11 by the United Nations University Institute in Macau in collaboration with UNESCO and the University of Macau. Experts from academia, industry, and government discussed ethical and institutional challenges in developing and deploying AI for sustainability in the region and beyond.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: Towards Lifecycle Understanding of the Innovation System of AI," International Workshop "Ethical AI: Pioneering Progress in the Asia-Pacific," organized by the United Nations University Institute in Macau in collaboration with UNESCO and the University of Macau, December 11 (2023).

December 1, 2023:

International Workshop "Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Higher Education Sector: Navigating the Uncharted Waters" was held on December 1, jointly organized by the Center for Education Innovation and the Institute of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It was my pleasure to be the Discussant in the Plenary Session for papers discussing the challenges posed by generative AI and policy responses in countries in Asia and beyond.

Yarime, Masaru, "Comments on Papers Presented at the Plenary Session," International Workshop "Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Higher Education Sector: Navigating the Uncharted Waters," Center for Education Innovation and the Institute of Public Policy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, December 1 (2023).

November 30, 2023:

International Workshop "Ethical AI: Pioneering Progress in the Asia-Pacific" will be organized on December 11 by the United Nations University Institute in Macau in collaboration with UNESCO and the University of Macau. Researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders will explore ethical and institutional challenges in facilitating responsible AI development and deployment in the region.

November 28, 2023:

Xu Liu has successfully defended her doctoral thesis on the role of data in sustainable urban mobility policy at Maastricht University. Congratulations! It was an honor to serve on the assessment committee with her supervisors, Prof. Joop de Kraker and Dr. Marc Dijk, at Maastricht Sustainability Institute (MSI).

November 27, 2023:

GPAI Future of Work Survey Report 2022 in Japan has been published by the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). Our Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Management (MPM) students at HKUST PPOL conducted case studies of enterprises based in Hong Kong and mainland China utilizing AI to address sustainability challenges, including energy and environmental protection.

GPAI Japan Team, "Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Future of Work Survey Report 2022," GPAI and the Institute for Future Initiatives, University of Tokyo, October (2023).

November 23, 2023:

AIS Lightning Talk took place on November 23 at the HKUST Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies. A wide range of issues concerning AI, public policy, and sustainability were discussed to explore collaboration among researchers and students in various disciplines.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data and Knowledge for Innovation and Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy," AIS Lightning Talk, Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, November 23 (2023).

November 16, 2023:

In this paper we conducted an exploratory study of the case of smart city development in Shenzhen to examines key opportunities and challenges in data governance.

Xie, Siqi, Ning Luo, and Masaru Yarime, "Data Governance for Smart Cities in China: The Case of Shenzhen," Policy Design and Practice, forthcoming.

November 8, 2023:

I'm excited to moderate the online seminar "China in Global Digital Trade Governance: Toward a Development-Oriented Negotiation Agenda," organized on Thursday, November 9, by the HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies. Professor Yujia He of the University of Kentucky will discuss China’s role in global digital trade governance through the cases of WTO, G20, and RCEP.

October 31, 2023:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) Forum 2023 took place on October 26. HERA acknowledge companies that demonstrate commitment to achieving sustainability in their enterprises. I was honored to serve on the Judging Panel on the awards.

October 30, 2023:

It was a pleasure to give a talk at Rematec Asia 2023 held in Guangzhou on October 12. We discussed the current practices and policies on EV battery reuse and recycling in China and key challenges in data governance and international collaboration.

Yarime, Masaru, "Towards the Sustainable Development of Batteries: Data-Driven Innovation for Battery Reuse and Recycling," Rematec Asia 2023, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, October 12 (2023).

October 17, 2023:

A new paper by Oliver Bream McIntosh, Amy Burnett, Ira Feldman, Jenna A. Lamphere, Thomas A. Reuter, and Emmanuelle Vital has been published in the special collection of articles on Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Policy Frameworks and Measures for Data Governance in Data & Policy.

October 16, 2023:

Data for Policy 2024 "Decoding for the Future: Trustworthy Governance with AI?" will be held on July 9-11, 2024 in collaboration with Imperial College London and Cambridge University Press. The International Committee and the Local Committee call for contributions, including abstracts, full papers, and panel proposals. Researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers are invited to discuss various issues concerning data and policy, particularly the role of data-driven innovation in addressing sustainability challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity, and the circular economy, and explore implications for public policy and governance. The deadline for submissions is November 27, 2023.

October 5, 2023:

AIS Sustainability Seminar "On the Unsustainability of ChatGPT: Impact of Large Language Models on the Sustainable Development Goals" will be held online and in person on October 13, jointly organized by the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), Division of Public Policy (PPOL), and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) at HKUST. Dr. Serge Stinckwich, Head of Research at the United Nations University Institute in Macau, will discuss the benefits and risks associated with LLMs and their implications for addressing the SDGs.

October 2, 2023:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is inviting applications for the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2024-2025. Our research activities focus on three areas: 1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; 2. Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy, and 3. Social and Urban Policy. We are particularly keen to explore the policy implications of emerging data-driven innovation for addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change and the circular economy. HKPFS provides an annual stipend of HKD 331,200 (~USD 42,290) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HKD 13,600 (~USD 1,730) per year for four years. Applications are open until December 1, 2023.

September 28, 2023:

U.S. Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation New York are inviting applications for SSRC-JFNY Japan Global Workshop: Alternative Economies for a Sustainable Future. Participants will explore alternative economies prioritizing environment, equity, well-being, access, and inclusiveness to create resilient, sustainable communities and systems. The workshop will be held in January 2024 at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. The deadline for applications is October 2, 2023.

September 26, 2023:

It was a great pleasure to join a panel discussion on the Ethics and Regulation of Generative Artificial Intelligence organized by the FinTech Association of Hong Kong. Speakers from academia and the financial industry discussed critical challenges in implementing generative AI in various sectors, including re-skilling of workforces, protection of intellectual property, and balancing innovation and safety and security.

Yarime, Masaru, "Opportunities and Challenges in Establishing Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence," Panel Discussion on the Ethics and Regulation of Generative Artificial Intelligence, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, September 26 (2023).

September 15, 2023:

In HKUST Public Policy Bulletin Issue No. 6 published by the Division of Public Policy, we discussed social influence on inducing energy-saving behavior and implications for policy interventions to enhance environmental awareness, openness to change, and the potential of innovative technologies.

Spandagos, Constantine, Erik Baark, and Masaru Yarime, "Social Influence and Economic Intervention Policies That Reduce Energy Consumption: Evidence from Air-conditioning Use," HKUST Public Policy Bulletin Issue No. 6, Division of Public Policy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, September (2023).

September 14, 2023:

A panel discussion on Ethics and Regulation of Generative Artificial Intelligence will be held online on September 26, organized by the FinTech Association of Hong Kong. We will discuss various challenges concerning generative AI, including up-skilling of the workforce, intellectual property, ethical issues regarding training data and output results, and implications for sustainability.

September 13, 2023:

A recording of the presentations and discussions at Japan Update 2023 has been uploaded to YouTube.

September 8, 2023:

It was a great pleasure to join Japan Update 2023, organized on September 6 by the Australia-Japan Research Centre at the Crawford School of Public Policy and the ANU Japan Institute at the College of Asia & the Pacific at the Australian National University. We discussed key trends and prospects in science and technology and explored opportunities for collaboration between Japan and Australia to address common challenges in Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Yarime, Masaru, "Integrating Green and Digital Transformations: Opportunities and Challenges in Science and Technology," Japan Update 2023, organized by the Australia-Japan Research Centre at the Crawford School of Public Policy and the ANU Japan Institute at the College of Asia & the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, September 6 (2023).

August 26, 2023:

The Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is inviting applications for the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (PDFS) 2024-2025. Each awardee will receive an annual stipend of HKD 420,090 (approximately USD 53,500) per year for the awardee’s basic salary as well as a conference and research-related travel allowance (of HKD 13,350 (approximately USD 1,700) per year inclusively) for 36 months. PPOL focuses on three research areas: 1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; 2. Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy; and 3. Urban and Social Policy. We are particularly keen to invite candidates interested in exploring the role of science, technology, and innovation in addressing sustainability challenges and implications for public policy, management, and governance. Applications are open until September 9, 2023.

August 19, 2023:

The Japan Update 2023 will be held in person and online on September 6, 2023, organized by the Australia-Japan Research Centre at the Crawford School of Public Policy and the Japan Institute at the College of Asia & the Pacific at the Australian National University (ANU). Experts from academia, industry, and policy will bring insights into Japan's economy, politics, foreign policy, and science and technology. We will discuss key trends in science, technology, and innovation and explore their implications for addressing societal challenges inducing the aging population, energy transition, and sustainability.

August 17, 2023:

An external review exercise was conducted for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at HKUST. We would like to thank Prof. So Young Kim, Dr. Sean McMinn, and Mr. Justin Ng for their insightful advice and suggestions to improve our program further.

August 15, 2023:

It was a great pleasure to participate in the International Conference on Science, Technology and Society 2023: Rejuvenating STS for Sustainability Transitions, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the University of Malaya. Moderated by Prof. Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad, our session on policy and dialogue with Dr. Moneef R. Zou’bi and Prof. Dr. Derk Loorbach explored critical challenges in governing emerging technologies to advance sustainability transitions.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Emerging Technologies for Sustainability Transitions: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy," Keynote Speech, International Conference on Science, Technology and Society 2023: Rejuvenating STS for Sustainability Transitions, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology Studies, University of Malaya, August 15 (2023).

August 13, 2023:

Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence will be published early next year. Professor Naomi Aoki, Melvin Tay, and I contributed a chapter that discusses current research progress and future agendas for trustworthy AI in the public sector.

Aoki, Naomi, Melvin Tay, and Masaru Yarime, "Trustworthy Public-Sector AI: Research Progress and Future Agendas," in Yannis Charalabidis, Rony Medaglia, and Colin van Noordt, eds., Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence, Edward Elgar, forthcoming.

August 12, 2023:

The Data for Policy 2024 Conference - Decoding the Future: Trustworthy Governance with AI? will take place on July 9-11, 2024, hosted at Imperial College London. The International Committee would like to invite you to submit proposals for special tracks. This would be a great opportunity to explore various opportunities and challenges in public policy and governance for data and AI. Submissions are open until August 28, 2023.

August 2, 2023:

Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex kindly organized my seminar on August 1, 2023. I talked about opportunities and challenges in public Policy and governance on data-driven innovation to tackle sustainability issues.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Governance," Research Seminar, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom, August 1 (2023).

August 1, 2023:

Yushi Chen has successfully defended his doctoral thesis, supervised by Professor Tim Foxon and Dr. Ralitsa Hiteva at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex. I was honored to serve as the external examiner for his thesis, which explored blockchain-based business models to address climate change.

July 28, 2023:

In this study just published in the European Journal of Innovation Management, we examined the effect of external knowledge absorption on promoting eco-innovation for the circular economy by conducting an empirical analysis of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (EU).

Yoshino, Miyana, Benjamin Sadlek, Masaru Yarime, and Adnan Ali, "Knowledge absorption pathways for eco-innovation: An empirical analysis of small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union," European Journal of Innovation Management (2023). https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-02-2023-0136.

July 23, 2023:

It was a great honor to participate in a workshop on Global Architecture of Artificial Intelligence organized on July 19 by the United Nations University Center for Policy Research (UNU-CPR). Following the recommendation of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Board (HLAB) Report "A Breakthrough for People and the Planet," experts from academia, industry, civil society, and UN agencies discussed critical challenges in establishing a global architecture for AI design, development, and use, including governing bodies, norms and standards, and mechanisms.

July 10, 2023:

I was honored to give a talk at the United States-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON). It was a great opportunity to discuss the role of intellectual networks connecting scientists and policy-makers in addressing global challenges, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, and the governance of artificial intelligence.

Yarime, Masaru, "The Role of Intellectual Networks in Formulating Public Policy to Address Global Challenges," CULCON Seminar, United States-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON), Tokyo, July 10 (2023).

July 8, 2023:

The 132nd STIG PoP Seminar "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: An Exploration of Data Governance and Impacts in Smart Cities" will be organized on July 18 by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) program at the University of Tokyo. I will discuss recent experiences of data governance and impacts on creating innovation in smart cities.

July 5, 2023:

The Handbook on Regulating AI and Big Data in Emerging Economies will be published later this year. In a chapter written with Gleb Papyshev, we discussed the challenge of industry self-regulation of AI in emerging economies and implications for public policy and institutional development.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "The Challenges of Industry Self-Regulation of AI in Emerging Economies: Implications of the Case of Russia for Public Policy and Institutional Development," in Mark Findlay, Ong Li Min and Zhang Wenxi, eds., The Handbook on Regulating AI and Big Data in Emerging Economies, Edward Elgar, forthcoming.

July 4, 2023:

In a paper that has just been accepted for publication in European Journal of Innovation Management, we examined the role of knowledge absorption in facilitating the adoption of eco-innovations in small- and medium-sized enterprises in resource-intensive sectors in the European Union.

Yoshino, Miyana, Benjamin Sadlek, Masaru Yarime, and Adnan Ali, "Knowledge absorption pathways for eco-innovation: An empirical analysis of small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union," European Journal of Innovation Management, forthcoming.

June 30, 2023:

The Sixth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP6) was held on June 27-29 at Toronto Metropolitan University. The panel on Platform Governance in Turbulent Times presented papers that explore theoretical and empirical approaches to examining digital platforms and their implications for public policy and governance.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Smart Cities: Diversity in Data Governance and Its Impacts," The Sixth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP6), Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada, June 27-29 (2023).

June 28, 2023:

The International Conference on the Science of Science and Innovation (ICSSI) 2023 took place on June 26-28, hosted by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. This interdisciplinary meeting brought together researchers and policy-makers to discuss critical challenges in the science of science and innovation, including artificial intelligence, gender, methodology, and immigration.

Jiang, Xiaohui, and Masaru Yarime, "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation: Effects of Public-Private Data Collaboration on Innovation Performance of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises in China," International Conference on the Science of Science and Innovation (ICSSI) 2023, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Illinois, United States, June 26-28 (2023).

June 16, 2023:

The "Responsible AI Leadership: A Global Summit on Generative AI" took place on April 26-28 in San Francisco, organized by the World Economic Forum. Over 100 experts and policy makers participated in the summit to discuss key challenges in developing and deploying generative AI. A set of 30 recommendations has been published for responsible development and release, open innovation and international collaboration, and social progress.

"The Presidio Recommendations on Responsible Generative AI," based on Responsible AI Leadership: A Global Summit on Generative AI, World Economic Forum in collaboration with AI Commons, June (2023).

June 3, 2023:

Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) 2023 Conference: Public Policy in a Turbulent World was hosted at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on June 1-2, 2023. Various policy issues and challenges were discussed in the context of increasing uncertainty in economic, social, and technological environments.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data Governance for Sustainable Smart Cities: Impacts on Innovation and Implications for Public Policy," Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) 2023 Conference: Public Policy in a Turbulent World, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, June 1-2 (2023).

Yarime, Masaru, "Building Resilience: Are Our Systems and Frameworks Protecting the Most Vulnerable?" Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) 2023 Conference: Public Policy in a Turbulent World, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, June 1-2 (2023).

May 27, 2023:

The Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2023 was held on May 24-26 at the Georgia Institute of Technology. We had a great discussion on policy approaches to emerging digital technologies including AI and impacts on innovation and public values.

Jiang, Xiaohui, and Masaru Yarime, "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation: Effects of Public-Private Data Collaboration on Innovation Performance of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises in China," Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2023, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, May 24-26 (2023).

Xie, Siqi, and Masaru Yarime, "Are Digital Innovation Policies Effective in Promoting the Development of Digital Economy in China?" Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2023, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, May 24-26 (2023).

Papyshev, Gleb, Keith Chan, and Masaru Yarime, "Balancing the Tradeoff between Regulation and Innovation for Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis of Top-down Command and Control and Bottom-up Self-Regulatory Approaches," Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2023, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, May 24-26 (2023).

Henares, Timothy Joseph, and Masaru Yarime, "The Effects of Chinese Investments in Digital Infrastructures on Data Policies and Regulations in Host Countries: A Case Study on New Clark City, Philippines," Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2023, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, May 24-26 (2023).

May 10, 2023:

IPO Sustainability Seminar, "Multiple Dimensions of Green Spaces, Public Visits, and Their Interaction with Mental Wellbeing: A Comparative Analysis between Singapore and Hong Kong," will take place on May 11, 2023, jointly organized by the Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO), Division of Public Policy (PPOL), and Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR). Professor Kwan Ok Lee at the National University of Singapore Business School will discuss green spaces and their effects on mental well-being and explore implications for public policy.

May 9, 2023:

Professor Keith Chan at HKUST talked about AI and regulation regarding promoting innovation and enhancing consumer welfare in the Game Changer podcast. Our paper explored the trade-off between regulation and innovation for AI by developing a game-theoretic model to compare top-down command and control and bottom-up self-regulatory approaches.

Chan, Keith Jin Deng, Gleb Papyshev, and Masaru Yarime, "Balancing the Tradeoff between Regulation and Innovation for Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis of Top-down Command and Control and Bottom-up Self-Regulatory Approaches," SSRN, October 20 (2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4223016.

May 6, 2023:

A new article, "The virtuous smart city: Bridging the gap between ethical principles and practices of data-driven innovation," has been added to the special collection of articles on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities published in the journal Data & Policy.

May 4, 2023:

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals, edited by Francesca Mazzi and Luciano Floridi, has just been published by Springer Nature. In this book, we discussed institutional and governance issues in enabling AI and other emerging technologies to address sustainability challenges.

Stephenson, Matthew, Iza Lejarraga, Kira Matus, Yacob Mulugetta, Masaru Yarime, and James Zhan, "AI as a SusTech Solution: Enabling AI and Other 4IR Technologies to Drive Sustainable Development through Value Chains," in Francesca Mazzi and Luciano Floridi, eds., The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals, Switzerland: Springer Nature, 183-201 (2023).

April 28, 2023:

Responsible AI Leadership: A Global Summit on Generative AI 2023 was held on April 26-28, hosted by the World Economic Forum in San Francisco. We had stimulating discussions with experts from academia, industry, government, NGOs, and international organizations about emerging issues concerning generative AI, including evaluation and measurement, actuality and hallucinations, misinformation, system-level risks and interventions, global access and participation, and open platform and collaboration.

April 27, 2023:

My comments on the global governance of artificial intelligence were quoted in the Portuguese newspaper Público.

"Todos querem regular a inteligência artificial, mas ninguém se entende" (Everyone wants to regulate artificial intelligence, but no one understands), Público, April 23 (2023).

April 24, 2023:

It was great to visit the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University to have a fruitful discussion with Prof Wilson Wong, Prof Cameron Campbell, and colleagues there.

April 15, 2023:

United Nations World Data Forum Satellite Event, "Dealing with Data Dilemmas: Towards a Human-Centered Systems Approach to Sustainable Data and Digital Technology Development," will be held on April 25 in Macao. Roundtable Session on Data Policy for Addressing Data Dilemmas in Crisis Situations: Preparing for Digital Sustainability in Science will be organized by CODATA International Data Policy Committee. We will explore data policy to address scientific and digital sustainability in humanitarian crises in the context of health emergencies, natural and human-made disasters, and geopolitical challenges.

April 9, 2023:

PPOL Newsletter, Issue No. 3, Spring 2023 has been published. You can find the latest information about research projects, events, and student activities at our division. Data for Policy 2022 Conference hosted by PPOL is also featured in the newsletter.

April 2, 2023:

International Conference on Science, Technology and Society 2023 (iCON-STS 2023): Rejuvenating STS for Sustainability Transitions will be held on August 15-16, 2023. The key topics discussed in the conference include Science and Technology Policy, Dialogue and Science Diplomacy, Science Communication, Public Engagement in Science and Technology, Philosophy of Science and Technology, and Ethics and Law in Science and Technology. Abstract Submissions are open until April 30, 2023.

March 25, 2023:

A seminar, "The British State In Trouble: Brexit and Financialisation" will take place on March 30, jointly organized by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC). Professor Patrick Le Galès at Sciences Po Paris will discuss the consequences of Brexit and its implications for institutions, policy-making, and external relations.

March 16, 2023:

It was an excellent opportunity to discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on various sectors in the Future of Work project for the Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). Our team with Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Management (MPM) students at explored AI's potential in addressing sustainability challenges and implications for public policy.

March 8, 2023:

A group of students in the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Management (MPM) programs at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) contributed to the Future of Work project for the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). In this event to be held on March 16, we will share the findings of our study on the impacts of AI on innovation for sustainability and explore further opportunities for collaboration with stakeholders.

March 6, 2023:

How to promote sustainability in the context of accelerating digitalization is a crucial challenge across the globe. We had an opportunity to visit the NTT Hong Kong Financial Data Center to discuss the latest efforts in this field and explore opportunities for collaboration among stakeholders.

March 1, 2023:

Data & Policy has published a new article, "The conundrum in smart city governance: Interoperability and compatibility in an ever-growing ecosystem of digital twins," in the special collection of articles on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities.

February 28, 2023:

A summary report is available for the 2nd Materials Genome Engineering (MGE) Workshop towards Materials Data Standards & CSTM FC97 Forum 2022: Materials Data after FAIR Principles - Use Cases, Facilitation and Infrastructure, organized on February 17 by the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering at the University of Science and Technology Beijing.

February 24, 2023:

We organized a seminar "I think, therefore I Act - From SouFun.com to 3TU Technologies" by Dr. Shan LI on Friday, February 23 in the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at HKUST. He shared with our students and researchers his first-hand experience and insights on leadership and technology entrepreneurship.

February 18, 2023:

Panel on Collaborating for Innovation and Sustainable Development in Asia: Studies within and across Borders took place on February 18 in the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2023 Annual Conference, organized by Prof. Yujia He. It was a great discussion on emerging initiatives to promote data-driven innovation for addressing sustainability challenges in cities across East Asia and beyond.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Exploring Data Governance and Its Impacts in Smart Cities," Panel on Collaborating for Innovation and Sustainable Development in Asia: Studies within and across Borders, Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2023 Annual Conference, February 18 (2023).

February 17, 2023:

IPO Sustainability Seminar took place on February 17, jointly organized by the Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO), Division of Public Policy (PPOL), and Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR). We had a stimulating discussion with Professor Eri Amasawa of the University of Tokyo on the environmental impacts of sharing economy and implications for public policy.

February 16, 2023:

The 2nd Materials Genome Engineering (MGE) Workshop towards Materials Data Standards & CSTM FC97 Forum 2022: Materials Data after FAIR Principles - Use Cases, Facilitation and Infrastructure was organized on February 17 by the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering at the University of Science and Technology Beijing. We discussed with experts from Germany, Belgium, China, South Korea, and Japan data-driven innovation on materials and implications for open data and standards.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Data Governance and Public Policy," The 2nd Materials Genome Engineering (MGE) Workshop towards Materials Data Standards & CSTM FC97 Forum 2022: Materials Data after FAIR Principles - Use Cases, Facilitation and Infrastructure, Hangzhou, China, February 16 (2023).

February 11, 2023:

Our paper that explores research progress and future agendas on trustworthy artificial intelligence in the public sector has been accepted for publication in the forthcoming Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence.

Aoki, Naomi, Melvin Tay Yongyao, and Masaru Yarime, "Trustworthy Public-Sector AI: Research Progress and Future Agendas," in Yannis Charalabidis, Rony Medaglia, and Colin van Noordt, eds., Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence, Edward Elgar, forthcoming.

February 8, 2023:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Environmental Implication of Sharing Economy Based on Life Cycle Thinking" will take place online on Friday, February 17, jointly organized by the Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO), Division of Public Policy (PPOL), and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR). Dr. Eri Amasawa, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical System Engineering at the University of Tokyo, will discuss her recent research on the life cycle assessment of sharing economy and its implications for public policy to facilitate sustainable consumption and production.

February 2, 2023:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will organize an Online Information Session for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Management (MPM) Programs on Friday, February 10, 2023. Our interdisciplinary programs focus on three areas: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy; and Urban and Social Policy. Students will be able to obtain knowledge of the impact of the latest development in science, technology, and innovation and professional skills in the formulation and implementation of innovative solutions to emerging global challenges including sustainability.

January 31, 2023:

Videos are now available on YouTube for Keynote Lecture, Plenary Panel 1, and Plenary Panel 2 at the Data for Policy 2022 Conference hosted by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

January 26, 2023:

The Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference 2023 will take place on June 1-2, 2023, hosted by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). As the conference theme is "Public Policy in a Turbulent World," we would like to discuss a wide range of issues concerning public policy in the context of increasing uncertainty and deepening complexity. For example, research contributions are welcome to explore policy implications of emerging technologies for addressing global sustainability and resilience. Submissions of proposals are open until February 24, 2023.

January 21, 2023:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is inviting applications for the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP). The scholarship is available for those admitted to the Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Master of Public Policy (MPP), and Master of Public Management (MPM) programs. Our research and educational activities focus on three areas: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy; and Social and Urban Policy. For example, we are keen to invite applicants who are interested in exploring key opportunities and challenges in stimulating and governing emerging technologies to address sustainability issues, including climate change and the circular economy. Applications for AFLSP are open until January 31, 2023.

January 17, 2023:

Contributions are welcome to a special collection of articles on "Data for Development Policy: Risk, Equity, and Solving Complex Problems with Limited Resources" for Data & Policy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Cambridge University Press in association with the Data for Policy Conference. This would be a great opportunity to discuss critical challenges in utilizing and governing data to address various issues concerning sustainable development. Submissions are open until March 3, 2023.

"Data for Development Policy: Risk, Equity, and Solving Complex Problems with Limited Resources," Special Collection of Articles, Guest Editors: Didier Alia (University of Washington), C. Leigh Anderson (University of Washington), Amparo Palacios López (World Bank Group), Federico Trindade (University of Washington), and Masaru Yarime (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Data & Policy, Cambridge University Press (2023).

January 10, 2023:

In this study just published in Policy Design and Practice, we investigated national strategies for artificial intelligence (AI) across the globe and identified key functions of the government for governing AI, which can be integrated into three themes: development, control, and promotion.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "The State’s Role in Governing Artificial Intelligence: Development, Control, and Promotion through National Strategies," Policy Design and Practice (2023). https://doi.org/10.1080/25741292.2022.2162252.

January 5, 2023:

In our paper just published in Policy Design and Practice, new approaches to policy design concerning disruptive technologies are explored by taking the case of facial recognition technology in China. Regulatory sandboxes, policy mix, and stakeholder engagement are among key policy measures for adaptive governance.

Li, Zhizhao, Yuqing Guo, Masaru Yarime, and Xun Wu, "Policy Designs for Adaptive Governance of Disruptive Technologies: The Case of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) in China," Policy Design and Practice (2023). https://doi.org/10.1080/25741292.2022.2162248.

December 31, 2022:

The outcome of the Data for Policy 2022 Conference has been reported on the website of Data for Policy.

"Data for Policy 2022 is an International Success," Data for Policy, December 23 (2022).

December 30, 2022:

Experts from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society worked together to identify model policies on Privacy Impact Assessment at the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. It would be important to conduct a PIA before adopting smart technologies to enhance transparency and accountability and facilitate public trust.

G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance, "Model Policy - Privacy Impact Assessment," World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland (2022).

December 25, 2022:

We had a fruitful discussion at Abe Fellows Network Foundational Planning Meeting held on December 15-16 at the U.S. Social Science Research Council (SSRC) in New York. The future of the Abe Fellows Network will be explored to address the most pressing challenges globally, including resilience to disasters and climate change, inclusivity in overcoming societal divisions, and governance of emerging disruptive technologies.

December 14, 2022:

It was a great pleasure to visit Dr. Priya Donti at Cornell Tech in New York to discuss the use of AI to address climate change. Emerging initiatives by international organizations and non-profit organizations in this field are rather fragmented and would benefit from closer collaboration.

December 13, 2022:

Digital Technology has great potential to address climate change. It was a great opportunity to discuss with Ms. Reina Otsuka the innovative initiative to facilitate green, inclusive, and digital transitions at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York.

December 13, 2022:

Ethics-based approaches are currently preferred to strict command and control approaches to regulating artificial intelligence in many countries. Our paper just published in the journal AI & Society discussed the limitations of ethics-based AI regulations by taking the case of Russia.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "The Limitation of Ethics-Based Approaches to Regulating Artificial Intelligence: Regulatory Gifting in the Context of Russia," AI & Society (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-022-01611-y.

December 10, 2022:

We had a fascinating discussion with Professor Aynne Kokas at HKUST PPOL Seminar "Trafficking Data: How China is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty" on December 9. A key argument is that fragmented data regulations and international regulatory asymmetry contribute to exploitive data collection and uneven trading practices on data.

December 9, 2022:

Data for Policy 2022 Conference was successfully held on December 5 at the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We had stimulating discussions on various opportunities and challenges concerning data and policy, including smart cities, data governance, artificial intelligence, e-government, public participation, and data for sustainability. I would like to thank all the participants and staff members for their excellent contribution to the conference.

November 28, 2022:

It was a great opportunity to talk about the results of the COP27 meeting and the challenges ahead at Talk the Walk of the Hong Kong International Business Channel (HKIBC).

"Dr. Masaru Yarime on the Results of COP27 and the Challenges Ahead," Talk the Walk, Hong Kong International Business Channel (HKIBC), November 27 (2022).

November 25, 2022:

Applications for the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) are open until December 1, 2022 for the Ph.D. in Public Policy Program at the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Our research activities focus on three areas: 1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; 2. Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy, and 3. Social and Urban Policy. We are keen to explore the policy and institutional implications of emerging data-driven innovation for addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change and the circular economy. provides an annual stipend of HKD325,200 (approx. USD41,430) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HKD13,600 (approx. USD1,730) per year for the period of four years.

November 24, 2022:

We discussed ethics-based approaches to regulating artificial intelligence and their limitations by examining the case of Russia. Our paper has just been accepted for publication in AI & Society.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "The Limitation of Ethics-Based Approaches to Regulating Artificial Intelligence: Regulatory Gifting in the Context of Russia," AI & Society, forthcoming.

November 23, 2022:

HKUST PPOL team is contributing to the Future of Work project of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). Our member LI Haiyu participated in the student session to share our findings with other groups in Europe and Asia at the GPAI Summit 2022 on November 22.

November 22, 2022:

In our paper that has just been accepted for publication in Policy Design and Practice, we conducted an analysis of national strategies on artificial intelligence, which shows countries take different policy approaches focusing on development, promotion, and control.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "The State’s Role in Governing Artificial Intelligence: Development, Control, and Promotion through National Strategies," Policy Design and Practice, forthcoming.

November 21, 2022:

The video of my lecture for the AUA Lecture Series 2022: Future of Energy is now available on the website of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA).

November 18, 2022:

HKUST PPOL Seminar "Trafficking Data: How China is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty" will take place on Friday, December 9. Professor Aynne Kokas of the University of Virginia will discuss recent developments in technology firms' practices and government policies concerning data collection, processing, and use in China and the United States and explore implications for global data policy and governance systems. Everyone is welcome to join the seminar.

November 16, 2022:

G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance has just released a report, Primer for Smart City Public-Private Collaborations, with the World Economic Forum. Key issues for public-private collaborations in smart cities include data governance, interoperability, risk/cost and benefit sharing, test bed protocols, and community engagement. I'm pleased to have contributed to this new initiative for exploring future policy guidance and framework.

G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance, "Primer for Smart City Public-Private Collaborations", World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, November (2022).

November 15, 2022:

AUA Lecture Series 2022: Future of Energy "Sustainable Energy Transitions" took place on November 15, organized by the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA). We discussed key opportunities and challenges in facilitating sustainable energy transitions, including data-driven innovation and social justice.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Energy Transitions: Opportunities and Challenges in Smart Cities," AUA Lecture Series 2022: Future of Energy, Asian Universities Alliance (AUA), November 15 (2022).

November 9, 2022:

AUA Lecture Series 2022: Future of Energy is organized by the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA). We will discuss data-driven innovation for sustainable energy transitions and implications for public policy on November 15. Everyone is welcome to join the event.

November 8, 2022:

The Data for Policy 2022 Conference will take place in a hybrid mode on December 5, hosted by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of HKUST. The main theme of this year's conference highlights "Ecosystems of innovation and virtual-physical interactions." We will discuss with leading researchers, experts, and practitioners in Asia and beyond the major opportunities and challenges in facilitating and governing data-driven innovation. Among the topics discussed at the conference are smart city development, governance of artificial intelligence, social media, e-government, data governance, and citizen participation. Their implications will be explored for public policy and international relations, particularly in the context of diverse institutional environments in the region. Registration is open to anyone who is interested in this exciting field.

November 7, 2022:

We had a great discussion on tackling climate change with machine learning with Dr. Priya Donti at IPO Sustainability Seminar on November 3, jointly organized by the Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO), Division of Public Policy (PPOL), and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) of HKUST. There are many challenges in the responsible use of AI, including biases in data and models, trustworthiness and accountability, and equity and climate justice. The seminar was live-streamed at the Sustainable Smart Campus (SSC) hub.

November 3, 2022:

We discussed adaptive governance of disruptive technologies by taking the case of facial recognition technology in China in the following paper just accepted for publication in the journal Policy Design and Practice.

Li, Zhizhao, Yuqing Guo, Masaru Yarime, and Xun Wu, "Policy Designs for Adaptive Governance of Disruptive Technologies: The Case of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) in China," Policy Design and Practice, forthcoming.

October 24, 2022:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) 2022 Forum was held on October 20. I served on the Independent Panel of Judges to recognize enterprises with outstanding performance in ESG reports. There remain significant challenges ahead in further encouraging sustainability practices, including the unified sustainability standards, carbon-related disclosure, and the net-zero target in various sectors.

October 22, 2022:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning" will take place online on November 4 at 9:00-10:30 (HKT), co-organized by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Dr. Priya Donti, Co-founder and Executive Director of Climate Change AI and incoming Assistant Professor of MIT, will discuss key opportunities and challenges in deploying machine learning to address climate change in various fields, ranging from energy to agriculture and resilience to disasters. She will explore data-driven approaches coupled with physical knowledge to facilitate the sustainable transition to low-carbon electric power grids.

October 21, 2022:

Our paper has been listed on SSRN's Recent Top Papers for PSN: Other Regulation.

Chan, Keith Jin Deng, Gleb Papyshev, and Masaru Yarime, "Balancing the Tradeoff between Regulation and Innovation for Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis of Top-down Command and Control and Bottom-up Self-Regulatory Approaches," SSRN, October 19 (2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4223016.

October 19, 2022:

In this paper just posted on SSRN, we analyzed top-down command and control and bottom-up self-regulatory approaches to balancing innovation on AI and consumer protection by developing a game-theoretic model based on policy documents from the EU, UK, US, Russia, and China.

Chan, Keith Jin Deng, Gleb Papyshev, and Masaru Yarime, "Balancing the Tradeoff between Regulation and Innovation for Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis of Top-down Command and Control and Bottom-up Self-Regulatory Approaches," SSRN, October 19 (2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4223016.

October 18, 2022:

Submissions are still open to a special collection of articles on "Data for Development Policy: Risk, Equity, and Solving Complex Problems with Limited Resources" for the journal Data & Policy, published by Cambridge University Press. With colleagues from the University of Washington and the World Bank, the editorial team would like to invite contributions on the use of data in policy decision-making for sustainable development. We are particularly keen to explore key opportunities and challenges in utilizing novel data sources including satellite and social media and emerging methodologies such as machine learning to address sustainable energy transitions and resilience to climate change.

October 14, 2022:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the MPhil and Ph.D. in Public Policy Programs 2023-2024. Our research activities focus on three areas: 1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; 2. Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy, and 3. Social and Urban Policy. We are keen to explore the policy and institutional implications of emerging data-driven innovation for addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change and the circular economy. The Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) provides an annual stipend of HKD325,200 (approx. USD41,430) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HKD13,600 (approx. USD1,730) per year for the period of four years. Applications are open until December 1, 2022.

October 8, 2022:

Our paper has been published in the journal Energy Economics.

Zhao, Bei, and Masaru Yarime, "The Impacts of Carbon Tariffs on International Trade Flows and Carbon Emissions: An Analysis Integrating Trade Elasticities with an Application to US-China Trade," Energy Economics, 115, 106337 (2022).

October 3, 2022:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Building Evidence-Based Environmental Governance: Experiences and Lessons Learned" will take place on Friday, October 14, 2022, jointly organized by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Professor Wanxin LI of the City University of Hong Kong and Tsinghua University will discuss Chinese experiences of evidence-based environmental governance and implications for information transparency, institutional capacity, and government accountability. Everyone is welcome to join this exciting opportunity to explore key challenges in facilitating sustainability transitions.

October 1, 2022:

In our paper that has just been accepted for publication in the journal Energy Economics, we examined the impacts of carbon tariffs on international trade flows and carbon emissions by considering trade elasticities and applied the analysis to the trade between U.S. and China.

Zhao, Bei, and Masaru Yarime, "The Impacts of Carbon Tariffs on International Trade Flows and Carbon Emissions: An Analysis Integrating Trade Elasticities with an Application to US-China Trade," Energy Economics, forthcoming.

September 22, 2022:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2023-2024. Our research centers around three areas: 1. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; 2. Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy, and 3. Social and Urban Policy. The Ph.D. program would be particularly suitable for those interested in exploring the policy implications of emerging technologies for addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change and the circular economy. The fellowship provides an annual stipend of HKD325,200 (approx. USD41,430) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HKD13,600 (approx. USD1,730) per year. Applications are open until December 1, 2022.

September 13, 2022:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the Research Assistant Professor Scheme (Job ID: 7912). Applications are invited from early-stage researchers in the following three areas: (i) Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; (ii) Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy; or (iii) Social and Urban Policy. We are particularly keen to look for researchers who are interested in exploring the role of science, technology, and innovation to address key challenges concerning sustainability, including climate change and the circular economy. Applications are open until September 30, 2022.

August 31, 2022:

In HKUST Public Policy Bulletin Issue No. 2, we discussed how governments can balance the trade-off between public health and data privacy by taking the case of COVID-19. Policy implications are explored for salient, credible, and legitimate data governance.

Li, Veronica Qin Ting Li and Masaru Yarime, "Strengthening Community Resilience via Data Governance: Lessons from COVID-19 Dashboards," HKUST Public Policy Bulletin Issue No. 2, Division of Public Policy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, September (2022).

August 27, 2022:

Our team of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) students of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) won the Second Prize at the 2022 Tsinghua International Case Analysis Competition of Public Policy on SDGs. The team explored agricultural innovation to tackle saline-alkali land in the Yellow River Delta.

August 20, 2022:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently looking for candidates for the Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (PDFS) of the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong. We are particularly keen to invite researchers who are interested in exploring the role of science, technology, and innovation in addressing energy, environmental, and sustainability challenges and implications for public policy and management. Applications are open until September 23, 2022.

August 12, 2022:

The role of machine learning in conducting scientific research was investigated through bibliometric analyses of various disciplines in our study that has just been published in PLoS ONE. Our results indicate the critical importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers in domain sciences and computer sciences and the engagement of interdisciplinary researchers with expertise in both types of science.

Thu, Moe Kyaw, Shotaro Beppu, Masaru Yarime, and Sotaro Shibayama, "Role of Machine and Organizational Structure in Science," PLoS ONE, 17 (8), e0272280 (2022).

August 4, 2022:

We had a great discussion on developing a sustainable and inclusive smart city in Hong Kong at the Global Youth Social Entrepreneurship Summit organized by the Global Shapers Community. Human-centric approaches would be crucial in embracing disruptive technologies, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and establishing trust in institutions.

Yarime, Masaru, "Human-Centric Approaches to Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Disruptive Technologies, Stakeholder Engagement, and Trust in Institutions," Future City: Building a More Inclusive Smart City in Hong Kong, Global Youth Social Entrepreneurship Summit organized by the Global Shapers Community, World Economic Forum, August 4 (2022).

July 26, 2022:

Submissions to the Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) are welcome until July 31, 2022. HERA is open to all kinds of sustainability reports by organizations in Asia. The entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges including myself.

July 23, 2022:

A panel discussion "Future City: Building a More Inclusive Smart City in Hong Kong" will be held on August 4. It is organized by the Global Shapers Community as a supporting event to the Global Youth Social Entrepreneurship Summit (GYSESummit). We will discuss the role of the smart city in establishing a sustainable and inclusive society from the perspectives of business, public policy, and civil society organizations.

July 18, 2022:

Our paper that examines the role of machine learning in conducting scientific research and its implications for organizational structure has been accepted for publication in the journal PLOS ONE.

Thu, Moe Kyaw, Shotaro Beppu, Masaru Yarime, and Sotaro Shibayama, "Role of Machine and Organizational Structure in Science," PLOS ONE, forthcoming (2022).

July 8, 2022:

The 19th International Schumpeter Conference took place on July 8-10. We had great discussions on the emergence of digital economy and its implications for industrial transformation and sustainability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: An Analysis of Data Governance in Smart Cities," 19th International Schumpeter Conference, July 8-10 (2022).

July 7, 2022:

The Ph.D. progression viva for Nishant Anand was held at the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) of University College London on July 7. I served on the examination committee as an external examiner for his research on Responsible Governance of Digital Identity Systems.

July 6, 2022:

It was a great pleasure to give a talk at the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) of University College London. I was really impressed by the enthusiasm of the students and researchers exploring policy and governance challenges concerning emerging technologies such as AI and IoT.

Yarime, Masaru, "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation for Sustainability: Exploring Data Governance and Its Impact," Research Seminar, Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), University College London, July 6 (2022).

July 5, 2022:

I had a fruitful meeting with Dr. Zeynep Engin and Dr. Emily Gardner at the Alan Turing Institute in London about organizing the Data for Policy 2022 Conference in Hong Kong, Seattle, and Brussels in December this year. We are looking forward to having stimulating discussions on various issues concerning data-driven innovation and its implications for public policy and governance.

June 22, 2022:

The 121st STIG PoP Seminar "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation for Sustainability: Exploring Data Governance and Its Impact" will be organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program at the University of Tokyo on June 30, 2022 at 10:30-12:00 (JST). We will discuss various approaches to implementing data governance and their impacts on creating innovation to address sustainability challenges.

June 10, 2022:

It was a great opportunity to participate in thought-provoking discussions at Our Immersive Digital Future: How Extended Reality May Affect International Relations on June 9-10, organized by the Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub in the Elliot School of International Affairs of George Washington University. Emerging challenges posed by the real-time, immersive nature of extended reality (XR) including augmented reality and virtual reality were explored from diverse perspectives of economy, security, ethics, policy, and governance.

June 9, 2022:

The inaugural International Conference on the Science of Science and Innovation (ICSSI) was held on June 7-9 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Various aspects of science, including the production of scientific knowledge, the behavior of scientists, and the allocation of research funding, were explored by applying interdisciplinary approaches, such as bibliometrics, field experiments, and natural language processing.

June 4, 2022:

Our paper just published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews discusses the challenges and opportunities of blockchain energy applications, emphasizing interrelatedness among technological, economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions.

Ahl, Amanda, Mika Goto, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Sagawa, "Challenges and opportunities of blockchain energy applications: Interrelatedness among technological, economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 166, 112623 (2022).

June 3, 2022:

EU-SPRI 2022 Conference was held on June 1-3, hosted by the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development of Utrecht University. We had a fruitful discussion on digital technologies and their implications for socio-technical change for sustainability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation to Address Sustainability Challenges: An Analysis of Data Governance in Smart Cities," EU-SPRI 2022 Conference, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands, June 1-3 (2022).

June 2, 2022:

The "Carbon Neutral Society – Action Month" Live Webinar Series, Week 4: Circular Economy was organized on June 2 by the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). We discussed strategies and policies to move towards a carbon-neutral circular economy, dealing with potential synergies and trade-offs.

Yarime, Masaru, "Towards a Carbon-Neutral Circular Economy: Stakeholder Collaboration for Data-Driven Innovation," The "Carbon Neutral Society – Action Month" Live Webinar Series, Week 4: Circular Economy, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), June 2 (2022).

June 1, 2022:

I'm excited to take a joint appointment at the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We explore innovation and policy implications for addressing sustainability challenges.

May 25, 2022:

Our discussion on how to enhance citizens' trust in data governance and their participation in smart city development at the online symposium "Trust and the Smart City" has been reported in Sing Tao Daily.

"Hong Kong Baptist University holds an online seminar to discuss how to enhance citizens' confidence in the use of data and jointly participate in the construction of smart cities," Sing Tao Daily, May 25 (2022).

May 20, 2022:

In our paper just accepted for publication in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, we examined the interrelatedness among technological, economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions of blockchain energy applications.

Ahl, Amanda, Mika Goto, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Sagawa, "Challenges and opportunities of blockchain energy applications: Interrelatedness among technological, economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, forthcoming.

May 19, 2022:

We discussed the importance of incorporating justice perspectives in implementing policies and initiatives for disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and resilience to climate change in an opinion piece published in Inquirer.net.

Cuaton, Ginbert Permejo, Masaru Yarime, and Yvonne Su, "Perspectives in the DRRM agenda," Inquirer.net, May 19 (2022).

May 5, 2022:

The "Carbon Neutral Society – Action Month" Live Webinar Series will take place from May 13 to June 10, 2022, organized by the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). The topics discussed in the webinar series include alternative energy, low carbon negative emission, circular economy, and social innovation. Early career researchers are particularly welcome to participate in the sessions, as there are opportunities for networking and poster presentations. Registration is open until May 9, 2022.

May 3, 2022:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) 2022 is now accepting applications. HERA recognizes outstanding performance in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and aims to contribute to building a community of leaders and decision-makers in various sectors for the promotion of sustainability. The awards are open to all kinds of sustainability reports by organizations in Asia. I'm serving on the independent judging panel to evaluate the entries. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2022.

April 30, 2022:

Online Conference "Trust and the Smart City" was organized on April 29 by the Department of Government and International Studies of Hong Kong Baptist University. Researchers and practitioners in the public and private sectors discussed how trust in institutions would contribute to energy transitions, data governance, and stakeholder engagement in the smart city.

Yarime, Masaru, "Establishing Data Governance in the Smart City: Trust in Institutions for Facilitating Innovation and Addressing Concerns," Online Conference "Trust and the Smart City," Department of Government and International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, April 29 (2022).

April 29, 2022:

Virtual Knowledge Exchange "Smart Cities for Global Frontier Infrastructure" was held on April 26 at the Open Learning Campus of the World Bank Group. The potential of smart cities integrating the physical, digital, and virtual worlds was explored to facilitate innovation to address sustainability challenges. The recording of the event is available.

Yarime, Masaru, "Smart Cities, Digital Twins, and the Metaverse: Opportunities and Challenges in Data Governance," Virtual Knowledge Exchange "Smart Cities for Global Frontier Infrastructure," Open Learning Campus, World Bank Group, April 26 (2022).

April 28, 2022:

Online Conference "Trust and the Smart City" will take place on Friday, April 29 at 10:30-19:00 (Hong Kong time). We will discuss the role of smart city development to tackle sustainability challenges from various perspectives, including energy transitions, data governance, and stakeholder engagement.

April 23, 2022:

Workshop on Outcomes and Recommendations of the Air Pollution in ASIA and the PACIFIC: Subregional Dialogue Series took place on April 8, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The recording of the event and contributing documents are available on the website.

April 22, 2022:

Virtual Knowledge Exchange "Smart Cities for Global Frontier Infrastructure" will take place on April 18 - May 15, 2022 on the World Bank Group's Open Learning Campus. We will explore how smart cities can contribute to facilitating our efforts for global sustainability with emerging technologies such as metaverse and digital assets through knowledge exchange and sharing with stakeholders.

April 20, 2022:

I'm very pleased that IEMS Research Grant has been awarded to my research project "The Smart City as a Field of Innovation: Effects of Public-Private Data Collaboration on Innovation in the Guangdong Province and Implications for the Greater Bay Area." This research project will examine what kinds of data are available in smart cities, how these data are managed through collaboration between government and companies, and how the mode of data collaboration influences firms’ performance on innovation in SMEs in the Guangdong province in China.

April 16, 2022:

Kyoto x Seoul x Taiwan x Guangzhou x Hong Kong Online Undergraduate Deliberation Workshop took place on April 13. We had a lively discussion on the role of universities as change agents for sustainable energy transitions with students and faculties of Hong Kong Baptist University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Kyoto University, National Taiwan University, Sun Yat-sen University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Yarime, Masaru, "Universities as Change Agents for Sustainable Energy Transitions," Kyoto x Seoul x Taiwan x Guangzhou x Hong Kong Online Undergraduate Deliberation Workshop, co-organized by the Department of Geography and the Asian Energy Studies Centre of Hong Kong Baptist University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Kyoto University, National Taiwan University, Sun Yat-sen University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, April 13 (2022).

April 15, 2022:

Workshop on Outcomes and Recommendations: Air Pollution in ASIA and the PACIFIC: Subregional Dialogue Series was organized on April 8 by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Experts discussed recent developments in monitoring technologies and air quality standards and engaged with governments to identify actions for capacity building, international cooperation, and integration with climate change.

Yarime, Masaru, "Towards International Cooperation on Air Pollution in Asia-Pacific: Overcoming Fragmented Epistemic Communities," Workshop on Outcomes and Recommendations: Air Pollution in ASIA and the PACIFIC: Subregional Dialogue Series, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), April 8 (2022).

April 13, 2022:

The Data for Policy 2022 Conference: Ecosystems of Innovation and Virtual-Physical Interactions will take place in December in Hong Kong, Seattle, and Brussels. The Asia-Pacific conference will be hosted at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on December 5. The call for papers is now open for full papers, extended abstracts, and panel proposals. A wide range of issues concerning data and policy will be discussed at the conference. I would be particularly keen to welcome research contributions to explore the role of data in facilitating innovation and addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, energy transitions, and the circular economy, and implications for public policy and institutional design. The deadline for submissions is June 1.

April 9, 2022:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is seeking applicants for the final round of admission to the MPhil and PhD Programs in Public Policy for 2022-2023. We are particularly keen to look for candidates who would be interested in exploring the role of emerging technologies in addressing sustainability challenges. A postgraduate studentship is available during the study period. The deadline for applications is May 2, 2022.

April 6, 2022:

Workshop on Outcomes and Recommendations of the Air Pollution in ASIA and the PACIFIC: Subregional Dialogue Series will take place on April 8, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Following six virtual dialogues to address air pollution in the region, we will discuss key opportunities and challenges in strengthening regional cooperation and facilitating a broader exchange of innovative air pollution solutions and best practices, including policies, innovative uses of data, emerging technologies, and capacity needs.

April 5, 2022:

Our paper, "Role of Machine Learning and Organizational Structure in Science," has been revised and is available at SSRN. It has recently been listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list.

April 1, 2022:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently posing applicants for faculty positions in sustainability at the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR): 1. Sustainability and Green Finance (Job ID: 6664) and 2. Sustainability (Job ID: 3536). Review of applications will continue until the positions are filled.

March 31, 2022:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Building Data Trust with and for Smart Energy Communities in Hong Kong" will be organized on Friday, April 8 by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Dr. Daphne Mah of Hong Kong Baptist University will discuss opportunities and challenges in the use of data for smart energy transitions.

March 22, 2022:

It was a great opportunity to join the first editorial town hall meeting of the journal Data & Policy. We had a fruitful discussion to explore further development of the community by bringing together researchers and practitioners from diverse sectors and backgrounds.

March 18, 2022:

I gave a talk at an online seminar organized by the Environmental and Sustainability Research Cluster at the School of Social Sciences of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore on March 18. We discussed governing data-driven innovation for sustainable smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Smart Cities," Environment and Sustainability Research Cluster Seminar, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, March 18 (2022).

March 11, 2022:

We had a wide-ranging discussion about circular strategies and policies with Professor Murakami of the University of Tokyo at the IPO Sustainability Seminar organized by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and ENVR of HKUST. Traditional waste management needs to be further improved with more comprehensive impact assessment. It is crucial to explore synergies between product-service systems and GHG reduction efforts. Digital transformation in the whole supply chain will be a key in a transition from the 3R system to the circular economy.

March 9, 2022:

A new paper has been added to the special collection of articles on Data and Sustainability published in the journal Data & Policy. Dr. Darren Sharp and his colleagues explore a participatory approach for empowering community engagement in data governance in the Monash Net Zero Precinct in Australia.

March 6, 2022:

The call for special track proposals is open until March 10 for the Data for Policy 2022 Conference: Ecosystems for Innovation and Virtual-Physical Interactions, which will be organized virtually as well as physically in Hong Kong, Seattle, and Brussels. Asia-Pacific conference will be hosted at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on December 5. Special track proposals are welcome to explore a wide range of issues concerning data-policy interactions, including the role of public policy in facilitating data-driven innovation for sustainability.

March 1, 2022:

I'm pleased to join the Editorial Board of the journal Data & Policy published by Cambridge University Press. The journal aims to promote research exploring a wide range of issues concerning data-policy interactions, including data analytics for policy-making, governance of data-driven innovation, and the use of data to tackle societal challenges.

February 26, 2022:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Implementing Circular Strategies in Japan and Its Evaluation" will take place on March 11, jointly organized by the Division of Public Policy and the Division of Environment and Sustainability of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Professor Shinsuke MURAKAMI of the University of Tokyo will review recent developments in Japan and explore strategies and policies for a transition from the 3R system to the circular economy. Everyone is welcome to join the seminar.

February 23, 2022:

Our paper on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for sustainable development has been accepted as a chapter in the forthcoming book The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals. This book is co-edited by Francesca Mazzi and Luciano Floridi and will be published in the book series Philosophical Studies Series by Springer Nature.

Stephenson, Matthew, Iza Lejarraga, Kira Matus, Yacob Mulugetta, Masaru Yarime, and James Zhan, "AI as a SusTech Solution: Enabling AI and Other 4IR Technologies to Drive Sustainable Development through Value Chains," in Francesca Mazzi and Luciano Floridi, eds., The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals, Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature, forthcoming.

February 17, 2022:

The impacts of carbon tariffs on trade flows and carbon emissions embodied in exports are examined in our paper. Our analysis shows that industries' trade elasticities and carbon intensities play an essential role in determining carbon tariff's impacts. We also explored the effects of carbon tariffs on China-US trade under different scenarios.

Zhao, Bei, and Masaru Yarime, "The Impacts of Carbon Tariffs on International Trade Flows and Carbon Emissions: An Analysis Integrating Trade Elasticities with an Application to US-China Trade," Social Science Research Network, February 16 (2022).

February 16, 2022:

We conducted a bibliometric analysis of the team structure of machine learning (ML)-related research projects and examined the contribution of ML to scientific knowledge production. Our analysis suggests that interdisciplinary "liaison" researchers who have expertise in both domain and computer sciences play an important role in achieving high impact and novel discoveries, particularly when a project employs computational and domain approaches interdependently.

Kyaw Thu, Moe, Shotaro Beppu, Masaru Yarime, and Sotaro Shibayama, "Role of Machine Learning and Organizational Structure in Science," Social Science Research Network, February 6 (2022).

February 15, 2022:

The Governance and Cities section of the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities has been changed to "Innovation and Governance." To facilitate urban sustainability, it is of critical importance to deal with various opportunities and challenges posed by emerging innovation, which is increasingly disruptive and unpredictable with unexpected consequences. This will provide a wide range of issues concerning governance in the context of sustainable cities. This section continues to serve as an arena to discuss innovative initiatives and approaches from critical perspectives. I would be keen to invite research contributions from broader communities to further advance our cutting-edge discussions on innovation and governance for sustainable cities.

February 11, 2022:

Call for Special Track Proposals for Data for Policy 2022 Conference: Ecosystems for Innovation and Virtual-Physical Interactions. The conference will be organized virtually as well as physically in three regions: Asia-Pacific conference hosted at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on December 5, American conference hosted at the University of Washington in Seattle on December 9, and European conference hosted by the Lisbon Council in Brussels on December 13. We would like to particularly welcome special track proposals exploring data-driven innovation in addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, the circular economy, and sustainable energy transitions, and implications for public policy, management, and governance. The deadline for submission is March 10, 2022.

January 29, 2022:

Working with the editorial team of the Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, we will organize a panel on Disruptive Technologies and Sustainability Transitions at the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) General Conference on August 22-26, 2022 at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. We will explore policy and governance issues in harnessing the potential of disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and blockchain, in addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change and the circular economy. The deadline for submitting paper proposals is February 16, 2022.

January 26, 2022:

In this study just published in the journal Remote Sensing, multi-dimensional analysis was conducted for tropical wildfire mitigation by utilizing various types of spatial data on wildfire susceptibility, carbon stock, and carbon emissions. The results can contribute to policy making on priority areas for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) program.

Sakti, Anjar Dimara, Adam Irwansyah Fauzi, Wataru Takeuchi, Biswajeet Pradhan, Masaru Yarime, Cristina Vega-Garcia, Elprida Agustina, Dionisius Wibisono, Tania Septi Anggraini, Megawati Oktaviani Theodora, Desi Ramadhanti, Miqdad Fadhil Muhammad, Muhammad Aufaristama, Agung Mahadi Putra Perdana, and Ketut Wikantika, "Spatial Prioritization for Wildfire Mitigation by Integrating Heterogeneous Spatial Data: A New Multi-Dimensional Approach for Tropical Rainforests," Remote Sensing, 14, 543 (2022).

January 18, 2022:

I'm currently editing special collections of articles on Data and Sustainability for the journal Data & Policy, published by Cambridge University Press. Research contributions are welcome to explore policy and governance issues in facilitating data-driven innovation for addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, circular economy, and sustainable energy transitions.

January 11, 2022:

I'm excited to join the Energy Institute at HKUST. Our collaborative research activities explore technological, economic, and social challenges in facilitating innovation for sustainable energy transitions.

January 6, 2022:

I gave a seminar on data-driven innovation for sustainable smart cities for the I-URIC Frontier Colloquium organized by the Inter-University Research Institute Corporations (I-URIC). We discussed the critical challenge of governing human-machine ecosystems and implications for prediction in society.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Governing Human-Machine Ecosystems and Implications for Prediction in Society," I-URIC Frontier Colloquium, Inter-University Research Institute Corporations (I-URIC), January 6 (2022).

January 3, 2022:

The Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program is available to applicants for admission to the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program in Public Policy, Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program, and the Master of Public Management (MPM) Program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The scholarship covers tuition, lodging, and daily subsistence costs. Top priority is given to candidates from Japan, followed by those from Mainland China, Macau SAR, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. The deadline for application is January 31, 2022.

December 25, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) on the Clear Water Bay campus and the Innovation, Policy, and Entrepreneurship (IPE) Thrust on the Guangzhou campus of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has initiated a shared MPhil and PhD Programs in Public Policy. I have taken the role of Director for the shared programs in public policy.

December 24, 2021:

An article has been published for the Research Topic on Data Governance for Innovation in Sustainable Smart Cities, which is edited by Dr. Dorota Dominika Kamrowska-Zaluska and myself for the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities - Governance and Cities. Dr. Johannes Franke and Dr. Peter Gailhofer discussed data governance and regulation for sustainable smart cities.

December 13, 2021:

Virtual Roundtable "Urban spaces during and beyond COVID-19: What changes will remain for the long term – and are they making our cities better places to live?" was organized by the International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO), supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. We shared various experiences of urban innovation driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed recovery policies and strategies with experts in cities across the globe.

Yarime, Masaru, "Urban Innovations for Tackling the COVID-19 Pandemic in East Asia: Implications for Recovery Policies and Strategies," Virtual Roundtable "Urban spaces during and beyond COVID-19: What changes will remain for the long term – and are they making our cities better places to live?,"International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO), supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, December 13 (2021).

December 10, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently looking for a Research Assistant (Job ID: 6908). Research and educational activities at PPOL focus on three areas: science, technology, and innovation policy; energy, environmental, and sustainability policy; and urban and social policy. We particularly welcome those who would be interested in working with stakeholders in various sectors including academia, industry, and government for facilitating innovation to address sustainability challenges.

December 6, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is hosting the Asia-Pacific Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (APCIEE) on December 6-7, 2021, in partnership with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). We had an engaging discussion on various cases of utilizing AI in the health care sector with experts in academia, government, and industry.

December 3, 2021:

With colleagues at the University of Washington and the World Bank, I would like to invite contributions to a special collection of articles on "Data for Development Policy: Risk, Equity, and Solving Complex Problems with Limited Resources" for the journal Data & Policy, published by Cambridge University Press. We are particularly keen to explore various challenges concerning measurement and evaluation in utilizing novel data sources including satellite and social media and methodologies such as machine learning to address sustainability issues, including energy transitions and resilience to climate change.

Call for Papers on "Data for Development Policy: Risk, Equity, and Solving Complex Problems with Limited Resources"

Special Collection of Articles for Data & Policy, published by Cambridge University Press in association with the Data for Policy Conference

Guest Editors: Didier Alia (University of Washington), C. Leigh Anderson (University of Washington), Amparo Palacios López (World Bank Group), Federico Trindade (University of Washington), and Masaru Yarime (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology).

November 30, 2021:

Virtual Seminar "Opportunities for the Holistic Design of Products/Services and Policies towards Sustainability" took place on November 29, co-organized by the Science, Technology and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program of the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo and the Mistra Resource-Efficient and Effective Solutions (REES) Research Program of Sweden. We had a lively discussion on policy and management challenges in facilitating innovation to tackle sustainability issues including climate change and the circular economy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Designing Data Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Governance," Virtual Seminar "Opportunities for the Holistic Design of Products/Services and Policies towards Sustainability", co-organized by the Science, Technology and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program of the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo and the Mistra Resource-Efficient and Effective Solutions (REES) Research Program of Sweden, November 29 (2021).

November 24, 2021:

The 8th European Conference on Corporate R&D and Innovation - CONCORDi 2021: Industrial Innovation for Competitive Sustainability is taking place on November 22-25, organized by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in association with the European Association for Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). A paper with Kevin Chandra was presented to discuss our analysis of the digitalization of climate change-related technologies and implications for corporate strategy and public policy

Chandra, Kevin, and Masaru Yarime, "A Patent Analysis of Digitalization in Climate Change-Related Technologies: Innovation, Corporate Strategies, and Policy Implications," The 8th European Conference on Corporate R&D and Innovation - CONCORDi 2021: Industrial Innovation for Competitive Sustainability, organized by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in association with the European Association for Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), November 22-25 (2021).

November 20, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). Our research and education activities focus on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy. The Ph.D. program would be particularly suitable for those who are interested in exploring the role of public policy on science, technology, and innovation to address sustainability challenges in Asia and beyond. The deadline for HKPFS applications is December 1, 2021.

November 17, 2021:

A summary of our discussion is now available for the AI Governance Virtual Symposium: AI's Role in Addressing and Exacerbating Climate Change held on October 29, co-hosted by the Institute for Technology Law & Policy of Georgetown Law School and the Information Society Project of Yale Law School.

November 16, 2021:

Virtual Seminar "Opportunities for the Holistic Design of Products/Services and Policies towards Sustainability" will be held on November 29, co-organized by the Science, Technology and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program of the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo and the Mistra Resource-Efficient and Effective Solutions (REES) Research Program of Sweden. Researchers in Sweden and Japan will discuss key opportunities and challenges in designing products/services and policies for innovation to address sustainability issues, including climate change and the circular economy.

November 15, 2021:

Mushan JIN has successfully finished her doctoral dissertation "Situating Smart City Discourse in Strategic Urban Planning in China: Discursive Practices, Policy Networks, and Institutional Arrangements" at the School of Energy and Environment of the City University of Hong Kong. Congratulations! She examined the evolution of the idea of the smart city in China and discussed the fragmented landscape of policy measures introduced by various actors and implications for institutional arrangements.

Jin, Mushan, "Situating Smart City Discourse in Strategic Urban Planning in China: Discursive Practices, Policy Networks, and Institutional Arrangements," Shauhrat Singh CHOPRA (Supervisor), Masaru YARIME (External Co-Supervisor), School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, October (2021).

November 12, 2021:

This paper with Veronica Qin Ting Li, which has just been published in Data & Policy, examined how governments can use data tools such as dashboards to balance the trade-offs between safeguarding public health and protecting data privacy in a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show the importance of informed actions based on open case data and public trust built on data transparency.

Li, Veronica Qin Ting, and Masaru Yarime, "Increasing Resilience via the Use of Personal Data: Lessons from COVID-19 Dashboards on Data Governance for the Public Good," Data & Policy, 3, e29 (2021).

November 11, 2021:

HKUST IPO Sustainability Seminar "Key Trends, Opportunities and Challenges in ESG"was held on November 11 with Mr. Tony Wong of Alaya Consulting in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. We had a vibrant discussion on key challenges in ESG, including the consolidation of various sustainability standards, board involvement in ESG governance, and data collection and disclosure for stakeholders.

November 9, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will organize an information session on MPhil and PhD Programs in Public Policy on November 16. Please join us in exploring policy challenges in science, technology, and innovation for energy, environment, and sustainability in Asia and beyond.

November 7, 2021:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Key Trends, Opportunities and Challenges in ESG" will be organized on November 11 by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and the Division of Environment and Sustainability of HKUST. We invite Mr. Tony Wong, Founder of Alaya Consulting, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, to discuss recent trends in ESG and opportunities and challenges in corporate strategy and decision making for sustainability.

November 1, 2021:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) 2021 Forum and Awards Presentation Ceremony was held on October 28. HERA recognizes outstanding performance in ESG reporting and aims to contribute to building a community of business leaders for the development of corporate sustainability. I served on the judging panel for HERA.

October 30, 2021:

We had a fascinating discussion on the role of AI in tackling climate change and implications for public policy and governance with leading experts including Jackie Snow, Priya Donti, Sasha Luccioni, Kate Zyla, and Sean O'Brien in the AI Governance Virtual Symposium: AI's Role in Addressing and Exacerbating Climate Change co-hosted by the Institute for Technology Law & Policy of Georgetown Law School and the Information Society Project of Yale Law School.

Yarime, Masaru, "AI for Tackling Climate Change: Opportunities and Challenges in Innovation and Governance," AI Governance Virtual Symposium: AI's Role in Addressing and Exacerbating Climate Change co-hosted by the Institute for Technology Law & Policy of Georgetown Law School and the Information Society Project of Yale Law School, October 29 (2021).

October 26, 2021:

AI Governance Virtual Symposium: AI's Role in Addressing and Exacerbating Climate Change will be held on Friday, October 29 at 11:00-12:00 (US EST). The symposium is co-hosted by the Institute for Technology Law & Policy of Georgetown Law School and the Information Society Project of Yale Law School. We will discuss what role AI can play in addressing climate change and sustainable energy transitions with Jackie Snow contributing to the New York Times, Priya Donti of Carnegie Mellon University, and Sasha Luccioni of the Mila Institute in Montreal.

October 25, 2021:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) Forum 2021 will take place on October 28. HERA aims to promote industry best practices in ESG reporting and management approach. We will discuss opportunities and challenges in financing a low-carbon economy and strengthening board oversight on ESG.

October 23, 2021:

Our paper on a comparison of smart city research and practice in Sweden and Japan has been assigned issue and page numbers of the journal Sustainability Science.

Sakuma, Natsumi, Gregory Trencher, Masaru Yarime, and Motoharu Onuki, "A comparison of smart city research and practice in Sweden and Japan: Trends and opportunities identified from a literature review and co-occurrence network analysis," Sustainability Science, 16, 1777-1796 (2021).

October 22, 2021:

Data for Policy 2021 Conference was organized by University College London on September 14-16. We presented papers on an experimental study in Hong Kong on data governance for the public acceptability of personalised advice about COVID-19 and an analysis of the governance of artificial intelligence in Russia. The videos are now available on YouTube.

Li, Veronica Qin Ting, and Masaru Yarime, "Data Governance for the Public Acceptability of Personalised COVID-19 Advice: An Experimental Study in Hong Kong," Data for Policy 2021 Conference, September 14-16 (2021).

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "Governance of Disruptive Emerging Technologies: Regulatory Gifting for Artificial Intelligence in Russia," Data for Policy 2021 Conference, September 14-16 (2021).

October 21, 2021:

We examined the use of personal data in COVID-19 dashboards in Hong Kong and explored data governance for the public good in our paper that has just been accepted for publication in the journal Data & Policy published by Cambridge University Press.

Li, Veronica, and Masaru Yarime, "Increasing Resilience via the Use of Personal Data: Lessons from COVID-19 Dashboards on Data Governance for the Public Good," Data & Policy, doi:10.1017/dap.2021.27.

October 20, 2021:

XI International Academic Conference on Foresight and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy was organized by the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow on October 15-26. I discussed opportunities and challenges in governing data-driven innovation for sustainable smart cities and implications for science, technology and innovation policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Implications for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy," XI International Academic Conference on Foresight and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, organized by the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia, October 15-26 (2021).

October 19, 2021:

The virtual event "R&D Policies for Better Post-Pandemic Futures: New Approaches and Tools" was organized by the OECD Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy (TIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, and VTT Technical Research Centre. Scholars, industry experts, and policy makers explored the key challenges facing science, technology and innovation (STI) systems in the post-pandemic world. A summary of the discussions is now available on the website.

October 7, 2021:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will organize an information session on MPhil/PhD Programs in Public Policy in Asia on October 9. Program directors/members from leading universities in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Singapore will introduce the MPhil/PhD programs in public policy and answer questions from potential applicants. This is a great opportunity for those who would be interested in exploring various policy issues in tackling key challenges concerning science, technology, and innovation for energy, environment, and sustainability in Asia and beyond.

October 6, 2021:

I would like to invite research papers to a special collection "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Policy Frameworks and Measures for Data Governance" for the journal Data & Policy published by Cambridge University Press. This special collection is based on the papers presented at the special track I organized at the Data for Policy 2021 Conference. Contributions from other researchers are also very welcome to explore a wide range of issues concerning the use of data to address sustainability challenges. A research article would be approximately 8,000 words in length. The deadline for submission is the end of January 2022.

October 1, 2021:

I'm excited to take the role of Associate Editor for Environmental Science & Policy. The journal is keen to explore cutting-edge research on the social and policy dimensions of innovation to address sustainability challenges, such as climate change and the circular economy.

September 30, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for Research Assistant Professors (RAP) under the RAP Scheme for 2021/22 (Job ID: 6628). We are particularly looking for outstanding early-stage researchers working in the following three areas: (i) Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy; (ii) Environmental and Sustainability Policy; or (iii) Social and Urban Policy. The deadline for applications is October 10, 2021.

September 25, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). Our research and education activities focus on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy. The Ph.D. program would be particularly suitable for those who are interested in exploring the role of public policy on science, technology, and innovation to address sustainability challenges in Asia and beyond. The deadline for HKPFS applications is December 1, 2021.

September 21, 2021:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Integrated Environmental Compliance Monitoring System and Enforcement Features in China" will be organized on September 23 by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Professor Yuan XU of the Chinese University of Hong Kong will discuss the use of satellite data for environmental monitoring, reporting, and verification in China. Everyone is welcome to join us.

September 18, 2021:

The Think20 (T20), which aims to provide research-based policy recommendations to the G20 leaders, has published Policy Briefs on key policy challenges, including global health, sustainable development, and digital transformation. For Task Force 4 on Digital Transformation, I worked with my colleagues at HKUST, UCL, OECD, WEF, and UNCTAD to produce a policy brief on a proposal to facilitate emerging data-driven innovation for sustainable development.

Matthew Stephenson, World Economic Forum (WEF), Iza Lejarraga, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Kira Matus, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Yacob Mulugetta, University College London (UCL), Masaru Yarime, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and James Zhan, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), "SusTech Solutions: Enabling New Technologies to Drive Sustainable Development," Task Force 4 - Digital Transformation Policy Brief, Think20 (T20), Italy, September (2021).

September 16, 2021:

We had a fruitful discussion at Special Track on Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability organized at the Data for Policy 2021 Conference. Among the key issues we discussed are the use of satellite and social media data, diverse mechanisms of data sharing, and trust in data governance.

Li, Veronica Qin Ting, and Masaru Yarime, "Integration of GIS and Big Data for Personalised COVID-19 Advice in Hong Kong," Data for Policy 2021 Conference, organized by University College London, United Kingdom, September 14-16 (2021).

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "Formal and Informal Approaches to Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in the Russian Federation," Data for Policy 2021 Conference, organized by University College London, United Kingdom, September 14-16 (2021).

September 2, 2021:

I will chair the two sessions organized for Special Track II - Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Policy Frameworks and Measures for Data Governance on September 15 and 16 at the Data for Policy 2021 Conference, organized by University College London.

August 31, 2021:

The 112th STIG PoP Seminar was organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program of the University of Tokyo on August 31, 2021. I discussed data-driven innovation for sustainability and implications for data governance and public policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Data Governance and Public Policy," 112th STIG PoP Seminar, Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, The University of Tokyo, August 31 (2021).

August 26, 2021:

I will talk about data-driven innovation for sustainability and implications for data governance and public policy for the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) PoP Seminar of the University of Tokyo on August 31, 2021.

August 24, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently looking for applicants for the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (PDFS). We are particularly interested in researchers who are exploring science, technology, and innovation for energy, environment, and sustainability and implications for public policy. PDFS awardees will receive a full-time appointment for a 36-month period, starting at the earliest on May 1, 2022.

August 23, 2021:

The recording is now available for the session "Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Smart Cities: Maximizing the Potential of Data-Driven Innovation While Minimizing Risks to Communities," which I organized at the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2021 (SRI2021) on June 14.

August 19, 2021:

I talked to South China Morning Post about our project to explore smart approaches to facilitating behavioral change for energy saving in buildings to tackle climate change. The HKUST Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab aims to transform our campus into a platform for learning, experimenting, and demonstrating new ideas for innovation.

"Temperature rising: Hong Kong developers, universities act early on climate change, but most businesses hold back, doing the minimum," South China Morning Post, August 19 (2021).

August 18, 2021:

Our research bulletin on social influence and policy interventions for energy saving behavior published by the Economic & Social Research Institute has been introduced in the Irish Times.

"ESRI says peer pressure may be ‘highly effective’ in changing energy habits," Irish Times, August 17 (2021).

August 17, 2021:

An article that summarizes the findings of our recent work on social influence and policy interventions to encourage energy saving behavior has been published by the Economic & Social Research Institute in Dublin.

Spandagos, Constantine, Erik Baark, Tze Ling Ng, and Masaru Yarime, "Social influence and economic interventions to motivate energy-saving: What works better?" ESRI Research Bulletin 202115, Economic & Social Research Institute, Dublin, August 17 (2021).

August 16, 2021:

Registration for the Data for Policy 2021 Conference is open until August 20. The conference will take place virtually on September 14-16 as a global forum to discuss theoretical, empirical, and practical issues concerning data science and innovation and their implications for public policy. There are many sessions and presentations about various aspects of data in addressing global sustainability challenges including climate change and public health.

August 6, 2021:

I'm excited to take the role of Specialty Chief Editor for the Governance and Cities section of the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. Research contributions are welcome to address a wide range of issues concerning innovation and governance for urban sustainability.

July 21, 2021:

Veronica LI Qin Ting, who has just finished her MPhil in Public Policy at HKUST, has been awarded the 2021 Joseph Needham Merit Scholarship. Congratulations! She will continue to explore science, technology, innovation, and public policy at STEaPP of University College London.

July 17, 2021:

A comparative analysis was conducted on the themes of research and practice on smart cities in Sweden and Japan in our paper that has just been published in Sustainability Science.

Sakuma, Natsumi, Gregory Trencher, Masaru Yarime, and Motoharu Onuki, "A comparison of smart city research and practice in Sweden and Japan: Trends and opportunities identified from a literature review and co-occurrence network analysis," Sustainability Science (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01005-x

July 16, 2021:

Policy challenges concerning privacy, availability, and applicability of data used in digital twins are discussed in our paper just published in the journal Data & Policy published by the Cambridge University Press.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "Exploring city digital twins as policy tools: A task-based approach to generating synthetic data on urban mobility," Data & Policy, 3, e16 (2021).

July 10, 2021:

The 18th International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society (ISS) Conference was held online on July 8-10. We had fruitful discussions on data-driven innovation including smart cities and artificial intelligence and implications for scientific research and sustainability transformation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation to Address Sustainability Challenges: An Exploratory Analysis of DataGovernance in Smart Cities," Session on Sustainability and Circular Economy, The 18th International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society (ISS) Conference, July 8-10 (2021).

Thu, Moe Kyaw, Shotaro Beppu, Qi Wang, Masaru Yarime, and Sotaro Shibayama, "Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Activities: An Organizational Analysis of Research Teams," Semi Plenary Session - Panel on the Organizational Dimension of Innovation, The 18th International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society (ISS) Conference, July 8-10 (2021).

July 9, 2021:

The Fifth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP5) took place on July 5-9. I really appreciate all the presentations in our panel on Policy Measures and Institutional Arrangements to Govern Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability. We had stimulating discussions on key challenges concerning public-private partnership, digital platforms, and trust in data governance.

Jiang, Xiaohui, and Masaru Yarime, "The Effects of Smart-city Related Public-Private Partnership Contracts on Innovation and the Performance of Smart Cities in China," Panel on Policy Measures and Institutional Arrangements to Govern Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability, Fifth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP5), July 5-9 (2021).

Florentin, Kevin, and Masaru Yarime, "Understanding Greenfield Smart Cities: Data Governance for Sustainability in Kashiwa-no-ha, Japan," Panel on Policy Measures and Institutional Arrangements to Govern Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability, Fifth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP5), July 5-9 (2021).

Xie, Siqi, Zeng Xuan, and Masaru Yarime, "Whether ICT related government subsidy improves the innovation performance of enterprises in China: ICT patent analysis based on the international patent classifications," Panel on Policy Measures and Institutional Arrangements to Govern Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability, Fifth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP5), July 5-9 (2021).

July 6, 2021:

We conducted a comparative study of research and practice on smart cities in Japan and Sweden. Our paper reporting the findings has just been accepted for publication in the journal Sustainability Science.

Sakuma, Natsumi, Gregory Patrick Trencher, Masaru Yarime, and Motoharu Onuki, "A comparison of smart city research and practice in Sweden and Japan: Trends and opportunities identified from a literature review and co-occurrence network analysis," Sustainability Science, forthcoming.

June 25, 2021:

Our paper that examined the potential of digital twins for policy tools has just been accepted for publication in Data & Policy, a new open-access journal launched by the Cambridge University Press.

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "Exploring City Digital Twins as Policy Tools: A Task-Based Approach to Generating Synthetic Data on Urban Mobility," Data & Policy, forthcoming.

June 15, 2021:

Expert Workshop "Should We Trust Digital Technologies? A Way Forward to Build Trust" was held on June 15 as part of the Think20 (T20) Spring Roundtable for Task Force 4 Digital Transformation. Our discussion touched upon the assessment of GDPR, functions of data flow intermediaries, and challenges in consent-based approaches in data governance and will be provided to enrich policy recommendations to the G20 leaders.

June 14, 2021:

We had a fruitful discussion about the process of stakeholder engagement and the development of skills and capabilities to govern innovation for sustainable smart cities with Dr. Timea Nochta and Dr. Vivek Anand Asokan at the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2021.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities," Session on Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Smart Cities: Maximizing the Potential of Data-Driven Innovation While Minimizing Risks to Communities, Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2021, June 14 (2021).

June 10, 2021:

In Items, a digital forum of the U.S. Social Science Research Council, I discussed the role that personal data plays in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in East Asia, exploring robust and reliable data governance for collecting, using, and sharing data across borders.

Yarime, Masaru, "Use of Personal Data in Tackling Covid-19 in East Asia: Establishing Robust and Reliable Data Governance for the Social Good," Items, Social Science Research Council, United States, June 10 (2021).

June 9, 2021:

Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2021 will take place on June 12-15, convened by Future Earth, Belmont Forum, and Future Earth Australia. I will organize the session "Stakeholder Collaboration for Sustainable Smart Cities: Maximizing the Potential of Data-Driven Innovation While Minimizing Risks to Communities" on June 14. With Dr. Timea Nochta of the University of Cambridge and Dr. Vivek Anand Asokan of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, we will discuss opportunities and challenges in stakeholder collaboration to facilitate data-driven innovation for sustainable smart cities.

May 29, 2021:

Veronica Qin Ting LI has successfully defended her master's thesis at the Division of Public Policy of HKUST. Congratulations! I was fortunate to have an opportunity to supervise her research. This study examined the use of personal data in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and air pollution and explored how public trust in institutions would affect the behavior of citizens in balancing privacy and public health.

Li, Veronica Qin Ting, "Integrating GIS and Big Data to Create Personalised Mobile Applications for Assessing Health Risks" (Supervisor: Yarime, Masaru), Division of Public Policy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, June (2021).

May 20, 2021:

It was a fruitful opportunity to discuss systems transformation approaches to innovation policies for resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability with leading scholars and policy-makers at OECD-TIP Launch Event - R&D Policies for Better Post-Pandemic Futures: New Approaches and Tools on May 20.

Yarime, Masaru, Governing Data Circulation for Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges in STI Policy for Systems Transformation," Panel 2 - The Changing Nature of Innovation Policies: Moving towards Systems Transformation Approaches, OECD-TIP Launch Event - R&D Policies for Better Pandemic Futures: New Approaches and Tools, May 20-21 (2021).

May 16, 2021:

The first edition of the Data for Policy Community Newsletter has been released. I'm very honored to be featured in the newsletter, along with updates on the conference and the journal Data & Policy.

May 13, 2021:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) 2021 is now open for application. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2021. I have been serving on the independent judging panel for HERA.

May 5, 2021:

IPO Sustainability Seminar Series 4 "The Promises and Challenges of Development Data for Policy Decisions" will be held on Friday, May 14, organized by the Division of Public Policy and the Division of Environment and Sustainability of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor C. Leigh Anderson of the University of Washington will discuss the potential of various types of data increasingly available to researchers and policy-makers and implications for decision making for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

April 30, 2021:

Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) Conference was organized for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Our students made an excellent presentation about their analysis of major challenges in building smart climate resilience and proposals to facilitate public participation in Hong Kong.

April 28, 2021:

I served on the judging panel for the Three Minute Thesis Competition held today at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Congratulations to all the finalists!

April 24, 2021:

Virtual Event "R&D Policies for Better Post-Pandemic Futures: New Approaches and Tools" will be organized on May 21-22, 2021 by OECD Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy (TIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. We will discuss the main challenges facing STI systems in the post-pandemic world and explore innovative policy approaches to addressing resilience, inclusiveness, and global sustainability.

April 22, 2021:

We invited Dr. Winnie Tang, Founder of the Smart City Consortium in Hong Kong, to give a lecture on Open Data as the Foundation of Smart Cities for our course on Technology Disruption and Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Her talk stimulated a lively discussion on significant opportunities in facilitating the use of open data for public benefits while addressing societal concerns.

April 21, 2021:

We will organize an online information session for the Master of Public Management (MPM) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on May 11 at 17:00-18:00 (HKT). Everyone is welcome to join us in discussing this exciting program to obtain skills and experiences for complex and dynamic challenges facing the public sector, including governance of science, technology, and innovation for sustainability.

April 19, 2021:

We will organize HKUST IPO Sustainability Seminar "Energy Transition for Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" on Friday, April 23. Dr. Hongpeng Liu, Director of the Energy Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), will discuss opportunities and challenges in facilitating energy transitions for sustainable development in the region and beyond.

April 8, 2021:

A recoding of our discussion has been uploaded on YouTube for the online session A Catalyst for Change - A live virtual roundtable dialogue on the latest Sustainable Finance Developments across Asia and the Pacific in the UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2021.

March 25, 2021:

In our paper that has just been published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, we set key questions for future research on energy interventions and explored the potential of peer pressure and economic interventions designed to influence energy savings through a survey study on residential air-conditioning.

Spandagos, Constantine, Erik Baark, Tze Ling Ng, and Masaru Yarime, "Social Influence and Economic Intervention Policies to Save Energy at Home: Critical Questions for the New Decade and Evidence from Air-condition Use," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 143, 110915 (2021).

March 24, 2021:

We had a good discussion about regulatory developments, industry initiatives, standardization, open data, SMEs, and climate-related disclosure with experts from UNEP-FI, ICC-ATF, Ogier/WWF, and CoGo in the online session A Catalyst for Change - A live virtual roundtable dialogue on the latest Sustainable Finance Developments across Asia and the Pacific. It was co-hosted by PBEC, ESBN, and KPMG as an official side event of the UN-ESCAP 8th Annual Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development.

Yarime, Masaru, "Open Data for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Asia-Pacific," A Catalyst for Change - A live virtual roundtable dialogue on the latest Sustainable Finance Developments across Asia and the Pacific, co-hosted by the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN), and KPMG, UN-ESCAP 8th Annual Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), March 24 (2021).

March 14, 2021:

The Data for Policy Conference 2021 will take place on September 14-16, 2021 at University College London. The International Organisation Committee is currently inviting papers for presentation, which will also be considered for potential post-conference publications in the journal Data & Policy (Cambridge University Press). Sustainable development and climate change are among the areas that are highlighted as being of special interest. In Special Track 7: Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Policy Frameworks and Measures for Data Governance, we will discuss opportunities and challenges in policy frameworks and measures to facilitate data-driven innovation for sustainability.

March 11, 2021:

IPO Sustainability Seminar "Foresight: Designing Smart and Sustainable Futures" will be organized on March 19 by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Professor Ozcan Saritas of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow will discuss opportunities and challenges in utilizing the methodologies of foresight studies for designing smart and sustainable futures.

March 6, 2021:

A Catalyst for Change - A live virtual roundtable dialogue on the latest Sustainable Finance Developments across Asia and the Pacific will take place on March 24, co-hosted by the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN), and KPMG, in the UN-ESCAP 8th Annual Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD). We will discuss sustainable finance and ESG investing prospects and challenges in the region with experts from the United Nations Environment Program - Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), International Chamber of Commerce - Advisory Group for Trade Finance (ICC-ATF), Ogier/World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Fintech Start-up CoGo.

March 5, 2021:

Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference took place on March 3-5. In Panel on Smart Cities and Urban Policy, we had a stimulating discussion on various approaches to analyzing policy and regulatory issues in smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data Driven Innovation to Address Sustainability Challenges: The Regulatory Sandbox Approach in Smart Cities," Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference - Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis, March 3-5 (2021).

Li, Veronica Qin Ting, and Masaru Yarime, "GIS based Big Data Platforms for Healthy Sustain able Cities: Challenges and Opportunities for Citizen Empowerment," Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference - Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis, March 3-5 (2021).

Papyshev, Gleb, and Masaru Yarime, "Human AI Interaction in Public Sector: Literature Review," Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference - Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis, March 3-5 (2021).

Jiang, Xiaohui, and Masaru Yarime, "Effects of Smart City-Related Public-Private Partnership Contracts on the Performance of Smart Cities in China," Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference - Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis, March 3-5 (2021).

Dorrer, Elizaveta, and Masaru Yarime, "Models of Collaboration in Smart City Projects: A Synthesis of Literature," Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference - Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis, March 3-5 (2021).

Jin, Mushan, and Masaru Yarime, "Smart City Policy Coherence and Interplay across Government Levels in China: A Bibliometrics Based Discourse Network Analysis," Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference - Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis, March 3-5 (2021).

March 4, 2021:

PPOL Seminar "In Search of the Optimal Integration of AI Technology into the Public Sector: Studies of Public Trust in AI-Driven Public Services" by Professor Naomi AOKI of the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo was organized on March 4 by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) with the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAiRE) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We discussed the findings of recent empirical studies on the public’s initial trust in the use of AI in public services.

March 4, 2021:

The Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program (LAPP) "Big Data Applications: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies" was held on March 4, organized by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We discussed with senior executives policy and institutional challenges in governing data-driven innovation in smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities," Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program (LAPP) "Big Data Applications: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies," Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), March 4 (2021).

March 3, 2021:

We had a lively discussion sharing our thoughts and experiences of converting research into publications and exploring career development in public policy at the Workshop for Early Career Researchers in the Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference on March 3.

Yarime, Masaru, "Converting Research into Publications," Workshop for Early Career Researchers, Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference - Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis, March 3-5 (2021).

March 3, 2021:

In our paper that has just been accepted for publication in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, we explored the potential of peer pressure and economic interventions designed to influence residential air-conditioning energy savings through a survey research.

Spandagos, Constantine, Erik Baark, Tze Ling Ng, and Masaru Yarime, "Social Influence and Economic Intervention Policies to Save Energy at Home: Critical Questions for the New Decade and Evidence from Air-condition Use," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, forthcoming.

February 18, 2021:

The Sixth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference "Resilient and Inclusive Governance in the Age of Crisis" will take place online on March 3-5, 2021. Researchers and experts in the Asia Pacific will discuss contemporary issues and challenges in public policy, including resilience, digital governance, aging populations, smart cities, and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. I will join a workshop organized for early career researchers to share experiences of converting research into publications and exploring career development opportunities.

February 10, 2021:

Our paper that examined the effects of international research collaboration on scientific findings on transboundary air pollution in Northeast Asia has been published in the journal Environmental Science and Policy.

Shapiro, Matthew A., and Masaru Yarime, "Effects of National Affiliations and International Collaboration on Scientific Findings: The Case of Transboundary Air Pollution in Northeast Asia," Environmental Science and Policy, 118, 71-85 (2021).

January 27, 2021:

The Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is currently inviting applications for a substantiation-track faculty position at Associate Professor or above rank in the following research areas: (i) Science, Technology and Innovation Policy; (ii) Public Policy and Governance for Emerging Technologies. The deadline for application is February 27, 2021.

January 22, 2021:

The Data for Policy Conference will take place on September 14-16, 2021 at University College London. The International Organisation Committee is currently inviting paper and panel session proposals at the conference to be also considered for potential post-conference publications in the journal Data & Policy (Cambridge University Press). Sustainable development and climate change are among the areas that are highlighted as being of special interest. I will chair Special Track 7: Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Policy Frameworks and Measures for Data Governance.

January 18, 2021:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the Master of Public Management (MPM) program. The MPM program aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind to deal with the fast-changing and contested environments that decision-makers face in the public and private sectors. Leveraging the strengths at HKUST, the program is designed to give students the interdisciplinary perspectives that will enable them to explore the policy, operational, regulatory, and political issues associated with technological advances and sustainability. An information session will be organized on January 20 at 17:00-18:00 (Hong Kong time).

January 9, 2021:

We examined the effects of national affiliations and international collaboration on scientific findings on transboundary air pollution in Northeast Asia. Our paper has just been accepted for publication in the journal Environmental Science and Policy.

Shapiro, Matthew A., and Masaru Yarime, "Effects of National Affiliations and International Collaboration on Scientific Findings: The Case of Transboundary Air Pollution in Northeast Asia," Environmental Science and Policy, forthcoming.

December 31, 2020:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Guangzhou Campus (HKUST GZ) is currently inviting applications for faculty positions, postdoctoral fellows, and MPhil/PhD candidates. The thrust area of Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship explores innovative approaches to tackling complex, real-world challenges at the interface of science, technology, and society. Interdisciplinary research is pursued to address innovation and public policy for sustainability.

December 26, 2020:

The recording of our discussion has been uploaded on YouTube for the Open Lab Session on Blended Futures: Learning from Art, Design, Urban Design, Science-Fiction and Algorithmics to Revitalize Foresight Practices, which took place in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) High-Level Futures Literacy Summit on December 11.

December 20, 2020:

HKUST Interdisciplinary Program Office (IPO) Sustainability Seminar Series 5 "Sustainability Challenges Facing Major Cities around the World: Opportunities and Challenges in Hong Kong" took place on December 9. Our discussion with Mr. Elvis W. K. Au, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), focused on Hong Kong's policies and strategies for carbon neutrality, waste management, stakeholder engagement, and smart city development.

December 19, 2020:

We are inviting papers for the Special Issue "Designing of Sustainable and Resilient Energy Trading Systems" of the journal Energies. This special Issue is devoted to designing sustainable and resilient energy trading platforms (ETPs) supported by the emergence of data-driven innovation systems, policies, and regulatory frameworks.

December 16, 2020:

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) organized a workshop on Japan's Science and Technology for Cooperation with Asia and Africa towards 2050 on December 16 for the Accelerating Social Implementation for SDGs Achievement (aXis) Program. Experts in academia, industry, and the public sector discussed future opportunities and challenges in Japan's cooperation with Asia and Africa for deploying science and technology for sustainability.

December 15, 2020:

Online Workshop "ZeroCarbon x Digital: Urban Decarbonization in the Post-Covid-19 Era" was held on December 14-15 in collaboration with the Global Carbon Project (GCP), Future Earth, Hiroshima University, and Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). We had a fruitful discussion to explore possibilities of facilitating data-driven innovation for sustainable smart cities addressing local contextualization and global coordination.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Promoting Public Interest While Addressing Societal Concerns," Online Workshop "ZeroCarbon x Digital: Urban Decarbonization in the Post-Covid-19 Era," organized in collaboration with the Global Carbon Project (GCP), Future Earth, Hiroshima University, and Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), December 14-15 (2020).

December 12, 2020:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized the High-Level Futures Literacy Summit on December 8-12. The Open Lab Session on Blended Futures: Learning from Art, Design, Urban Design, Science-Fiction and Algorithmics to Revitalize Foresight Practices was held on December 11. Stakeholder engagement and algorithmic systems in creating a future are among the issues we discussed in the session.

Yarime, Masaru, "Algorithmic Approaches to Decision Making: Implications for Foresight Studies and Practices," Blended Futures: Learning from Art, Design, Urban Design, Science-Fiction and Algorithmics to Revitalize Foresight Practices, High-Level Futures Literacy Summit, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), December 11 (2020).

December 11, 2020:

I was invited to participate in a workshop on Breakthrough: The Promise of Frontier Technologies for Sustainable Development, organized by the Brookings Institution and the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development on December 8. We had an intensive discussion on the role of smart cities in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and opportunities for international cooperation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Innovation for Sustainability while Addressing Societal Concerns: Comments on Redefining Smart City for Sustainable Development," Workshop on Breakthrough: The Promise of Frontier Technologies for Sustainable Development, Brookings Institution and JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development, December 8 (2020).

December 9, 2020:

We had a fruitful discussion with experts in financial institutions and civil society organizations on climate-related reporting and ESG investment and disclosure at the Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) Forum 2020 held on December 8.

Yarime, Masaru, "Opportunities and Challenges in ESG Reporting for Sustainability," Panel 2 - Future Development of ESG Disclosure, Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) Forum 2020, Hong Kong, December 8 (2020).

December 3, 2020:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will organize the High-Level Futures Literacy Summit on December 8-12, 2020. I will join the panel in the Open Lab Session on Blended Futures: Learning from Art, Design, Urban Design, Science-Fiction and Algorithmics to Revitalize Foresight Practices on December 11 with Ozcan Saritas, Maggie Greyson, Dan Hill, Raphaële Bidault-Waddington, and Jean-Paul Pinto.

December 2, 2020:

We will organize IPO Sustainability Seminar Series 5 "Sustainability Challenges Facing Major Cities around the World: Opportunities and Challenges in Hong Kong" on December 9. Mr. Elvis W. K. Au, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), will discuss climate change and energy challenge, development versus conservation dilemma, sustainable waste management challenge, urban environmental quality challenge, and the challenges and opportunities of a green and smart economy.

November 26, 2020:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) Forum 2020 will take place on December 8. I will join the panel to discuss climate-related reporting and the future development of ESG disclosure.

November 25, 2020:

I was invited to participate in the Expert Workshop on Think Paper on Digital and Data-driven Technologies and Potential Impacts on Biodiversity in Asia-Pacific on November 24, organized by ETC Group and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Hong Kong. It will be a contribution to Civil Society Preparation for the Biodiversity Summit/Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-15). We discussed the emerging impacts of data-driven innovation on biodiversity and communities and policy recommendations for governments and civil society.

Yarime, Masaru, "Impacts of Data-Driven Innovation on Biodiversity and implications for Public Policy," Expert Workshop on Think Paper on Digital and Data-driven Technologies and Potential Impacts on Biodiversity in Asia-Pacific, organized by ETC Group and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Hong Kong for a contribution to Civil Society Preparation for the Biodiversity Summit/Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-15), November 24 (2020).

November 24, 2020:

I was invited as a speaker for the APO Productivity Talk on November 24 by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO). We discussed how public and private organizations can work together to facilitate innovative, data-driven business models.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovative, Data-Driven Business Models," APO Productivity Talk, Asian Productivity Organization (APO), November 24 (2020).

November 22, 2020:

The 5th International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP5) will be held in Barcelona on July 6-8, 2021. Papers are invited for presentation at Panel T13P01 - Policy Measures and Institutional Arrangements to Govern Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability. The deadline for submission is January 29, 2021.

November 20, 2020:

The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) has invited me to the APO Productivity Talk session to be held on November 24. I will discuss how public and private organizations can use big data to build innovative business models.

November 18, 2020:

G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance has released the Global Policy Roadmap. The roadmap provides a baseline for cities to use for policy development and a means of identifying gaps in existing city policies. Five key principles have been identified for model policies, and I contributed to the Privacy Impact Assessment.

G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance, "Model Policy - Privacy Impact Assessment," v1.0, World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, November (2020).

November 17, 2020:

My comments on the carbon neutrality pledges recently made in East Asia are quoted in China Daily.

"East Asian green pledges hailed," China Daily, Global Edition, November 17 (2020).

November 16, 2020:

The Editorial Board would like to invite papers to the new journal Discover Sustainability launched by Springer Nature. We welcome research from across all fields relevant to sustainability, addressing environmental, economic, social, and technological challenges worldwide. The journal aims to support interdisciplinary research and policy developments addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

November 13, 2020:

The Data for Policy 2021 Conference will take place on September 14-16, 2021 at University College London. As a member of the International Organisation Committee, I would like to invite special track proposals at the conference. The area of Data to Tackle Global Issues and Dynamic Societal Threats, including sustainable development and climate change, is particularly highlighted as being of special interest.

November 12, 2020:

We had a fruitful discussion about facilitating access to data in utilizing AI for social good at the Panel on Access to Data, Computing Power, Hardware & Infrastructure held on November 3 in the AI for Social Good Summit, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and Google.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges of Regulatory Sandboxes for Smart Cities," Panel on Access to Data, Computing Power, Hardware & Infrastructure, AI for Social Good Summit, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and Google, November 3 (2020).

November 11, 2020:

The Workshop on Zero Carbon x Digital: Urban Decarbonization in the Post-Covid-19 Era will be held on December 14-15 in collaboration with the Global Carbon Project (GCP), Future Earth, Hiroshima University, and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). This workshop aims to provide a platform for scientists and policy makers to discuss recent developments in digital technologies and their implications for policies and strategies for carbon neutrality.

November 10, 2020:

I have joined the Judging Panel for the Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA). The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) has recently strengthened its regulatory framework for ESG governance and disclosure. The winners of HERA 2020 will be announced on December 8.

November 9, 2020:

Virtual Conference on Smart Public Service Delivery was organized on November 9 by the Development Academy of the Philippines as APO Center of Public Sector Productivity. We discussed the implications of data-driven innovation for enhancing and transforming public service delivery in various areas including sustainable smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public-Private Partnership," Virtual Conference on Smart Public Service Delivery, organized by the Development Academy of the Philippines as APO Center of Public Sector Productivity, November 9 (2020).

November 7, 2020:

I have joined the Editorial Board of the new journal Discover Sustainability launched by Springer Nature.

November 6, 2020:

The recording of the Workshop on Trust in the Smart City, organized by the Department of Government and International Studies of Hong Kong Baptist University on 29 October 2020, has been uploaded on YouTube.

October 30, 2020:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is now inviting applications for MPhil/PhD programs under the Guangzhou Pilot Scheme in Fall 2021/22. Interdisciplinary research can be conducted in a variety of Thrust Areas, including Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship, to explore public policy concerning science, technology, and innovation for addressing sustainability challenges.

October 29, 2020:

Workshop on Trust in the Smart City was held on October 29 at the Department of Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. We discussed the critical role of trust in facilitating innovation for sustainable smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Opportunities and Challenges in Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Trust in Processes, Transactions, and Governance," Workshop on Trust in the Smart City, Department of Government and International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, October 29 (2020).

October 28, 2020:

Smart Cities Live Webinar: Hong Kong & Trikala in the Post-COVID Era was organized on October 27 by the Greek Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We had a stimulating discussion with experts from academia, business, and government opportunities and challenges in collaboration among stakeholders.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Stakeholder Collaboration and Engagement,"Keynote Speech, Smart Cities Live Webinar: Hong Kong & Trikala in the Post-COVID Era, organized by the Greek Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), October 27 (2020).

October 22, 2020:

Panel on Access to Data, Computing Power, Hardware & Infrastructure will take place on November 3 in the AI for Social Good Summit, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and Google. We will opportunities and challenges in facilitating access to data to address social development issues while addressing risks and concerns over privacy, bias, safety, and fairness.

October 15, 2020:

Smart Cities Live Webinar: Hong Kong & Trikala in the Post-COVID Era will be held on October 27 in collaboration with the Greek Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We will discuss the role and strategies of smart cities and opportunities for collaboration among academia, business, and the public sector.

October 13, 2020:

Workshop on Trust in the Smart City will be organized on October 29 by the Department of Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. How to establish public trust in data governance for innovation and sustainability is among the issues we will discuss in the workshop.

October 9, 2020:

The AI for Social Good Summit will organize a series of panel discussions and policy briefings starting from October 22. Researchers and practitioners in academia, industry, and the public sector will explore what lasting impact AI will generate and how we can strengthen our accountable governance of AI for social good.

October 7, 2020:

We will organize HKUST IPO Sustainability Seminar Series 3 "Sustainability at CLP: Powering Sustainability and Building a Utility of the Future" on Friday, October 23 at 16:30-18:00. Mr. Hendrik Rosenthal, Director - Group Sustainability, CLP Group, Hong Kong, will discuss CLP's business strategies and stakeholder engagement efforts for sustainability.

October 5, 2020:

Following the Special Track on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design held at the Data for Policy 2020 Conference, I would like to invite papers to a Special Collection of articles in Data & Policy, the peer-reviewed open-access journal published by Cambridge University Press in association with the conference. The special collection aims to present theoretical as well as empirical research findings on the current situations concerning the collection, sharing, and use of data in the context of sustainable smart cities and the effects of policy and institutional arrangements for data governance on innovative efforts in the public and private sectors.

September 30, 2020:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme. Our research and education activities focus on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Energy, Environmental, and Sustainability Policy. The Ph.D. program would be particularly suitable for those who are interested in exploring the role of public policy on science, technology, and innovation to address sustainability challenges in Asia and beyond. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2020.

September 27, 2020:

We have initiated the Sustainability Seminar Series at the Interdisciplinary Program Office (IPO) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The seminars will provide an opportunity to learn and discuss current issues and future challenges in sustainability research and practice among students, staff, and faculty members in the Division of Public Policy (PPOL), Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), and beyond IPO. Theoretical, methodological, and normative dimensions of sustainability research will be addressed through various cases and examples. The seminar series will cover a wide range of topics concerning sustainability, such as climate change, air pollution, waste management, circular economy, and sustainable energy transitions, as well as emerging issues such as digitalization of innovation and implications for sustainability, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches integrating natural and social scientific disciplines. Guest speakers include academic researchers in Hong Kong and abroad and also practitioners working in government, business, and civil society. We hope to facilitate collaboration on sustainability research and practice with our colleagues and stakeholders in society.

September 22, 2020:

We will hold a seminar on Supply Chains in Transformation: Towards Digital and Sustainable in the Emerging Markets by Pamela Mar, Executive Vice President – Knowledge and Applications of the Fung Academy on September 25. This is the first in the Sustainability Seminar Series organized by the Interdisciplinary Program Office (IPO) of HKUST. The seminar will discuss how COVID-19 has accelerated the digital transformation of consumer products supply chains while also pushing brands and manufacturers to be more sustainable and innovative.

September 17, 2020:

The second session for Special Track on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design was held in the Data for Policy 2020 Conference. We discussed three cases of smart cities in Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen, illustrating diverse approaches to facilitating data-driven innovation while addressing societal concerns about privacy.

Xie, Siqi, Ning Luo, and Masaru Yarime, "Governance for Data Collection, Sharing, and Use in Smart Cities in China: New Initiatives in Facilitating Innovation while Addressing Privacy and Security Concerns in Shenzhen," Session 16 - Special Track on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design II, Data for Policy 2020 Conference, September 15-17 (2020).

September 16, 2020:

I chaired Special Track on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design in the Data for Policy 2020 Conference. We had a stimulating discussion on key policy opportunities and challenges in facilitating and governing data-driven innovation for sustainable smart cities.

Li, Veronica, and Masaru Yarime, "Increasing Resilience toward COVID-19 via Risk Mapping: Challenges and Opportunities for Stakeholder Empowerment in Hong Kong," Session 7 - Special Track on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design I, Data for Policy 2020 Conference, September 15-17 (2020).

September 10, 2020:

The project report on AI for Social Good has just been published in a partnership between the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and Google. Experts in the region examined opportunities and challenges in harnessing AI for social good, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My chapter discusses governing data-driven innovation for sustainable smart cities with a focus on regulatory sandboxes.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges of Regulatory Sandboxes for Smart Cities," in AI for Social Good, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and Google, 180-202 (2020).

September 9, 2020:

We are currently inviting papers to the Research Topic on Data Governance for Innovation in Sustainable Smart Cities of the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. This Research Topic aims to share theoretical as well as empirical research findings that examine the current situation and policy challenges concerning the collection, sharing, and usage of data in the context of sustainable smart cities.

September 4, 2020:

We had a productive meeting for the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) project with Siemens based in Hong Kong. Our project aims to explore policy challenges in facilitating and governing data-driven innovation to strengthen resilience to climate change.

September 1, 2020:

The new book Smart Cities for Technological and Social Innovation: Case Studies, Current Trends, and Future Steps has just been published. Our chapter on Japanese Smart Cities and Communities: Integrating Technological and Institutional Innovation for Society 5.0 was contributed together with Brendan Barrett and Andrew DeWit.

Barrett, Brendan, Andrew DeWit, and Masaru Yarime, "Japanese Smart Cities and Communities: Integrating Technological and Institutional Innovation for Society 5.0," in Hyung Min Kim, Soheil Sabri, and Anthony Kent, eds., Smart Cities for Technological and Social Innovation: Case Studies, Current Trends, and Future Steps, London: Academic Press, 73-94 (2020).

August 31, 2020:

We are looking for applicants for RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (2021/22) at the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We are particularly keen to work with postdoctoral researchers who are interested in exploring policy challenges in utilizing and governing science, technology, and innovation to address sustainability issues.

August 26, 2020:

Online Symposium on Industry’s Engagement to Address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Business for Human Rights was held on August 25, organized by the Research Center for Sustainable Peace (RCSP) in the Institute for Advanced Global Studies (IAGS) of the University of Tokyo. We discussed key opportunities and challenges in industry's engagement to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Society 5.0.

Yarime, Masaru, "Addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Society 5.0: Opportunities and Challenges in Industry," Online Symposium on Industry’s Engagement to Address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Business for Human Rights, Research Center for Sustainable Peace (RCSP), Institute for Advanced Global Studies (IAGS), University of Tokyo, August 25 (2020).

August 26, 2020:

STIG Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar on Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities was organized on August 25 by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program of the University of Tokyo. We discussed policy and institutional challenges in facilitating innovation while addressing societal concerns about security and privacy for sustainable smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities," 94th STIG Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar, Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, University of Tokyo, August 25 (2020).

August 19, 2020:

International Organisation Committee for the Data for Policy 2020 Conference is inviting registration for the conference, which will take place virtually on September 15-17, 2020. I will chair Special Track on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design.

August 7, 2020:

I will give a talk on Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities on August 25 for the Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) program of the University of Tokyo. We will discuss policy and institutional challenges in facilitating innovation while addressing societal concerns about security and privacy for sustainable smart cities.

July 31, 2020:

Online Symposium on the Use of Information Technology and Privacy in Tackling COVID-19 was held on July 30, organized by the Japan Law Foundation. We discussed policy and legal issues about using and collecting data, protecting privacy, promoting innovation in coping with COVID-19.

Yarime, Masaru, "Opportunities and Challenges in the Use of Data in Tackling COVID-19: Public Health, Privacy, and Innovation," Online Symposium on the Use of Information Technology and Privacy in Tackling COVID-19, organized by Japan Law Foundation, July 30 (2020).

July 28, 2020:

We are looking for a full-time Research Assistant (Job ID: 5446) to help with two projects funded by the Sustainable Smart Campus initiative at HKUST. The appointee will work with us to investigate potential interventions to encourage behavioral change aiming at promoting transitions to sustainable energy use. Please apply on or before August 10, 2020.

July 26, 2020:

Online Workshop on Combating COVID-19 in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities was organized on July 25 by the Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Institute of Future Government and the Department of Public Administration of Yonsei University. Participants coming from Asian countries presented academic papers that examine key policy challenges in tackling the outbreak, including science advice and data governance.

Wu, Jing, Masaru Yarime, Kun Qian, and Björn W. Schuller, "Government’s Data Governance under Crisis: Chinese Government’s Approach to Big Data Governance in Combating COVID-19," Online Workshop on Combating COVID-19 in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities, organized by the Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Institute of Future Government and the Department of Public Administration of Yonsei University, July 25 (2020).

July 10, 2020:

A web symposium on ICT and Privacy in Tackling COVID-19 will be held on July 30. We will discuss opportunities and challenges in utilizing various kinds of data in dealing with the outbreak while addressing societal concerns about privacy and security. Everyone is welcome to join the symposium, which will take place in Japanese.

July 9, 2020:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) recognize outstanding achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting by companies in Hong Kong. I'm serving the independent panel of judges with my colleagues from the business, NGO, and social enterprise sectors to select the organizations that show the best practices in the industry.

July 3, 2020:

Our study that examined the energy consumption behavior of households in Hong Kong has been introduced in Green Queen.

"Study: Hong Kongers Value Environment But Lack Smart Tech To Track Energy-Saving," Green Queen, July 1 (2020).

Spandagos, Constantine, Masaru Yarime, Erik Baark, and Tze Ling Ng, "'Triple Target' Policy Framework to Influence Household Energy Behavior: Satisfy, Strengthen, Include," Applied Energy, 269, 115117 (2020).

June 28, 2020:

Our paper that explored the potential of integrating photovoltaics and electric vehicles for deep decarbonization in Kyoto has just been published in the journal Applied Energy.

Kobashi, Takuro, Takahiro Yoshida, Yoshiki Yamagata, Katsuhiko Naito, Stefan Pfenninger, Kelvin Say, Yasuhiro Takeda, Amanda Ahl, Masaru Yarime, and Keishiro Hara, "On the Potential of 'Photovoltaics + Electric Vehicles' for Deep Decarbonization of Kyoto’s Power Systems: Techno-Economic-Social Considerations," Applied Energy, 275, 115419 (2020).

June 13, 2020:

Japanese-German-French Conference on AI for SDGs - How Can AI Help Solve Environmental Challenges?, which took place on October 24, 2019 at the German Cultural Centre in Tokyo, has been introduced in the DWIH Annual Report 2019 of the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH).

"Die Konferenz „KI und SDGs“ machte im Oktober 2019 deutlich, dass Künstliche Intelligenz auch im Umweltschutz Lösungswege aufzeigt. In einer Session sprachen Professor Masaru Yarime über die Rolle von „Smart Cities“ in ihren Anstrengungen gegen den Klimawandel, Professor Christophe Cérin über „Smart Buildings“ und Professor Wolfgang Ketter über „Smart Markets“. Die Fragen konzentrierten sich auf nachhaltige, zukunftsfähige Urbanität – und wiesen somit auch schon den Weg zum DWIH-Jahresthema 2020, „Städte und Klima“."

German Centre for Research and Innovation, DWIH Annual Report 2019, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), German Academic Exchange Service, Bonn, June (2020).

June 9, 2020:

Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development, edited by Matthias Barth, Gerd Michelsen, Marco Rieckmann, and Ian Geoffrey Thomas, which includes Mochizuki, Yoko, and Masaru Yarime, "Chapter 1 - Education for Sustainable Development and Sustainability Science: Re-purposing Higher Education and Research," has been reviewed in Affaires universitaires.

"L’excellent chapitre d’ouverture de Yoko Mochizuki et Masaru Yarime («Education for Sustainable Development and Sustainability Science: Re-purposing Higher Education and research») rappelle l’importance d’ancrer le développement durable dans une perspective transdisciplinaire."

"Promouvoir le développement durable dans les universités," Affaires universitaires, June 8 (2020).

June 8, 2020:

Our paper that analyzed the potential of integrating photovoltaics and electric vehicles for deep decarbonization in Kyoto has just been accepted for publication in the journal Applied Energy.

Kobashi, Takuro, Takahiro Yoshida, Yoshiki Yamagata, Katsuhiko Naito, Stefan Pfenninger, Kelvin Say, Yasuhiro Takeda, Amanda Ahl, Masaru Yarime, and Keishiro Hara, "On the Potential of 'PV + EV' for Deep Decarbonization of Kyoto’s Power Systems: Techno-Economic-Social Considerations," Applied Energy, forthcoming.

June 7, 2020:

The Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will organize the Online Workshop on Combating COVID-19 in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities on July 25, 2020. This would be an exciting opportunity to discuss innovative approaches in public policy and management to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in Asia from the perspective of sustainability governance. The deadline for submitting full papers is July 15, 2020. Selected papers will be considered for publication in special issues in the Journal of Asian Public Policy, Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration, and China Policy Journal.

May 27, 2020:

I have joined the International Organization Committee for the Data for Policy Conference, which will be held online on September 15-17, 2020. The Data for Policy Conference provides a global forum for multiple disciplinary and cross-sector discussions around the theories, applications and implications of data science and innovation in governance and the public sector.

May 22, 2020:

United States Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Annual Meeting 2020 took place online. In Panel on Collaboration in Environmental Management, we discussed a paper that examined the nature of scientific research on transboundary air pollution in Northeast Asia.

Shapiro, Matthew A., and Masaru Yarime, "Effects of National Affiliations and International Collaboration on Scientific Findings: The Case of Transboundary Air Pollution in Northeast Asia," Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Annual Meeting 2020, United States, May 21-23 (2020).

May 21, 2020:

I had a fruitful discussion with the Heinrich Böll Foundation based in Hong Kong. We will explore collaboration to facilitate dialogues in civil society on issues concerning data governance for innovation for sustainable smart cities.

May 19, 2020:

We examined energy consumption patterns and attitudes and proposed a holistic, inclusive policy framework for targeted behavioral change in our paper just published in Applied Energy.

Spandagos, Constantine, Masaru Yarime, Erik Baark, and Tze Ling Ng, "'Triple Target' Policy Framework to Influence Household Energy Behavior: Satisfy, Strengthen, Include," Applied Energy, 269, 115117 (2020).

May 9, 2020:

I gave a talk on international perspectives on sustainable business for the Business Sustainability Management online course provided by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

May 5, 2020:

Our paper that examined governance strategies for developing and diffusing fuel-cell vehicles in Japan has been published in the journal Energy Policy.

Trencher, Gregory Patrick, Araz Taeihagh, and Masaru Yarime, "Overcoming Barriers to Developing and Diffusing Fuel-Cell Vehicles: Governance Strategies and Experiences in Japan," Energy Policy, 142, 111533 (2020).

April 30, 2020:

The journal Frontiers in Political Science has just launched a new section, Politics of Technology, which aims to highlight how new technologies pose governance challenges. As an Associate Editor of the journal, I would like to encourage submissions that address the governance of emerging technologies and their implications for sustainability.

April 29, 2020:

The recorded session on "What If: SDG 7 - Global Innovation for Energy Sustainability" held on April 23 is available (3:07-4:07).

April 24, 2020:

Sustainable Smart Campus Pitch Day was organized by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on April 24. I presented our proposal for a project on micro-targeting behavioral change through digital nudging to facilitate sustainable energy transitions.

Yarime, Masaru, and Kim-Pong Tam, "Smart Approach to Promoting Sustainable Energy Transitions: Micro-targeting Behavioral Change through Digital Nudging," Sustainable Smart Campus Pitch Day, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, April 24 (2020).

April 23, 2020:

The online event What If: SDG 7 - Global Innovation for Energy Sustainability was held on April 23, jointly organized by Energy Tech Meetup and Venture Café Tokyo. We had a great discussion on how data-driven innovation can contribute to facilitate sustainable energy transitions.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Energy: Opportunities and Challenges in Smart Cities," What If: SDG 7 - Global Innovation for Energy Sustainability, Energy Tech Meetup and Venture Café Tokyo, April 23 (2020).

April 20, 2020:

I have joined the Working Group for Policy Framework in the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance, hosted by the World Economic Forum. The Working Group will provide expertise across key policy areas, including privacy and transparency, security and resilience, openness and interoperability, operational and financial sustainability, and equity, inclusion, and social & environmental impact.

April 18, 2020:

We discussed the triple target policy framework to influence household energy behavior in our paper that has just been accepted for publication in the journal Applied Energy.

Spandagos, Constantine, Masaru Yarime, Erik Baark, and Tze Ling Ng, "'Triple Target' Policy Framework to Influence Household Energy Behavior: Satisfy, Strengthen, Include," Applied Energy, forthcoming.

April 17, 2020:

The deadline for submitting abstracts has been extended until May 20 for the International Data for Policy Conference 2020 at University College London on September 15-16, 2020. I would like to encourage you to present your research findings at Special Track 14 - Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design. Those papers presented at the conference will be considered for potential post-conference publications in Data & Policy, the open-access journal launched in collaboration with Cambridge University Press, subject to peer-review.

April 16, 2020:

Our paper that analyzed governance strategies for developing and diffusing fuel-cell vehicles in Japan has just been accepted for publication in the journal Energy Policy.

Trencher, Gregory Patrick, Araz Taeihagh, and Masaru Yarime, "Overcoming Barriers to Developing and Diffusing Fuel-Cell Vehicles: Governance Strategies and Experiences in Japan," Energy Policy, forthcoming.

April 9, 2020:

I attended the inaugural meeting for the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance, hosted by the World Economic Forum. We had a fruitful discussion for developing a policy framework for smart cities across the globe.

April 2, 2020:

The online event "What If: SDG 7 - Global Innovation for Energy Sustainability" will be held on Thursday, April 23 at 19:00-20:00 (JST), co-hosted by Energy Tech Meetup and Venture Café Tokyo. We will discuss opportunities and challenges in facilitating innovation for sustainable energy with international experts in academia and industry.

"What If: SDG 7 - Global Innovation for Energy Sustainability"

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020, 19:00-20:00 (JST)

Venue: Online (Zoom platform)

Agenda:

19:00 Introduction from Energy Tech Meetup

19:05 Fabian Schipfer (TU Wien) "International cooperation on sustainable energy innovation towards a well-below 2°C world"

19:13 Masaru Yarime (HKUST) "Stimulating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable Energy: Opportunities and Challenges in Smart Cities"

19:21 Per Lundqvist (KTH) "Transforming the Swedish Energy System – Towards 100% renewable energy through digitalization, energy efficiency and energy storage"

19:28 Christian Schmitz (PDIE Group) “Building Purpose Driven Ecosystems for Renewable Energy on a Global Scale"

19:35 Panel discussion

20:00 Closing

March 16, 2020:

I'm very pleased to be listed as one of the most productive authors in the sustainable management of digital transformation in higher education in a paper recently published in the journal Sustainability.

March 12, 2020:

I have joined the Editorial Board of the journal Frontiers in Political Science - Politics of Technology as Associate Editor. The journal aims to publish peer-reviewed research that addresses the political impact and governance of emerging disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, quantum computing, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology.

February 27, 2020:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is currently preparing for establishing the Guangzhou campus, HKUST (GZ), and inviting applications for the second cohort under the Guangzhou Pilot Scheme in Fall 2020/21 as PhD/MPhil students. These students will conduct interdisciplinary research in a variety of Thrust Areas, including Urban Governance and Design and Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship. The application deadline is March 15, 2020.

February 19, 2020:

The International Data for Policy Conference 2020 will take place at University College London on September 15-16, 2020. As the session chair of Special Track on Data Governance for Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy and Institutional Design, I would like to invite paper proposals for presentation at the session. Papers will also be considered for potential post-conference publications in Data & Policy, the open-access journal launched in collaboration with Cambridge University Press, subject to peer-review. The deadline for submitting extended abstracts is April 20, 2020.

February 18, 2020:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Department of Asian and Policy Studies of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) co-organize the Policy Dialogue Series featuring Professor Anthony Cheung, former Secretary for Transport and Housing in Hong Kong. The second policy dialogue "Smart City and Innovation Policy," which was originally scheduled on March 27, has been postponed until further notice. We will explore public policy challenges in facilitating innovation for smart cities while addressing societal concerns in Hong Kong.

February 10, 2020:

I was invited to give a talk by the Japan Smart Community Alliance (JSCA) on February 5 at the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in Kawasaki, Japan. JSCA contributes to facilitating collaborative efforts in the public and private sectors for innovation for smart communities. We shared the experiences of smart city projects in Japan, China, and Canada to lean implications for corporate strategy and public policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Smart Cities: The Experiences in Japan and Overseas and Implications for Corporate Strategy and Public Policy," JSCA Seminar, Japan Smart Community Alliance (JSCA), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, February 5 (2020).

February 9, 2020:

The IELP/GP-RSS Seminar was organized on February 4 by the International Environmental Leadership Program (IELP) and the International Joint Graduate Program in Resilience and Safety Studies at Tohoku University in Sendai. I gave a keynote speech on the governance of data-driven innovation for promoting sustainability in the context of smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Smart Cities," IELP/GP-RSS Seminar, International Environmental Leadership Program (IELP) and the International Joint Graduate Program in Resilience and Safety Studies (GP-RSS), Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan, February 4 (2020).

January 24, 2020:

The Division of Public Policy in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is inviting applications for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program 2020-2021. There are two areas of specialization: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Environmental and Sustainability Policy. The application deadline for admissions is May 31, 2020.

January 12, 2020:

The Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) organized the seminar "Closed Loops, the Circular Economy, Nudges and the Innovative University" on October 21, 2019. Professor Scott VALENTINE of Sustainability and Urban Planning of RMIT University discussed the role of universities to enhance productivity and profitability through closed loops and the circular economy.

January 10, 2020:

The International Workshop "Developing Global Technology and Innovation Hubs: Aspirations, Challenges, and Policy Innovations" will be held on June 12-13, 2020 at Shenzhen University, jointly organized with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Nanyang Technological University. We will discuss policy and institutional challenges in developing global innovation hubs. The deadline for submitting extended abstracts is February 23, 2020.

January 9, 2020:

The final version of the following article has been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production:

Kobashi, Takuro, Kelvin Say, Jiayang Wang, and Masaru Yarime, Takahiro Yoshida, and Yoshiki Yamagata, "Techno-Economic Assessment of Photovoltaics plus Electric Vehicles towards Household-Sector Decarbonization in Kyoto and Shenzhen by the Year 2030," Journal of Cleaner Production, 253, 119933 (2020).

January 6, 2020:

The program "Big Data and Public Policy: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies" was held on October 10-11, 2019, organized by Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education (LAPP) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We discussed with civil servants key policy and institutional challenges in facilitating data-driven innovation for smart cities while addressing societal concerns, including safety, security, and privacy.

December 30, 2019:

I have joined the Editorial Board of the journal Frontiers in Political Science - Politics of Technology and Sustainability. This journal aims to publish peer-reviewed research that addresses the governance of emerging technologies and their economic, environmental, social, and normative implications for sustainability.

December 29, 2019:

A techno-economic assessment of the integrated systems of photovoltaics and electric vehicles in households in Kyoto and Shenzhen for decarbonization towards 2030 was conducted in our paper just published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Kobashi, Takuro, Kelvin Say, Jiayang Wang, and Masaru Yarime, Takahiro Yoshida, and Yoshiki Yamagata, "Techno-Economic Assessment of Photovoltaics plus Electric Vehicles towards Household-Sector Decarbonization in Kyoto and Shenzhen by the Year 2030," Journal of Cleaner Production, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019 (2020).

December 19, 2019:

We had a fruitful discussion on e-government at Wuhan Tienheng Information Technology. Private companies are increasingly providing public services outsourced by the local government in various areas such as real estate registration.

December 17, 2019:

I had an opportunity to give a seminar on December 17 at the School of Public Administration in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. We had an in-depth discussion on emerging practices of data governance in the context of smart city development in China.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data Governance for Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy," Research Seminar, School of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, December 17 (2019).

December 7, 2019:

Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Department of Asian and Policy Studies (APS) of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) co-organize the Policy Dialogue Series featuring Professor Anthony Cheung, Research Chair Professor of Public Administration and former Secretary for Transport and Housing in Hong Kong. In the second policy dialogue series on Smart City and Innovation Policy, which has been rescheduled to a future date, we will explore public policy challenges in facilitating innovation for smart cities while addressing societal concerns in Hong Kong.

December 6, 2019:

Call for applications for Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). MPP students have the option to specialize in one of the two following specializations: science and technology policy or environmental and sustainability policy. In the Policy Analysis Project, the capstone module of the MPP program, our students work in teams on challenges, issues, and problems facing real-world organizations. The application deadline for 2020-2021 admissions is May 31, 2020.

December 4, 2019:

We discussed Japanese smart cities and communities in the framework of Society 5.0 in the forthcoming book Smart Cities for Technological and Social Innovation.

Barrett, Brendan, Andrew DeWit, and Masaru Yarime, "Japanese Smart Cities and Communities within the Framework of Society 5.0," in Hyung Min Kim, Soheil Sabri, and Anthony Kent, eds., Smart Cities for Technological and Social Innovation, Elsevier, forthcoming.

December 2, 2019:

Our paper that discusses data-intensive approaches to sustainability from methodological, epistemological, normative, and ontological perspectives has just been published in Sustainability Science.

Asokan, Vivek Anand, Masaru Yarime, and Motoharu Onuki, "A Review of Data-Intensive Approaches for Sustainability: Methodology, Epistemology, Normativity, and Ontology," Sustainability Science, doi: 10.1007/s11625-019-00759-9 (2019).

December 1, 2019:

EcoDesign 2019 - The 11th International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing took place on November 25-27 in Yokohama, Japan, In the session on Sustainability, SDGs and Roadmapping, we discussed complementarities between roadmapping and the sustainability transition in promoting innovation to address SDGs.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability Transitions: Technological Uncertainty and Interconnectedness and Implications for Roadmapping," Session on Sustainability, SDGs and Roadmapping, EcoDesign 2019 - The 11th International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing, Yokohama, Japan, November 25-27 (2019).

November 30, 2019:

Cases of energy transitions for low carbon and resilience to disasters are discussed in our paper jut published in the journal Sustainability.

Ko, Yekang, Brendan F.D. Barrett, Andrea E. Copping, Ayyoob Sharifi, Masaru Yarime, and Xin Wang, "Energy Transitions Towards Low Carbon Resilience: Evaluation of Disaster-Triggered Local and Regional Cases," Sustainability, 11 (23), 6801 (2019).

November 29, 2019:

The 9th International Symposia on Green Smart Development & Vision (GSDV) 2019 was held on November 26 in Busan, South Korea, hosted by Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Pusan National University. Emerging impacts of digital transformation on smart city development were discussed with experts from South Korea and other countries in Asia.

Yarime, Masaru, "Emerging Impacts of Digital Transformation on Smart City Development: Implications for Global Sustainability," The 9th International Symposia on Green Smart Development & Vision (GSDV) 2019, hosted by Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea, November 26 (2019).

November 18, 2019:

JAHSS-JASID International Conference was held on November 16-17 at the University of Tokyo, co-organized by the Japan Association for Human Security Studies (JAHSS) and the Japan Society for International Development (JASID). In Roundtable on Blockchain and Refugee Protection, we discussed the current situation with regard to utilizing blockchain for refugees and the significant potential of blockchain for SDGs.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for SDGs: Opportunities and Challenges in Blockchain," Roundtable on Blockchain and Refugee Protection, JAHSS-JASID Joint International Conference - Refugees/Migrants and Education/Employment: Seeking to Ensure Human Security, co-organized by the Japan Association for Human Security Studies (JAHSS) and the Japan Society for International Development (JASID), The University of Tokyo, Japan, November 16-17 (2019).

November 15, 2019:

Our paper that reviews data-intensive approaches to sustainability from methodological, epistemological, normative, and ontological perspectives has just been accepted for publication in the journal Sustainability Science.

Asokan, Vivek Anand, Masaru Yarime, and Motoharu Onuki, "A Review of Data-Intensive Approaches for Sustainability: Methodology, Epistemology, Normativity, and Ontology," Sustainability Science, forthcoming.

October 29, 2019:

Public Seminar "Sustainable Energy without Fear: The Role of Artificial Intelligence" was organized on October 25 by the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo and the Institute for Future Initiatives in the University of Tokyo. We discussed with Professor Wolfgang Ketter of the University of Cologne emerging cases of deploying artificial intelligence for sustainable energy systems and their implications for public policy and governance.

Yarime, Masaru, "Challenges in Governing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Energy Transitions," Public Seminar "Sustainable Energy without Fear: The Role of Artificial Intelligence", organized by the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo and the Institute for Future Initiatives in the University of Tokyo, October 25 (2019).

October 26, 2019:

Japanese-German-French Conference on AI for SDGs - How Can AI Help Solve Environmental Challenges? took place on October 24 at the German Cultural Centre in Tokyo, jointly organized by the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo, French Embassy to Japan, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). We discussed opportunities and challenges in taking advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle climate change in smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "AI-Based Innovation to Tackle Climate Change: Technological Opportunities and Institutional Challenges inSmart Cities," Japanese-German-French Conference on AI for SDGs - How Can AI Help Solve Environmental Challenges?, jointly organized by the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo, French Embassy to Japan, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), German Cultural Centre, Tokyo, Japan, October 24 (2019).

October 20, 2019:

The winners of the Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) 2019 have been announced. The annual awards recognize excellence in ESG reporting and aim to build trust among stakeholders. The award winners were selected from more than 70 nominations in six categories by the Independent Panel of Experts, on which I served with Angus Ho, Executive Director of Greeners Action, Jessica Tam, Head of HKCSS-HSBC Social Enterprise Business Centre, Stephen Wong, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Public Policy Institute, Our Hong Kong Foundation, and Ir. Vincent Kong, Sustainability Manager of Sun Hung Kai Properties.

October 19, 2019:

I have joined the founding editorial board of Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics - Research Policy and Strategic Management as Associate Editor. The journal's aim is to improve the efficiency, reliability, and transparency of research and innovation in various areas of scientific inquiry and applications.

October 18, 2019:

Opportunities and challenges in blockchain technology for the energy transition are discussed in our article just published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

Ahl, Amanda, Masaru Yarime, Mika Goto, Shauhrat Chopra, Manoj Kumar Nallapaneni, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Sagawa, "Exploring Blockchain for the Energy Transition: Opportunities and Challenges Based on a Case Study in Japan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 117, 109488 (2020).

October 16, 2019:

The Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2019 took place on October 14-16 at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Among the issues discussed in the conference were policy implications of digitalization of innovation, policy laboratory and experiment, and the divide between research and practice in science policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Driven Innovation for Smart Cities: The Regulatory Sandbox Approach to Open Data," Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2019, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, October 14-16 (2019).

October 10, 2019:

HKUST Leadership and Public Policy (LAPP) Executive Education Program was organized on October 10-11 on the theme of Big Data Applications: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies. We discussed with policy makers policy and institutional challenges in facilitating data-driven innovation while addressing societal concerns including safety, security, and privacy in smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Big Data, Open Data, and Smart Cities: Implications for Public Policy and Governance," HKUST Leadership and Public Policy (LAPP) Executive Education Program on Big Data Applications: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, October 10-11 (2019).

October 9, 2019:

Our paper that discusses opportunities and challenges in blockchain technology for energy transitions has just been accepted for publication in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

Ahl, Amanda, Masaru Yarime, Mika Goto, Shauhrat Chopra, Manoj Kumar Nallapaneni, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Sagawa, “Exploring Blockchain for the Energy Transition: Opportunities and Challenges Based on a Case Study in Japan,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, forthcoming.

September 27, 2019:

Public Seminar "Sustainable Energy without Fear: The Role of Artificial Intelligence" will be held on October 25, co-organized by the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo and the Institute for Future Initiatives in the University of Tokyo. Professor Wolfgang Ketter of the Institute of Energy Economics in Germany will introduce emerging cases of deploying artificial intelligence for sustainable energy, and we will discuss key opportunities and challenges in public policy and governance for the future.

September 26, 2019:

The Division of Public Policy in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is now inviting applications for admission to the MPhil/PhD in Public Policy Programs 2020-2021. Particular focus is given to Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Energy, Environmental and Sustainability Policy. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is available, with the application deadline on December 2, 2019.

September 20, 2019:

CODATA 2019 Conference took place on September 19-20 in Beijing with the theme of "Towards next-generation data-driven science: policies, practices and platforms," organized by the Committee on Data (CODATA) of the International Science Council (ISC). In the session on Data Driven Cities Meeting Global Challenges, we discussed emerging practices of effectively integrating various kinds of data to facilitate innovation for smart cities across the globe and their implications for governance and public policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems: Open Data for Smart Cities through the Regulatory Sandbox," CODATA 2019 Conference, organized by the Committee on Data (CODATA) of the International Science Council (ISC), Beijing, China, September 19-20 (2019).

September 18, 2019:

Our paper just published in Palgrave Communications identifies and discusses the most pressing research questions on legislative science advice (LSA), including the effect of legislative use of scientific evidence on the implementation and outcome of policies, the conditions under which legislators seek out or use scientific information, and the impact of communication channels on informational trust and use.

Akerlof, Karen, Chris Tyler, Sarah Elizabeth Foxen, Erin Heath, Marga Gual Soler, ..., Masaru Yarime, "A Collaboratively Derived International Research Agenda on Legislative Science Advice," Palgrave Communications, 5, 108 (2019).

September 11, 2019:

I wrote an article for China Daily on the potential to facilitate innovation for smart cities in the Greater Bay Area, with its knowledge, human, and financial resources available for an international regulatory sandbox.

Yarime, Masaru, "Smart City Test Bed - Greater Bay Area can leverage its rich knowledge, human and financial resources to be pioneer," Global Views, China Daily, September 11, 13 (2019).

September 9, 2019:

Japanese-German-French Conference on AI for SDGs - How Can AI Help Solve Environmental Challenges? will be held on October 24 at the German Cultural Centre in Tokyo, organized by the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo in collaboration with the French Embassy to Japan and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). We will discuss opportunities and challenges in taking advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to address sustainability challenges, including climate change, by looking at cases of sustainable land use, smart agriculture, and smart cities and transportation systems.

September 8, 2019:

The 15th International Symposium on Global Manufacturing and China was held on September 7-8 in Hangzhou, China, jointly organized by the National Institute for Innovation Management of Zhejiang University and the Institute for Manufacturing of the University of Cambridge. With the theme of Innovation and Transformation of Manufacturing Industry in Digital Economy, academic researchers and business practitioners discussed the digitalization of manufacturing and its implications for global supply chains, intellectual property, platform strategy, and innovation ecosystems.

Yarime, Masaru, "An Analysis of the Innovation System in Japan, United States, and China," The 15th International Symposium on Global Manufacturing and China, jointly organized by the National Institute for Innovation Management of Zhejiang University and the Institute for Manufacturing of the University of Cambridge, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, September 7-8 (2019).

September 4, 2019:

We explored the potential of smart technologies that would contribute to addressing social and technical challenges of woody biomass in our paper just published in Sustainability Science.

Ahl, Amanda, Mika Goto, and Masaru Yarime, "Smart Technology Applications in the Woody Biomass Supply Chain: Interview Insights and Potential in Japan," Sustainability Science, doi: 10.1007/s11625-019-00728-2 (2019).

August 31, 2019:

Workshop on Addressing Policy Challenges of Novel Technologies was held on August 30-31 at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in the National University of Singapore. We discussed papers addressing various policy challenges in the governance of emerging technologies, including autonomous vehicles, care robots, and smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Smart Cities: Policy Challenges in Regulatory Sandboxes," Workshop on Addressing Policy Challenges of Novel Technologies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, August 30-31 (2019).

August 30, 2019:

Workshop on the Kyoto-Shenzhen Decarbonization Project was held on August 29 in the Seventh Shenzhen International Low Carbon City Forum. We had productive discussions with researchers and practitioners from Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, China Development Institute Shenzhen, and Kyoto City Government to build up collaboration for innovation for sustainable urban transitions.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Distributed Energy Systems," Workshop on the Kyoto-Shenzhen Decarbonization Project, Seventh Shenzhen International Low Carbon City Forum, China Capital Market Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, August 29 (2019).

August 16, 2019:

Our paper discussing the results of international collaboration to explorer research agenda on legislative science advice has just been accepted for publication in Palgrave Communications Collection on Scientific Advice to Governments.

Akerlof, Karen, Chris Tyler, Sarah Elizabeth Foxen, Erin Heath, Marga Gual Soler, Masaru Yarime, et al., "A Collaboratively-Derived International Research Agenda on Legislative Science Advice," Palgrave Communications Collection on Scientific Advice to Governments, forthcoming.

August 15, 2019:

The 11th International Conference on Applied Energy was held on August 12-15 in Västerås, Sweden. Our paper that analyzes practical opportunities and challenges in applying blockchain in the energy sector was presented in the conference.

Ahl, Amanda Ahl, Mika Goto, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Sagawa, "Practical Opportunities and Challenges of Blockchain in the Energy Sector: Expert Perspectives in Germany," The 11th International Conference on Applied Energy, Västerås, Sweden, August 12-15 (2019).

August 14, 2019:

The Seventh Shenzhen International Low Carbon City Forum will take place on August 29-30, with the theme of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Green Development: New Opportunities, New Challenges, New Engines. We will organize a workshop for the Kyoto-Shenzhen Decarbonization Project to explore collaboration for innovation with researchers and practitioners coming from academia, industry, and government in the two cities.

August 13, 2019:

We examined opportunities and challenges in applying smart technologies in the woody biomass supply chain in the following paper that has just been accepted for publication in Sustainability Science.

Ahl, Amanda, Mika Goto, and Masaru Yarime, "Smart Technology Applications in the Woody Biomass Supply Chain: Interview Insights and Potential in Japan," Sustainability Science, forthcoming.

August 12, 2019:

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong requires listed companies to publish ESG reports. Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) are decided by an independent panel of experts, which includes Angus Ho, Executive Director of Greeners Action, Jessica Tam, Head of HKCSS-HSBC Social Enterprise Business Centre, Stephen Wong, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Public Policy Institute, Our Hong Kong Foundation, Ir. Vincent Kong, Sustainability Manager of Sun Hung Kai Properties, and myself.

August 11, 2019:

We are looking for Research Assistants/Post-doctoral Fellows/Research Associates (two positions) at the Division of Public Policy in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Job ID: 4815). We are particularly interested in hiring highly motivated researchers working in the areas of science, technology and innovation policy and environmental and sustainability policy. The deadline for applications is August 23, 2019.

August 8, 2019:

Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2019 was held on August 6-8 at the University of Tokyo. I chaired a session on Assessment and Evaluation, and we discussed the latest approaches to assessing and evaluating sustainability at different scales, ranging from interior decoration and construction and buildings to infrastructure and cities and their innovation systems.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating a Transition towards Urban Sustainability: An Analysis of the Innovation System of Smart Cities in Japan, United States, and China," Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2019, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, August 6-8 (2019).

August 2, 2019:

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program organized the 79th STIG PoP Seminar on August 2 at the Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Tokyo. I discussed the innovation systems of smart cities in Japan, United States, and China and explored policy approaches to governing data-driven innovation for sustainability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability: An Analysis of the Innovation Systems of Smart Cities and Implications for Public Policy," 79th STIG PoP Seminar, Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, August 2 (2019).

July 27, 2019:

I gave a talk on a comparative analysis of the innovation systems of smart cities in Japan, China, and the Untied States and implications for the governance of data-driven innovation on July 27 at the 85th Research Seminar of the Research Group on Operations Research for Evaluation of the Operations Research Society of Japan.

Yarime, Masaru, "A Comparative Analysis of the Innovation Systems of Smart Cities in Japan, China, and the Untied States: Implications for the Governance of Data-Driven Innovation," 85th Research Seminar, Research Group on Operations Research for Evaluation, Operations Research Society of Japan, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, Japan, July 27 (2019).

July 25, 2019:

We visited Hitachi Innovation Center with students in the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We are collaborating for the Policy Analysis Exercise project on facilitating innovation for smart cities in Hong Kong.

July 24, 2019:

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program will organize the 79th PoP Seminar on August 2 at the Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Tokyo. I will talk about the innovation systems of smart cities and implications for public policy in governing data-driven innovation for sustainability.

July 23, 2019:

I gave lectures on Economic Analysis of Innovation at the Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Tokyo.

Yarime, Masaru, "Economic Analysis of Innovation," Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, July 7 (2019).

July 19, 2019:

A public seminar on Innovation for Medical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in China was held on July 19 at the Institute of Medical Science in the University of Tokyo. I gave a keynote speech on the current situation of data-driven innovation in the Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Among the issues we discussed with experts in academia, industry, and government were human resource development and strategies and public policies on collaboration between Japan and China.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Driven Innovation in the Greater Bay Area of China: Opportunities and Challenges in Medical and Health Fields" Public Seminar on Innovation for Medical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in China, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, July 19 (2019).

July 18, 2019:

The 10th International Conference on Industrial Ecology was held on July 7-11 at Tsinghua University in Beijing. We made a presentation to analyze to what extent the Sustainable Development Goals are addressed in smart city initiatives in the Greater Bay Area of China.

Jin, Mushan, Shauhrat S. Chopra, and Masaru Yarime, Sustainable Development Goals in Smart City Initiatives in China’s Greater Bay Area, The 10th International Conference on Industrial Ecology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, July 7-11 (2019).

July 17, 2019:

I gave MOT Seminar on Innovation and Sustainability at the Department of Innovation Science in the School of Environment and Society in the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation and Sustainability," MOT Seminar, Department of Innovation Science, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan, July 16 (2019).

July 16, 2019:

Our paper on the innovation system of the solar photovoltaics sector in Thailand has just been published in the journal Asian Research Policy.

Tantiwechwuttikul, Ranaporn, Masaru Yarime, and Kohzo Ito, "Innovation System of Solar Photovoltaics in Thailand," Asian Research Policy, 10, 77-86 (2019).

July 15, 2019:

I have joined as an Advisor the Center of Excellence in Data for Society (CEDS) in the University of Arizona. CEDS, a non-profit, non-partisan think tank, discusses public policies regarding the rights of stakeholders, access to and beneficial uses of data, and opportunities for global engagement in data management.

July 14, 2019:

HSP Symposium on the SDGs and Network Governance: Opportunities and Challenges in Data-Driven Innovation was held on July 13 at the University of Tokyo, organized by the Graduate Program on Human Security (HSP). I gave a keynote speech on the role of data-driven innovation in addressing SDGs, including sustainable energy, resilient cities, and inclusive innovation. We discussed with experts in academia, industry, and the public sector the role of humans in increasingly autonomous decision-making processes, potential of blockchain for decentralized systems, and democratic engagement in data governance.

Yarime, Masaru, "The SDGs and Network Governance: Opportunities and Challenges in Data-Driven Innovation," Keynote Speech, HSP Symposium on the SDGs and Network Governance: Opportunities and Challenges in Data-Driven Innovation, Graduate Program on Human Security (HSP), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, July 13 (2019).

July 13, 2019:

The International Conference on Global Regulatory Governance (ICGRG) was held on July 4-6 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. This conference was jointly organized by the Department of Government and Public Administration and the Hong Kong Institute of Asia Pacific Studies, with the support of the European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR) Standing Group on the Regulatory Governance. The conference addressed various issues in designing policies, programs and organisations on regulatory governance in the context of facing the challenges of emerging technologies in a globalizing world.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems: Opportunities and Challenges in the Regulatory Sandbox," International Conference on Global Regulatory Governance (ICGRG), Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, July 4-6 (2019).

July 12, 2019:

Handbook of Green Finance: Energy Security and Sustainable Development, edited by Jeffrey Sachs et al., has just been published by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and Springer. Ranaporn Ploy and I contributed to this book a chapter on Financing Solar Photovoltaic Transitions: From Utility to Residential Market Adoption in Emerging Economies.

Tantiwechwuttikul, Ranaporn, and Masaru Yarime, "Financing Solar Photovoltaic Transitions: From Utility to Residential Market Adoption in Emerging Economies," in Jeffrey Sachs, Woo Wing Thye, Naoyuki Yoshino, and Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, eds., Handbook of Green Finance: Energy Security and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and Springer, 405-423 (2019).

July 11, 2019:

The Institute of Medical Science of the University of Tokyo will organize a public seminar on Innovation for Medical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in China on July 19 at 18:30. I will discuss opportunities and challenges in facilitating data-driven innovation for SDGs including public health.

July 10, 2019:

I attended the Open House organized by Sidewalk Labs on June 29 to present the Master Innovation and Development Plan (MIDP) for Sidewalk Toronto. An independent Civic Data Trust is proposed for responsible use of data in encouraging innovation while protecting personal privacy and the public interest.

July 9, 2019:

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program organized STIG Alumni Forum on July 6 at the Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Tokyo. I gave a talk on the innovation system of the Greater Bay Area of China with implications for science, technology, and innovation governance.

Yarime, Masaru, "The Innovation System of the Greater Bay Area of China: Opportunities and Challenges in Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance," STIG Alumni Forum, The Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, July 6 (2019).

July 8, 2019:

I have joined as Visiting Associate Professor the Department of Innovation Science at the School of Environment and Society in the Tokyo Institute of Technology. It is an exciting opportunity to collaborate for research and education on innovation and sustainability.

July 7, 2019:

HSP Symposium on the SDGs and Network Governance: Opportunities and Challenges in Data-Driven Innovation will be organized on July 13 by the Graduate Program on Human Security (HSP) at the University of Tokyo. We will discuss the role of data-driven innovation in addressing SDGs and implications for network governance and public policy.

July 6, 2019:

The Fourth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP4) was held on June 26-28 at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Among the issues discussed in the panel on Designing Effective Policies to Trigger Technological Innovation was the effects of policy design choices and designing processes on fostering innovation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems: Opportunities and Challenges in the Regulatory Sandbox," Fourth International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP4), Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, June 26-28 (2019).

July 2, 2019:

Public Administration Review (PAR) Symposium on Transformation of Government in the Era of Smart Technology was held on June 18 at the Copenhagen Business School. In the context of the emergence of the smart technology, we discussed theoretical and practical issues concerning the changing nature of work and challenges and opportunities for transforming public management and the public policy process.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges in the Regulatory Sandbox for the Development of Smart Cities," Public Administration Review (PAR) Symposium on Transformation of Government in the Era of Smart Technology, Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 18 (2019).

June 26, 2019:

Coinciding with the G20 Osaka Summit, the International Forum for Open Global Economy was held on June 25 in Osaka, Japan. We discussed multilateralism and policy coordination to promote innovation to address global challenges including climate change and sustainability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Open Global Innovation: Possibilities and Challenges in the Greater Bay Area as a Global Innovation Hub," International Forum for Open Global Economy, organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Daily, Asian Development Bank Institute, and Japan-China Science, Technology and Culture Centre, Osaka, Japan, June 25 (2019).

June 21, 2019:

International Forum for Open Global Economy will be held on June 25 in Osaka, coinciding with the G20 Osaka Summit. Experts in academia, industry, government, and international organizations in 15 countries and regions will discuss key opportunities and challenges in promoting an open global economy. I will join the panel for Session 1 Teaming up with Worldwide Policy Coordination to Realize More Stable and Higher Global Economic Growth.

International Forum for Open Global Economy

Theme: Forge strong consensus and inject new impetus in building an open global economy to realize global prosperity and peace at a time when the world is at a crossroads.

Date: June 25, 2019 (Tuesday)

Venue: Hinoki Ballroom, 2nd floor, InterContinental Osaka, 3-60, Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan

Organizers: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; China Daily

Co-organizers: Asian Development Bank Institute; Japan China Science, Technology and Culture Centre

Supporters: Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS; China Public Diplomacy Association; China Institute for Reform and Development; Northeast Asian Studies & Exchange Network; The Society of Chinese Professors in Japan; Institute for Public Policy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; US Environmental Defense Fund; The EURO50 Group; International Coalition for Green Development on the Belt and Road

9:00-10:15 Opening Ceremony

Moderator: Wang Hao, Deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily

9:00-09:30 Welcome Address

Guo Weimin, Vice-Minister of the State Council Information Office, China

Li Tianran, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka

Murata Yoshitaka, President of Japan-China Science, Technology and Culture and Former Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission

Zhou Shuchun, Publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily

9:30-10:10 Keynote Speech

Xie Fuzhan, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean and CEO of the Asian Development Bank Institute

10:10-10:15 Launch ceremony of Preview Policy Report for G20 Summit - Working together to Build an Open Global Economy, jointly produced by China Watch, China Daily's think tank, and the Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS

Host: Wang Hao, Deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily

10:40-12:00 Panel I Promote global policy coordination to realize stabler and higher global economic growth

Economic growth is the foundation of people's well-being. In an interdependent global village, strengthening macroeconomic policy coordination and pursuing inclusive, green and strong global growth are the basic consensus reached by leaders of G20 countries in recent years. However, the global economy has been experiencing headwinds after rapid growth in 2017. More crucially, the global economic supply and value chain has been hit by the turbulence of protectionism even as a world economic rebalance and structural reforms are still not in place. As confidence in investment, trade and consumption is dented, the building of an open global economy has been hampered. Therefore, we should examine the risks and challenges facing global economic development, reach a global consensus and strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination among countries. Promoting the development of an open and diversified world economic development pattern, forming a rational and orderly global value chain, and improving the core competitiveness of developing economies are particularly important.

Moderator: Chi Fulin, President of China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD)

Speakers: Zhu Guangyao, Counselor of the State Council, and former vice-minister of finance of China

Matthew Pier Goodman, Senior Vice-President of Center for Strategic and International Studies

Martin Jacques, British scholar, author and senior fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University

Wei Jianguo, Vice-Chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, and former vice-minister of commerce

Akshay Mathur, CEO and Director of Research, Gateway House of Indian Council on Global Relations

Guillermo Santa Cruz, Director of the Chinese Investment Monitor of the Argentina­China Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Argentine Council for International Relations

Hannah Wanjie Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined and a former policy and partnerships head for the United Nations Development Programme in China

Yarime Masaru, Associate Professor of Division of Public Policy (PPOL), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

13:30-14:50 Panel II Forge fresh consensus to uphold multilateralism and reform global governance regime that benefits all

To achieve the goals set out in the 31 articles of the "G20 Leaders' Declaration: Building consensus for fair and sustainable development" six months ago to realize fair and sustainable development and to actively implement the eight global themes including economic growth, innovation, energy and environment, international development, employment, women empowerment and other themes listed by the Osaka G20 summit, we must re-examine and refine existing global governance systems. Undoubtedly, protectionism, isolationism and populism in some countries are the newest challenges facing the international governance system. The key issues faced by the international community are: to further improve the current international governance system; to reform and optimize rules that fail to meet the needs of contemporary development; to encourage more stakeholders to participate in global governance; to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth; and enable every individual to have a happy and dignified life and realize shared prosperity and peace.

Moderator: David Gosset, Founder of China-Europe Forum

Speakers: Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London

Eiichi Shindo, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tsukuba

John Kirton, Director of G20 Research Group, University of Toronto, Canada

Olav Kjrven, Chief Strategy Officer of the World Food Forum

Zhang Jianyu, Vice-President of the US Environmental Defense Fund

Ettore Greco, Executive Vice-President of Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) based in Rome, Italy

David Monyae, Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies and Confucius Institute at the University of Johannesburg

15:00-16:20 Panel III Unite and identify new roles for Northeast Asian countries in realizing balanced and inclusive global governance

Despite challenges, economic globalization and regional economic integration are still the general trend of world economic development. Since last year, Northeast Asia has shown a positive trend. Prospects of peace have brightened on the Korean Peninsula, Sino-Japanese relations have improved, and leaders of Northeast Asian countries have interacted frequently. On this basis, we should further deepen political mutual trust and economic cooperation and facilitation, promote financial connectivity and liberal exchanges of technology and personnel, achieve sustained and inclusive growth of regional economies, offer a new model for an open global economy, which would be a new opportunity for Northeast Asian countries.

Moderator: Zhang Yuyan, Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS

Speakers: Hu Zhengyue, Vice-President of China Public Diplomacy Association, and former assistant minister of foreign affairs

Makoto Taniguchi, former representative of Japan to the United Nations and President of Iwate Prefectural University

Kenji Tanaka, President of the Asia Pacific Forum

Choong Yong Ahn, Professor Emeritus of Economics, Chung-Ang University & former Chairman of Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership

Zou Zhibo, Deputy-director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS

Harvey Cary Dzodin, Former vice president of ABC TV in the US

Zhou Weisheng, Professor of Ritsumeikan University, Director of Research Institute of Global 3E

16:20-16:25 Closing Ceremony

Moderator: Zhang Yuyan, Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS

Speaker: Zhou Shuchun, Publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily

June 20, 2019:

Global Summit on Blockchain Technology in the Energy Sector was held on June 19-20 in Berlin. Our paper that reviews institutional challenges in introducing blockchain-based distributed energy systems was presented at the Academic Panel.

Ahl, Amanda, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Sagawa, "Review of Blockchain-Based Distributed Energy: Implications for Institutional Development," Global Summit on Blockchain Technology in the Energy Sector, Berlin, Germany, June 19-20 (2019).

June 16, 2019:

The call for papers is now open for the Fifth Geography of Innovation Conference (GEOINNO 2020) on January 29-31, 2020 in Stavanger, Norway. The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2019. We will organize a special session on Digital Platform Geographies with Shauna Brail (University of Toronto), Betsy Donald (Queen’s University), Shiri Breznitz (University of Toronto), and Katie Wells (Georgetown University).

June 13, 2019:

I gave a talk with Professor Junseok Hwang at the CSTI Policy Seminar on Innovation Systems of Smart Cities: International Practices and Policy Implications, organized by the Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (CSTI) on June 13 at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) in the University of Cambridge. Among the issues discussed with the participants is how various kinds of data are collected, shared, and used for decision making by stakeholders in creating innovation for smart cities. It would be very interesting to explore an international comparison of cases in different institutional environments.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation Systems of Smart Cities in Japan, United States and China: Implications for Policy and Institutional Design," CSTI Policy Seminar on Innovation Systems of Smart Cities: International Practices and Policy Implications, Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (CSTI), Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, June 13 (2019).

June 12, 2019:

The International Conference on Data for Policy 2019 was held on June 11-12 at University College London. In the session on Smart Cities, we introduced cases of developing smart cities in different parts of the world and discussed policy challenges in the collection, access, use of data for societal benefits.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation: Innovation Systems of Smart Cities and Implications for Public Policy," International Conference on Data for Policy 2019, University College London, London, United Kingdom, June 11-12 (2019).

June 5, 2019:

The first workshop on AI for Social Good was held on June 5 at Keio University in Tokyo. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and Google have joined forces to establish a new research network of scholars in this region. We will explore the potential of AI to contribute to social good for recommendations to policy makers and other stakeholders in society.

Yarime, Masaru, Kira Matus, and Ye Qi, "Policy Challenges in AI for Data Integration and Adaptive Governance," Workshop on AI for Social Good, jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and Google, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan, June 5 (2019).

June 4, 2019:

FS Workshop on the Kyoto-Shenzhen Decarbonization Project was held on June 3-4 at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) in Kyoto. Researchers and policy makers coming from the two cities discussed future strategies for transitions towards sustainable cities through mutual learning and joint initiatives involving stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Innovation for Urban Decarbonization: Opportunities and Challenges in Distributed Energy Systems," FS Workshop on the Kyoto-Shenzhen Decarbonization Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto, Japan, June 3-4 (2019).

June 1, 2019:

The Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (CSTI) will organize a CSTI Seminar on Innovation Policy for Smart Cities on June 13 at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) in the University of Cambridge. We will discuss the experiences of facilitating innovation for smart cities in Asia and implications for policy design in addressing societal expectations and concerns.

May 30, 2019:

HSP Seminar "Can Blockchain Improve UN?: Possibility of Decentralized Assistance" was organized by the Graduate Program on Human Security (HSP) on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo. We discussed recent initiatives by the United Nations to utilize blockchain technology to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including humanitarian assistance and sustainable energy systems, and policy and institutional challenges for the future.

Yarime, Masaru, "Exploring Opportunities and Challenges in Blockchain Technology for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," HSP Seminar "Can Blockchain Improve UN?: Possibility of Decentralized Assistance", Graduate Program on Human Security (HSP), Komaba Campus, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, May 29 (2019).

May 25, 2019:

Major challenges in technological, economic, social, environmental, and institutional aspects of blockchain-based distributed energy systems are discussed in a case study in Japan. Our paper reporting the findings was presented at the Applied Energy A+B Symposium (AEAB2019) on May 22-24 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ahl, Amanda, Masaru Yarime, Mika Goto, Shauhrat Chopra, Manoj Kumar Nallapaneni, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Sagawa, "Exploring Blockchain and New Ways Forward in the Energy Sector: A Case Study in Japan," Applied Energy A+B Symposium (AEAB2019), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, May 22-24 (2019).

May 22, 2019:

HSP Seminar "Can Blockchain Improve UN?: Possibility of Decentralized Assistance" will be organized by the Graduate Program on Human Security (HSP) on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo. As blockchain technology is increasingly deployed by the United Nations and NGOs for humanitarian operations such as assistance for refugees, we will discuss opportunities and challenges in facilitating innovation for non-centralized international cooperation and network governance beyond the nation-state system.

May 20, 2019:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will host the Asia-Pacific Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (APCIEE) Hong Kong on December 2-4, 2019 at the Hong Kong Science Park, in partnership with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). We will discuss key opportunities and challenges in facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems for sustainable development through collaboration with stakeholders in various sectors in society. The deadline for submitting paper proposals is June 15, 2019.

May 17, 2019:

The International Workshop on Rethinking Clusters: The Local and Global Scale of Sustainability Transitions was held on May 15-17 at the University of Padua in Italy. I gave a keynote speech on fostering data-driven innovation for sustainability transitions with local initiatives and global implications.

Yarime, Masaru, "Fostering Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainability Transitions: Local Initiatives and Global Implications," Keynote Speech, International Workshop on Rethinking Clusters: The Local and Global Scale of Sustainability Transitions, University of Padua, Padua, Italy, May 15-17 (2019).

May 14, 2019:

Connecting Startup Cities Conference was held on May 14 in the Asia-Pacific Week Berlin 2019. In the Panel on Our Electric Mobility Future, we discussed recent trends in innovation on e-mobility in China and its implications for corporate strategy and public policy at the global scale.

Yarime, Masaru, "Emerging Trends of Innovation on E-mobility in China and Implications for Corporate Strategy and Public Policy," Panel on Our Electric Mobility Future, Connecting Startup Cities Conference, Asia-Pacific Week Berlin 2019, Spreewerkstätten, Berlin, Germany, May 14 (2019).

May 12, 2019:

The International Workshop on Rethinking Clusters: The Local and Global Scale of Sustainability Transitions will be held on May 15-17 at the University of Padua, Italy. We will discuss the role of clusters in facilitating transitions towards sustainability at the local and global scales.

May 10, 2019:

International Conference on Innovation in East Asia in Global Context: E-Mobility and Urban Systems was held on May 9-10, jointly organized by the IN-EAST School of Advanced Studies on Innovation in East Asia of the University of Duisburg-Essen and the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) with sponsorship by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). We discussed approaches to facilitating innovation for e-mobility and smart cities and explored potential in institutional transfers between Europe and East Asia.

Yarime, Masaru, "Understanding the Japanese Innovation System of Smart Cities: Knowledge, Actors, and Institutions," International Conference on Innovation in East Asia in Global Context: E-Mobility and Urban Systems, jointly organized by IN-EAST School of Advanced Studies on Innovation in East Asia, Institute of East Asian Studies, University of Duisburg-Essen and Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB), Berlin, Germany, May 9-10 (2019).

May 9, 2019:

Asia-Pacific Week Berlin 2019: Asia-Europe Dialogue on Innovation will take place on May 13-19 in Berlin. In the Connecting Startup Cities Conference, we will discuss emerging trends of innovation on e-mobility in China and their implications for corporate strategy and public policy in the Panel on Our Electric Mobility Future on May 14.

May 3, 2019:

We will organize PPOL Seminar on smart city development in China on Monday, May 6 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Everyone is welcome to join us.

PPOL Seminar

Title: Nine Smart City Business Models Review and Its Inspiration to Hong Kong Learned from Shanghai Case

Date: Monday May 6, 2019, 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Venue: Room 2612B (lift 31/32), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Speaker: Dr. XU Zhenqiang, Deputy Director in General, Digital City Research Centre, Chinese Society for Urban Studies, Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Development, China

Abstract: Guided by the theory of smart city synergy economy and the theory of "five in one" model, 25 domestic high-quality cases were selected from the key dimensions, including system integration, urban governance, public service and data industrialization. It covers 25 influential and well-known high-quality cases in the fields of smart city integration, single application, fine urban management, urban public service and digital industry, and covers Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Tangshan, Yinchuan, Guiyang, Lianyungang and other cities. Structural analysis is carried out from five aspects: project background, main problems solved, concrete methods, construction effect and promotion thinking, so as to provide readers with in-depth management. Starting from the perspective of economic geography and based on the spatial ecology of the integration of production and city, this paper puts forward the concept of wise city development in the new era. Considering the participation of multi-agents, the integration of key elements and the coordination of government driving forces, this paper summarizes the business model of smart city from practice.

Biography: Dr. XU is the Deputy Director in General in Digital City Research Center, Chinese Society for Urban Studies (CSUS), which is under the administration of the Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Development (MOHURD) of China. He is the committee member of the science and technology strategic plan for the MOHURD Thirteen-Five Year Plan. His research focuses on low-carbon eco-city, sponge city, smart city and international cooperation. Since 2012, he has been involved in more than sixteen urban studies and planning projects, including four international cooperation projects, two ministerial-level projects and one annual highlighted project by Beijing Municipal Government. He involves in research and consulting projects funded by China MOHURD, Ministry of Science and Technology, China, China Association of Science and Technology, Zhongguancun Management Committee, Shenzhen Planning and Land Committee, Qingdao High Tech-Area Management Committee, Dongguan Ecological Park Management and Fangxing Real Estate Co. Ltd., etc. Selected projects are Sino-UK Inter-Ministerial Level Cooperation on Green Urban Regeneration Policies, Planning Method, Cases and Financing Innovation, planning techniques for sponge city, Three Planning United and Parallel Approval Mechanism in Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone, Guidance and Zoning Management for Shenzhen Low Carbon Ecological Index System, Ecological Index System and Planning Implementation in Qingdao High Tech District, and Consulting on Dongguan Ecological Park to Build up National Green Ecological Demonstration City. And the Shenzhen Project won the Second Prize in Shenzhen Sixteenth Outstanding Urban Planning Design issued by Shenzhen City Planning Association in 2015. Dr. Zhenqiang XU obtained his doctor degree from Peking University majored in environmental sciences.

May 2, 2019:

Submissions are now open for the Hong Kong Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting (HERA) Awards. The awards recognize companies for outstanding reporting performance in environment, social and governance (ESG) aspects with innovative approaches. I serve on the Panel of Experts with Angus Ho, Executive Director of Greeners Action, Jessica Tam, Head of HKCSS-HSBC Social Enterprise Business Centre, Stephen Wong, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Public Policy Institute, Our Hong Kong Foundation, and Ir. Vincent Kong, Sustainability Manager of Sun Hung Kai Properties to decided on the awards.

April 19, 2019:

Go Global Fair 2019 will take place on Saturday, April 20 at the Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo. I will provide information on the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the MPhil/PhD in Public Policy Programs in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

April 11, 2019:

We will organize an information session on the Master of Public Policy and MPhil/PhD in Public Policy Programs in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Friday, April 19 at 19:00 at the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo. Our programs have two areas of specialization: Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Environmental and Sustainability Policy. You can explore opportunities and challenges in public policy, management, and governance for energy, environment, and sustainability in Asia and beyond. A dual degree program is also available with the Global Master of Public Administration (GMPA) Program in the University of Washington in Seattle, United States. Everyone is very welcome to join us in discussing educational and research activities at HKUST.

Information Session on the Master of Public Policy and MPhil/PhD in Public Policy Programs, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Date: Friday, April 19, 2019, 19:00-20:30

Venue: SMBC Academia Hall, Fourth Floor, International Academic Research Building, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo

April 9, 2019:

The Seventh Session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Plenary will take place from April 29 to May 4 in Paris. The methodological guidance for assessing policy instruments and facilitating the use of policy support tools and methodologies through IPBES assessments has been submitted through the Report of the Executive Secretary on the implementation of the first work programme for the period 2014-2018. I served on the Expert Group on Policy Support Tools and Methodologies.

April 5, 2019:

The International Symposium "Innovation in East Asia in a Global Context: Electromobility and Urban Systems" will be held on May 9-10, 2019 at the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) in cooperation with the IN-EAST School of Advanced Studies on Innovation in East Asia of the University of Duisburg-Essen. We will discuss different approaches to addressing common challenges and explore opportunities for institutional transfers between Europe and East Asia.

April 2, 2019:

The Asia Pacific Week 2019 "Asia-Europe Dialogue on Innovation" will be organized in Berlin, Germany on May 13-19, 2019. I will give a talk on facilitating innovation for sustainable smart cities in Asia.

March 30, 2019:

We made a field visit to the Zhuhai Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone with the students of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The Science and Technology Innovation and Industry Development Bureau was kind to organize a discussion meeting on the strategies and policy measures to support entrepreneurship and talent recruitment.

March 25, 2019:

I have joined the Editorial Board of the Frontiers in Sustainable Cities - Governance and Cities. The journal covers a wide range of topics concerning innovative forms and processes of governance for sustainable cities.

March 25, 2019:

I have joined with my colleagues at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) a new project on AI for Social Good, jointly initiated by the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and Google. We will work on research-based policy recommendation papers to contribute to governing the development of AI to address societal challenges.

March 25, 2019:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will organize a seminar on Monetary and Moral Incentives of Behavioral Interventions: Field Experimental Evidence from Hotel Guest Energy Efficiency Programs on Friday, March 29. The speaker is Dr. Toshi H. Arimura, Director, Research Institute for Environmental Economics and Management, and Professor, School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, Tokyo. Everyone is welcome to join us.

March 22, 2019:

I was invited to give a talk at the Expert-Group Meeting and Training Workshop on Science, Technology and Innovation Policies for Sustainable Development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution held on March 18-22 in Incheon and Sejong in South Korea. The workshop was jointly organized by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), in collaboration with the Asia Research and Training Network on Science Technology and Innovation Policy (ARTNET on STI Policy) to support building the capacity of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Our discussion dealt with policy design and evaluation, public service innovation, law and regulation, human capital, and public-private partnership.

Yarime, Masaru, "Science, Technology, and Innovation Policies for Sustainable Development in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges in Public-Private Partnership," Training Workshop on Science, Technology and Innovation Policies for Sustainable Development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), and Asia Research and Training Network on Science Technology and Innovation Policy (ARTNET on STI Policy), Incheon and Sejong, South Korea, March 19-22 (2019).

March 21, 2019:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently inviting applications for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program 2019-2020, with two areas of specialization in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Environmental and Sustainability Policy. A dual degree program is also available with the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance in the University of Washington in Seattle, United States.

March 16, 2019:

Our paper that conducted a techno-economic assessment of residential photovoltaic systems integrated with electric vehicles has been published in the Energy Procedia.

Kobashi, Takuro, and Masaru Yarime, "Techno-Economic Assessment of the Residential Photovoltaic Systems Integrated with Electric Vehicles: A Case Study of Japanese Households towards 2030," Energy Procedia, 158, 3802-3807 (2019).

March 15, 2019:

Our paper on a case study of the business sector's practice in addressing sustainability challenges in South India has been published in Ecological Economics.

Asokan, Vivek Anand, Masaru Yarime, and Motoharu Onuki, "Bridging Practices, Institutions, and Landscapes through a Scale-based Approach for Research and Practice: A Case Study of a Business Association in South India," Ecological Economics, 160, 240-250 (2019).

March 14, 2019:

The 8th Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy will be held on October 14-16, 2019 at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Serving as a member of the Program Committee, I would like to encourage presentation of papers on various challenges in science and innovation policy. The deadline for submitting abstracts is March 15, 2019.

March 13, 2019:

Our paper on the challenge of promoting international cooperation to address transboundary air pollution in East Asia has been referred to in an article published in the Hankook Ilbo, Korean Daily, that reports a serious situation of particulate matter pollution in South Korea.

Yarime, Masaru, and Aitong Li, "Facilitating International Cooperation on Air Pollution in East Asia: Fragmentation of the Epistemic Communities," Global Policy, 9 (S3), 35-41 (2018).

March 10, 2019:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) hosted the Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Conference 2019 on March 8-9. It was a great opportunity to develop networks among researchers in growing academic communities on public policy in the Asia-Pacific region. We discussed various issues concerning governance and policy innovation in an era of disruptive technologies. The next AP-PPN conference will be held in February 2020 in Perth, Australia.

Yarime, Masaru, "Governance and Policy Innovation in an Era of Disruptive Technologies: Opportunities and Challenges in Public Policy," Plenary Session, Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Conference 2019, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, March 8-9 (2019).

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation for Smart Cities: Policy Challenges in Blockchain-Based Distributed Energy Systems," Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Conference 2019, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, March 8-9 (2019).

March 9, 2019:

Our paper that reviews technological, economic, social, environmental, and institutional challenges in blockchain-based distributed energy systems has been published in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

Ahl, Amanda, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Segawa, "Review of Blockchain-Based Distributed Energy: Implications for Institutional Development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 107, 200-211 (2019).

March 6, 2019:

The Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Conference 2019 will be held on March 8-9 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). I will participate in the Panel Discussion on Governance and Policy Innovation in an Era of Disruptive Technologies.

March 3, 2019:

Our review paper on technological, economic, social, environmental, and institutional challenges in blockchain-based distributed energy systems has just been accepted for publication in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

Ahl, Amanda, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Segawa, "A Review of Blockchain-Based Distributed Energy: Implications for Institutional Development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, forthcoming.

February 25, 2019:

Our paper that examines science-policy interface for sustainability through a case study of a business association in India has just been accepted for publication in the journal Ecological Economics.

Asokan, Vivek Anand, Masaru Yarime, and Motoharu Onuki, "Bridging Practices, Institutions, and Landscapes through a Scale-based Approach for Research and Practice: A Case Study of a Business Association in South India," Ecological Economics, forthcoming.

February 24, 2019:

New research projects on air pollution control and global innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have been funded by the Policy Innovation and Coordination Office of the Hong Kong government.

"Trans-regional Air Pollution Control in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area: The Interplay between Science and Policy," Xun Wu, Alexis Lau, Kira Matus, Jerry Patchell, Jimin Zhao, and Masaru Yarime, Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme, Policy Innovation and Coordination Office, Hong Kong SAR, 2019-2020.

"Accelerating the Development of a Global Innovation and Technology Hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area: The Roles of Public Research Universities in Hong Kong," Xun Wu, Anthony Cheung, Joshua Ka Ho Mok, Rui Yang, Naubahar Sharif, Masaru Yarime, Edwin Lai, Baojian Xie, and Christopher Tremewan, Strategic Public Policy Research (SPPR) Funding Scheme, Policy Innovation and Coordination Office, Hong Kong SAR, 2019-2022.

February 21, 2019:

NTPU-HKUST Joint Workshop on Sustainable City and Renewable Energy was held at the Center for Global Change and Sustainability Science (CGCSS) in the National Taipei University (NTPU). We discussed key challenges in the fields of air quality, renewable energy, and sustainable city and explored research collaboration through exchange of graduate students and researchers.

Yarime, Masaru, "Key Challenges in Innovation for Sustainable Energy Systems and Smart Cities," NTPU-HKUST Joint Workshop on Sustainable City and Renewable Energy, Center for Global Change and Sustainability Science (CGCSS), National Taipei University (NTPU), February 21 (2019).

February 13, 2019:

Dr. MURAOKA Koki in the Department of Chemical System Engineering of the University of Tokyo received the Ikushi Prize of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). It was a great pleasure to have an opportunity to work with him in the Global Leader Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM).

February 7, 2019:

I gave a seminar at the Shri Ram College of Commerce in the University of Delhi. We discussed the implications of data-driven innovation for the India's sustainability and opportunities for collaboration between India and Hong Kong.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Driven Innovation and Opportunities for Sustainability through Collaboration between India and Hong Kong," Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Delhi, India, February 7 (2019).

February 6, 2019:

The Second Annual Conference of the India Public Policy Network (IPPN) was held on February 5-6 at the University of Delhi. It was a great opportunity to build networks of scholars working in this field and to discuss key policy challenges in India, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), an ambitious initiative by the government to achieve universal sanitation coverage including rural areas. IPPN is an affiliate of the Asia Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) hosted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

Yarime, Masaru, "Governing Data-Driven Innovation: The Development of Smart Cities and Policy Implications for Sustainability," Second Annual Conference of the India Public Policy Network (IPPN), University of Delhi, Delhi, India, February 5-6 (2019).

February 1, 2019:

Call for Papers: Special Issue "Sustainability and Innovation: Concepts, Methodology, and Practices"

This special issue of the journal Sustainability covers a wide range of topics on sustainability and innovation, including but not limited to: Conceptual propositions on sustainability and innovation; Systematic reviews on sustainability, innovation, and related topics; Methodology for the analysis, design, and implementation of innovative products, services, and systems to realize sustainable society; Practices and case studies on innovation and sustainability. The deadline for manuscript submissions is December 31, 2019.

Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Yuya Kajikawa, Prof. Dr. So Young Sohn, Prof. Dr. Masaru Yarime, and Prof. Dr. Hsin-Ning Su

January 25, 2019:

International Workshop on the Future of Energy Cooperation and Connectivity - Energy Business and Policies in the Age of Platformers was held at the University of Tokyo in collaboration with Mitsubishi Corporation, Policy Alternative Research Institute (PARI), Tsinghua University, and the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation of China. We discussed recent trends in energy policies and scenarios in China, platform business opportunities in the integration of data and energy, and geopolitical implications of energy transitions across the globe.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating for Energy Transitions: Opportunities and Challenges in Cooperation and Collaboration between China and Japan," International Workshop on the Future of Energy Cooperation and Connectivity - Energy Business and Policies in the Age of Platformers, jointly organized by Mitsubishi Corporation, Policy Alternative Research Institute (PARI), Tsinghua University, and the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation of China, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, January 24-25 (2019).

January 22, 2019:

The Global Research Forum on Sustainable Production and Consumption on "Transforming Production and Consumption: Bridging Sustainability Research with Policy and Practice" will be held on June 26-29, 2019 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The deadline for submitting proposals has been extended to January 28, 2019.

January 21, 2019:

The Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) has announced new partnerships with the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change (MoCC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong Chapter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). This is an exciting development of HERA, in which I participated as a member of the Independent Panel of Judges in 2018.

January 21, 2019:

Post-COP24 Hong Kong Forum was organized by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Civic Exchange. We discussed the outcomes of COP24 and implications for Hong Kong's long-term decarbonization strategy with experts from China, Europe and the industrial sector.

January 14, 2019:

The International Workshop on Rethinking Clusters: The Local and Global Scale of Sustainability Transitions will be held on May 15-17, 2019 at the University of Padova, Italy. The deadline for submitting an extended abstract or a full paper is February 28. I will give a keynote speech on facilitating innovation for sustainability transitions.

January 13, 2019:

The Symposium on Blockchain Technology and Application was held at the City University of Hong Kong. In the session on Blockchain Technologies in Power and Energy Systems, the latest findings of demonstration projects on distributed energy systems based on blockchain in China and Singapore were presented. There remain many challenges in regulation and public policy for further development in this field.

January 11, 2019:

I was invited to attend the first roundtable for "Hong Kong 2050 Is Now," an independent initiative by Civic Exchange and World Resources Institute to contribute to the city's long-term decarbonization strategy. We discussed a range of possible actions we could take to significantly reduce carbon emissions so that Hong Kong will be close to carbon neutral by 2050.

January 10, 2019:

The book Technologies and Eco-innovation towards Sustainability II II has just been published by Springer. In our chapter, we discussed policy approaches to the development and diffusion of solar photovoltaics in Asian countries.

Tantiwechwuttikul, Ranaporn, Masaru Yarime, and Kohzo Ito, "Solar Photovoltaic Market Adoption: Dilemma of Technological Exploitation vs Technological Exploration," in Allen H. Hu, Mitsutaka Matsumoto, Tsai Chi Kuo, and Shana Smith, eds., Technologies and Eco-innovation towards Sustainability II, Springer, 215-227 (2019).

January 9, 2019:

Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI) kindly invited me to give a lecture for the TBSI Greater Bay Area Intellectual Forum on January 9. It was really a fruitful opportunity to discuss innovation for smart cities and explore collaboration with researchers in the Low Carbon Economy and Financial Risk Analysis and Smart Grid and Renewable Energy groups at TBSI.

Yarime, Masaru, "Fostering Innovation for Urban Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of the Innovation Systems of Smart Cities in Japan, United States, and China," TBSI Greater Bay Area Intellectual Forum Lecture 80, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, January 9 (2019).

January 5, 2019:

I will give a talk at the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI) on January 9. We will discuss policy challenges in fostering innovation for smart cities and opportunities for international collaboration in the development of the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

December 28, 2018:

We visited the Shenzhen Research Institute (SRI) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) with Dr. Robert Doubleday, Executive Director at Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge. SRI provides training programs for entrepreneurship and support to start-ups. We discussed future collaboration on science, technology, and innovation policy between HKUST and Cambridge.

December 25, 2018:

International Workshop on Approaches to Addressing Increasing Complexity of Sustainability Challenges in East Asia: Roles of Non-state Actors in Transboundary Networks was held on December 20 at the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO) in Chiba, Japan. We had a fruitful discussion on the past experience of addressing transboundary air pollution in East Asia and lessons and implications for policy and institutional arrangements to facilitate international cooperation on epistemic communities in the region.

Yarime, Masaru, "Science-Policy Interface on Transboundary Air Pollution: Challenges in Overcoming the Fragmentation of the Epistemic Communities in East Asia," International Workshop on Approaches to Addressing Increasing Complexity of Sustainability Challenges in East Asia: Roles of Non-state Actors in Transboundary Networks, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), Chiba, Japan, December 20 (2018).

December 24, 2018:

Tonghu Sci-Tech Town in Huizhou in the Guangdong province of China was developed by Country Garden to integrate urban and industrial developments. The smart city invites companies and research organizations involved in the IoT ecosystem, including component manufacturing, application services, and media. We had a good discussion about research collaboration on smart city development.

December 17, 2018:

The Division of Public Policy (PPOL) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is now inviting applications for admission to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program. Public policy plays an increasingly important role in stimulating innovation for tackling global challenges such as climate change and population ageing. With two areas of specialization on science, technology and innovation policy and environmental and sustainability policy, the MPP program provides students with professional training with a focus on problem-solving skills with real-world cases. Career development opportunities are available in government agencies, private enterprises, and non-profit organizations. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2019.

December 3, 2018:

Abe Global Forum on Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age was held on Monday, December 3 at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. We discussed how the United States and Japan can work together to address global challenges in the context of technological disruption and political instability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Data-Driven Innovation: Policy and Strategic Implications in Global Competition and Cooperation," Abe Global Forum on Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, D.C., United States, December 3 (2018).

December 1, 2018:

Abe Global Forum on Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age was organized on Saturday, December 1 by the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. I discussed the emergence of data-driven innovation and policy and strategic implications in the context of global competition and cooperation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Data-Driven Innovation: Policy and Strategic Implications in Global Competition and Cooperation," Abe Global Forum on Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, December 1 (2018).

November 29, 2018:

In our paper with Dr. Aitong Li, we examined the fragmentation of the epistemic communities in tackling transboundary air pollution in East Asia. The article has just been published in the Special Issue on Science Diplomacy of the journal Global Policy.

Yarime, Masaru, and Aitong Li, "Facilitating International Cooperation on Air Pollution in East Asia: Fragmentation of the Epistemic Communities," Global Policy, 9 (S3), 35-41 (2018).

November 28, 2018:

HKUST Leadership and Public Policy (LAPP) Executive Education Program on Using Big Data to Create Public Value: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies took place on November 26-28 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). I organized a session on data-driven innovation and its implications for science, technology, and innovation policy in Hong Kong and beyond.

Yarime, Masaru, "Big Data and the Development of Innovation Hub in Hong Kong," HKUST Leadership and Public Policy (LAPP) Executive Education Program on Using Big Data to Create Public Value: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, November 26-28 (2018).

November 26, 2018:

Abe Global Forum "Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age" will be held on Monday, December 3 at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. We will discuss how the United States and Japan respond to global challenges in the context of the rapidly rising innovation hubs in China and India, considering institutional factors that encourage or discourage innovation and the impact of big data and AI on innovation policies and strategies.

Abe Global Forum "Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age"

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, D.C.

December 3, 2018

15:00 Opening remarks

Linda Grove, Consulting Director, SSRC

James L. Schoff, Senior Fellow, CEIP

15:10 Keynote Address

"Innovationalizing: Government Investment: Japan’s new STI Policies"

Takahiro Ueyama (2000 Abe Fellow) Executive Member, Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Cabinet Office, Japan; Vice President, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)

15:55 Presentations

"Asia’s New Networked Technonationalism: Competitive Advantage, or Disadvantage for Japan and the United States?"

Kathryn Ibata-Arens (2004 Abe Fellow), Vincent de Paul Professor of Political Science and Director, Global Asian Studies Program, De Paul University

"Governing Data-Driven Innovation: Policy and Strategic Implications in Global Competition and Collaboration"

Masaru Yarime (2014 Abe Fellow), Associate Professor, Division of Public Policy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

"Continuity and Change in Japan’s Ecosystem for Start-up Companies: Encouraging the Creation of Firms to Stimulate Economic Growth and Jobs"

Marie Anchordoguy (1997 Abe Fellow), Professor, Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

16:40 Panel Discussion

17:25 Closing remarks

Linda Grove

17:30 Networking Reception

November 26, 2018:

Forum on Smart Cities in China - Reforming Multiple Planning Integration and Building Smart Cities was organized by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) on November 24-25 in Haikou in the Hainan province of China. I was invited to give a keynote speech on Japan's experience of developing smart cities and its lessons and implications for public policy to facilitate innovation for urban sustainability. We discussed recommendations for policy making on integrating various kinds of data, establishing common data platforms, and utilizing data to address societal challenges.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japan's Experience of Creating Innovation for Smart Cities: Implications for Public Policy for Urban Sustainability," Forum on Smart Cities in China - Reforming Multiple Planning Integration and Building Smart Cities, organized by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Haikou, Hainan, China, November 24-25 (2018).

November 17, 2018:

Abe Global Forum "Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age" will be held on December 1 at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. We will discuss how the United States and Japan can respond to global challenges in the context of the rapidly rising innovation hubs in China and India, considering institutional factors that encourage or discourage innovation and the impact of big data and AI on innovation policies and strategies.

Abe Global Forum "Japanese and American Innovation in a Global Age"

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, December 1, 2018.

14:00-14:50: Session 1

Chair: Kaye Husbands Fealing, Chair, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology

Opening remarks:

The Honorable Takashi Shinozuka, Consul-General of Japan in Atlanta

Jacqueline Royster, Dean, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Institute of Technology

Junichi Chano, CGP Executive Director

Keynote Address: Takahiro Ueyama (2000 Abe Fellow), Executive Member, Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Cabinet Office, Japan; Vice President, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)

14:50-15:00: Break

15:00-16:45: Session 2:

Chair: Brian Woodall (1992 Abe Fellow), Professor, Ivan College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Institute of Technology

Presentations:

Kathryn Ibata-Arens (2004 Abe Fellow), Vincent de Paul Professor of Political Science and Director, Global Asian Studies Program, De Paul University

Masaru Yarime (2014 Abe Fellow), Associate Professor, Division of Public Policy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

John P. Walsh (2001 Abe Fellow), Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology

Panel discussion

16:45 Closing remarks: Linda Grove, SSRC Consulting Director

17:00-18:30: Cocktail Reception

November 15, 2018:

Judges' Report for the Hong Kong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporting Awards 2018 has been published. While a significant progress has been made in the content and standard of ESG reporting, companies are encouraged to disclose more details of how they conduct stakeholder engagement, which is an essential process for materiality assessment, and to involve the Board in sustainability governance.

Judges' Report for the Hong Kong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporting Awards 2018, Panel of Judges (Angus HO, Masaru YARIME, Jessica TAM, Stephen WONG, and Vincent KONG), Hong Kong, November (2018).

November 14, 2018:

The Division of Public Policy in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) invites applications for faculty positions in public policy and public management. We especially welcome applicants in the following three research areas: (i) science, technology, and innovation policy; (ii) social and urban policy; and (iii) environmental, energy, and sustainability policy.

4187: Faculty Positions (Public Policy), Division of Public Policy

4186: Faculty Positions (Public Management), Division of Public Policy

November 9, 2018:

The International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) organized its third biannual conference on November 5-8 at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. Among the issues discussed in the conference was big data and its implications for public decision making in addressing sustainability challenges in the context of smart cities.

November 6, 2018:

The 2018 International Conference on the Biomass-Environment-Food-Energy-Water (BEFEW) Nexus will be held on December 12-13 in Putrajaya, Malaysia, organized by Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, and the University of Bath, UK. I will give a plenary speech on the role of science, technology, and innovation in addressing key challenges in the nexus and implications for public policy.

November 5, 2018:

I made comments on renewable energy sources in Asia in Nikkei Asian Review.

"Offshore wind projects hasten Asia's renewable shift from solar," Nikkei Asian Review, November 4 (2018).

November 2, 2018:

HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program on Using Big Data to Create Public Value: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies will take place on November 26-28 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We will discuss key opportunities and challenges in the use of big data for public policy and governance in a wide range of areas, including science and technology, smart cities, and sustainability.

October 30, 2018:

We discussed resilience thinking and its implications for sustainable development in the Encyclopedia of Sustainability in Higher Education, which will be published soon by Springer.

Kharrazi, Ali, Tomohiro Akiyama, and Masaru Yarime, "Resilience Thinking and Sustainable Development," in Walter Leal Filho, ed., Encyclopedia of Sustainability in Higher Education, Berlin: Springer (2019).

October 29, 2018:

The Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CARe2018) Hong Kong Conference was held on October 27-29 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). A wide range of experts and stakeholders participated from across the globe, across industry and business sectors, as well as from local and regional authorities to discuss key challenges in facilitating adaptation and resilience to climate change.

October 28, 2018:

International Roundtable on Building an Access to Justice Network for Business and Human Rights in Asia was organized by the Human Rights Law and Policy Forum of the School of Law of the City University Hong Kong in collaboration with the Research Center for Sustainable Peace of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tokyo on October 28. We had a fruitful discussion on sharing good practices and exploring collaboration among academia, business, government, and civil society organizations.

October 25, 2018:

A research workshop was organized by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) in Kyoto on October 23. A new project with Dr. Takuro Kobashi has just started to facilitate distributed energy systems for decarbonization through collaboration between Kyoto and Hong Kong/Shenzhen.

Yarime, Masaru, "Smart City Innovation for Decarbonization: Possibilities in Collaboration between Kyoto and Hong Kong/Shenzhen," Research Workshop on Facilitating Distributed Energy Systems for Decarbonization through Collaboration between Kyoto and Hong Kong/Shenzhen," Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto, Japan, October 23 (2018).

October 19, 2018:

The Fourth Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network (AP-PPN) Annual Conference will take place on March 8-9, 2019 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The theme of the conference is "Governance and Policy Innovation in an Era of Disruptive Technologies." Recent technological innovations have great potential in tackling sustainability issues in a wide range of sectors such as energy, health, and transportation. At the same time, they also pose difficult challenges in regulating and governing their development and deployment in society. This conference will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss with researchers and practitioners working in various fields related to public policy in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The deadline for submitting abstracts is November 20, 2018.

October 16, 2018:

The Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference 2018 was held on October 7-10 in Washington, D.C. In our paper we discussed blockchain-based distributed energy platforms with implications for public policy and institutional design.

Ahl, Amanda, Masaru Yarime, Kenji Tanaka, and Daishi Segawa, "Establishing Blockchain-Based Distributed Energy Platforms: Implications for Public Policy and Institutional Design," Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference 2018, Washington, D.C., United States, October 7-10 (2018).

October 15, 2018:

The Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is now inviting applications for admission to the MPhil/PhD in Public Policy programs. Students can specialize in one of the four policy areas: Science, Technology and Innovation Policy; Environmental Policy and Sustainability; Social Changes and Public Policy; and China’s Development Policy. Various scholarships are available, including the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (application deadline on December 1, 2018).

October 8, 2018:

I joined a delegation of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to visit Nansha, Guangzhou. HKUST will create a new campus there and work together with the local government to establish an international smart manufacturing platform. One Million Dollar International Entrepreneurship Competition Grand Final also took place, organized by HKUST. More than 900 startup teams and companies participated in the competition from Hong Kong, Macao, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, and Foshan, engaging with invited venture capitals and angels.

October 6, 2018:

Our paper that analyzes the epistemic communities working on air pollution in East Asia has been accepted for publication in the journal Global Policy.

Yarime, Masaru, and Aitong Li, "Facilitating International Cooperation on Air Pollution in East Asia: Fragmentation of the Epistemic Communities," Global Policy, forthcoming.

October 5, 2018:

I made comments on Hong Kong government's new initiative to facilitate international collaboration with leading research institutions for innovation in South China Morning Post.

"Detailed plans for Hong Kong’s universities to partner with top international research institutes expected in policy address," South China Morning Post, October 5 (2018).

September 30, 2018:

The 2018 joint 14th international Committee on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP) Quadrennial Symposium and the 15th International Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Science Conference was held on September 25-29 in Takamatsu, Kagawa. A poster with Dr. Frank Ling was presented on a comparison of urban air pollution monitoring networks using low-cost sensors in fixed, mobile, and paired modes, with policy implications for tackling transboundary air pollution in developing economies.

Ling, Frank, and Masaru Yarime, "Comparison of Urban Air Pollution Monitoring Networks Using Low-Cost Sensors in Fixed, Mobile, and Paired Modes: Lessons for Developing Economies," The 2018 joint 14th international Committee on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP) Quadrennial Symposium and the 15th International Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Science Conference, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan, September 25-29 (2018).

September 28, 2018:

Professors Yuan XU and Jing LI kindly invited me to give a seminar at the Department of Geography and Resource Management in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. We discussed the innovation systems of smart cities in Japan, U.S., and China and opportunities for international collaboration in the future.

Yarime, Masaru, "Comparative Analysis of the Innovation Systems of Smart Cities in Japan, United States, and China," Research Seminar, Department of Geography and Resource Management, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, (2018).

September 22, 2018:

I talked about sustainable business practices and approaches in different parts of the world, including Japan, U.S., Europe, and China for an introduction to the Business Sustainability Management course organized by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Yarime, Masaru, "International Perspectives on Sustainable Business," Business Sustainability Management Online Short Course, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, September 21 (2018).

September 21, 2018:

My seminar on comparative analysis of the innovation systems of smart cities in Japan, United States, and China will be held on September 28 at the Department of Geography and Resource Management in the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

September 11, 2018:

The Second Digital Transformation and Strategy Forum took place at Cass Business School in the City University of London on September 10, sponsored by the Digital Leadership Research Centre. Our paper written with Roy Nyberg was presented to discuss the nature of digital transformation through a case study of the development of smart cities.

Nyberg, Roy, and Masaru Yarime, "What is Digital Transformation? Assessing the Impact of 'Smart City' Development in Japan," Second Digital Transformation and Strategy Forum, Cass Business School, City University of London, United Kingdom, September 10 (2018).

September 10, 2018:

The finalists of the 2018 Hong Kong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting Awards have just been announced. The winners of each category will be announced at the Awards Presentation Ceremony on September 20. I'm serving as one of the Judges for the awards.

September 9, 2018:

Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference was held on September 6-9 at the University of Hong Kong, organized by the Association of the Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). In the working group on Urban Renewable Energy, we explore pathways to low-carbon energy resilience through detailed examination of case studies at different scales and locations. APRU's International Secretariat is currently located in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Innovation for Renewable Energy in Smart Cities," Urban Renewable Energy Working Group, Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference, Association of the Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, September 6-9 (2018).

September 1, 2018:

I have joined the Division of Public Policy in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). My work on public policy research and education will focus on science, technology, and innovation policy for energy, environment, and sustainability.

August 26, 2018:

The 10th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE2018) was held on August 22-25 at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In a paper with Takuro Kobashi, we conducted a techno-economic assessment of the residential photovoltaic systems integrating electric vehicles through a case study of Japanese households.

Kobashi, Takuro, and Masaru Yarime, "Techno-Economic Assessment of the Residential Photovoltaic Systems Integrated with Electric Vehicles: A Case Study of Japanese Households towards 2030," 10th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE2018), Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, August 22-25 (2018).

August 24, 2018:

We had a fruitful meeting with Dr. Clayton WANG, Secretary General of the SHENZHEN Development Center of International Low Carbon Forum, to facilitate international collaboration on innovation for smart city development in the Greater Bay Area.

August 23, 2018:

The Fourth China Smart City International Expo was held on August 21-23 in Shenzhen, China. It was a great opportunity to discuss the current development of technologies and policies and future challenges for smart cities with experts in academia, industry and the central and local governments in China, particularly those in the Greater Bay Area including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.

August 17, 2018:

International Workshop on Smart Cities in Asia: Development, Policy, and Governance was held at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in the National University of Singapore. Researchers coming from Hong Kong, mainland China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore examined recent cases of smart city development in diverse contexts in Asia. I discussed the evolution of smart cities in Japan with implications for policy making and institutional design.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japanese Innovation System of Smart Cities: Knowledge, Actors, and Institutions," International Workshop on Smart Cities in Asia: Development, Policy, and Governance, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, August 17 (2018).

August 12, 2018:

My comment on the feed-in-tariff for renewable energy systems in Hong Kong was introduced in the China Energy Storage Network (ESCN).

"Hong Kong's Introduction of Local Power Subsidies: 3-5 Hong Kong dollars/kWh," China Energy Storage Network (ESCN), August 12 (2018).

August 9, 2018:

I made comments for PV Magazine on the government's new initiatives to promote the development of distributed renewable energy systems in Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong kicks off solar FIT scheme," PV Magazine, August 9 (2018).

August 3, 2018:

In this Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) working paper with Ranaporn Tantiwechwuttikul, we discussed financial schemes for facilitating photovoltaic installations, such as the solar-as-service model, in the context of energy transitions in emerging economies.

Tantiwechwuttikul, Ranaporn, and Masaru Yarime, "Financing Solar Photovoltaic Transitions: From Utility to Residential Market Adoption in Emerging Economies," ADBI Working Paper 856, Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), August (2018).

July 31, 2018:

Innovation Systems, Policy and Management, edited by Jorge Niosi, has been published by the Cambridge University Press. Among the key issues discussed in this book are innovation systems in emerging economies, strategic alliance, entrepreneurship, finance, agglomeration and clustering, and digitalization of innovation. Our chapter with Martin Karlsson examines the innovation systems of smart cities with policy and institutional implications.

Yarime, Masaru, and Martin Karlsson, "Examining Technological Innovation Systems of Smart Cities: The Case of Japan and Implications for Public Policy and Institutional Design," in Jorge Niosi, ed., Innovation Systems, Policy and Management, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 394-417 (2018).

July 27, 2018:

I had a fruitful discussion with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), a leading international organization working with governments in the Asia-Pacific region to improve productivity and competitiveness. We will collaborate on policy advice and strategy to help member countries be future-ready and improve their sustainable productivity.

July 25, 2018:

Akintayo Abolude of the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation "An Energy Meteorology Approach to Wind Power Optimization and Management under the Energy-Environment-Sustainability Nexus." This dissertation addresses important issues concerning the development and diffusion of wind energy technologies by integrating key findings in atmospheric science and meteorology and wind and turbine engineering, with implications for management and public policy. I served as Chair of the Panel of Examiners.

July 18, 2018:

I had a meeting with engineers of the Electrical and Mechanical Service Department (EMSD) of the Hong Kong Government to discuss the potential of solar photovoltaics in Hong Kong. Under the post-2018 Scheme of Control Agreements, Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Energy (RE) Certificates are new initiatives to promote the development of distributed renewable energy systems in Hong Kong.

July 14, 2018:

I gave lectures on economic analysis of innovation at the Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Tokyo.

July 4, 2018:

I attended the 17th International Schumpeter Society (ISS) Conference in July 2-4 at the Seoul National University. There were many participants from Asia, where the ISS conference was last held in Kyoto in 1992. One of the key issues focused on at the conference was the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its implications for dynamic capabilities for catching up and forging ahead, particularly in East Asian economies. I discussed the innovation system of smart cities in the Pearl River Delta (Greater Bay Area) in China from an international comparative perspective.

June 30, 2013:

Summer Program "How to Change the World" was jointly organized by the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) of University College London (UCL) and the Division of Public Policy of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Students coming from diverse academic backgrounds addressed one of the most pressing global challenges, SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. I served on the panel of judges for assessment of the final presentations at the Open Innovation Session.

June 27, 2018:

Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA) is a new initiative to recognize ESG reporting leaders, open to all companies listed in Hong Kong with excellent practices in various kinds of sustainability reporting, including Annual ESG Report, Integrated Report, and Sustainability Report. An independent panel of judges that includes myself will evaluate the entries and decide the winners, which will be announced at an Award Ceremony in September 2018.

June 25, 2018:

I visited the Digital City Research Center in the Chinese Society for Urban Studies in Beijing to have a discussion with Dr. XU Zhenqiang, a leading expert on smart city development in China. We will collaborate to explore opportunities and challenges in establishing governance systems for smart cities in an increasingly digitalizing environment.

June 20, 2018:

The International Conference on Innovation Studies (ICIS2018) was held on June 23-24 at the School of Economics and Management (SEM) in Tsinghua University, organized by the Research Center for Technological Innovation (RCTI). Among the issues we discussed in the conference are science-industry collaboration, open innovation, innovation ecosystems, and the digitalization of innovation in the context of the rise of China in science and technology. I made a presentation on stimulating innovation for smart cities and implications for China.

Yarime, Masaru, "Smart Cities as a Nexus of the Energy and Information and Communication Industries: An Analysis of the Innovation Systems of Smart Cities in Japan and the United States, " International Conference on Innovation Studies (ICIS2018), Research Center for Technological Innovation (RCTI), School of Economics and Management (SEM), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, June 23-24 (2018).

June 20, 2018:

The First Global Chinese Urban Governance Workshop was held on June 11-12 at Shanghai Jiaotong University. Our work on the innovation system of smart cities in Japan with LIU Books and JIN Mushan was presented in Session on International Comparison of Urban Governance: Japan's Experience, which won the best sub-forum award.

Liu, Books, Mushan Jin, and Masaru Yarime, "The Innovation System of Smart Cities in Japan: Implications for the Development of New Smart Cities in China," First Global Chinese Urban Governance Workshop, Shanghai Jiaotong University, June 11-12 (2018).

June 15, 2018:

We have just finished ASU-CityU Joint Summer Course on Urban Sustainability in Hong Kong. The students participating from the two universities worked together to analyze key sustainability challenges in Hong Kong, including air pollution, energy, water, housing, and waste management, and presented their proposals for policy making.

June 12, 2018:

Handbook of Green Finance: Energy Security and Sustainable Development, edited by Jeffrey Sachs and his colleagues, will be published soon by Springer and Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). In our chapter we discussed innovative financing approaches to introducing photovoltaic facilities, such as the solar-as-service model.

Tantiwechwuttikul, Ranaporn, and Masaru Yarime, "Financing Solar Photovoltaic Transitions: From Utility to Residential Market Adoption in Emerging Economies," in Jeffrey Sachs, Woo Wing Thye, Naoyuki Yoshino, and Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, eds., Handbook of Green Finance: Energy Security and Sustainable Development, Springer and Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), forthcoming.

June 8, 2018:

We have just finished the first week of ASU-CityU Joint Summer Course on Urban Sustainability in Hong Kong. The students are participating in lectures by researchers in academia and field trips and on-site discussions with practitioners in industry and the public sector to work together in teams on major urban sustainability challenges in Hong Kong, including air pollution, energy, water, housing, and waste management.

May 30, 2018:

A poster on the potential of blockchain technology for industrial ecology was presented at the Gordon Research Conference on the Role of Industrial Ecology in Reaching the Sustainable Development Goals held on May 20-25 in Les Diablerets, Switzerland.

Chopra, Shauhrat S., and Masaru Yarime, "Towards Realizing the Potential of Blockchain Technology for Industrial Ecology," Gordon Research Conference on the Role of Industrial Ecology in Reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, Les Diablerets, Switzerland, May 20-25 (2018).

May 19, 2018:

A report on the Inaugural Symposium of GREAT Smart Cities Center at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has been published in HK01, covering my discussion on the role of open data in the development of smart cities.

May 18, 2018:

Inaugural Symposium of GREAT Smart Cities Center was held on May 18 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We discussed policy and institutional challenges in creating innovation for smart cities with experts from China, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States.

Yarime, Masaru, "Policy and Institutional Challenges in Creating Innovation for Smart Cities: Lessons and Implications of Japan's Experience," Inaugural Symposium of GREAT Smart Cities Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, May 18 (2018).

May 15, 2018:

I gave a lecture on Policy and Institutional Challenges in Creating Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities at HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Program on Strategies and Governance for Green, Resilient and Smart Cities, which is organized on May 15-17 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Yarime, Masaru, "Policy and Institutional Challenges in Creating Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities," HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Program on Strategies and Governance for Green, Resilient and Smart Cities, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, May 15-17 (2018).

May 10, 2018:

President of Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Professor Sascha Spoun, visited the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. We are starting collaboration on sustainability education and research on and beyond campus through joint programs and exchange of students and researchers.

May 9, 2018:

My appointment as Honorary Reader has been extended in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) of University College London.

May 4, 2018:

I gave a guest lecture to the students taking the course on Urbanisation Issues in the Asia Pacific Region at the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies of RMIT in Melbourne. We discussed various approaches to stimulating innovation for smart cities in Japan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and the Untied States, with implications for public policy and institutional design.

April 26, 2018:

I have got introduced in latest issue of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Beijing Newsletter.

April 25, 2018:

The Dutch Ministry of Education and the Netherlands Initiative for Education Research (NRO), a unit of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), have awarded the first Comenius Leadership Fellows 2018. The fellowships enable professionals in higher education to implement their ideas for educational innovations. I acted as one of the international experts for reviewing the proposals.

April 20, 2018:

The visit of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Delegation to Shenzhen has been reported on the web site of the Shenzhen Engineer Association.

April 13, 2018:

I joined the delegation organized by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) to visit the Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology, Shenzhen Engineer Association, Shenzhen Solar Energy Society, Shenzhen Polytechnic, and Das Intellitech on 12 April. We had constructive discussions to promote collaboration on education, research for facilitating innovation for sustainable smart cities.

April 9, 2018:

A new book, Innovation Policy, Systems and Management, edited by Jorge Niosi, will be published soon by the Cambridge University Press.

Part I. Innovation Policy and Innovation Systems:

1. Sectoral systems: taxonomies, evolution and modeling, Franco Malerba

2. Effectiveness of direct and indirect R&D support, Pierre Mohnen

3. From market fixing to market creating: a new framework for innovation policy, Mariana Mazzucato

4. Strategic alliances: identifying recent emerging sub-fields of research, Fiorenza Belussi, Luigi Orsi and Andrea Ganzaroli

Part II. Innovation in Developing and Emerging Countries:

5. National systems of innovation in developing countries, Jorge Niosi

6. National financial systems, credit constraints, and enterprise innovation performance: an international comparison of developing nations, Edward Lorenz and Sophie Pommet

7. Going with the wind: the pro-cyclical dynamics of STI efforts in Mexico, Gabriela Dutrénit, José Miguel Natera, Martin Puchet Anyul and Fernando Santiago

8. Gaps in the relative efficiency of nacional innovation systems and growth performance across OCDE and BRICS countries, Alenka Guzmán and Ignacio Llamas-Huitrón

9. Currency undervaluation on growth and exports in natural resource vs. manufacturing exporting countries, Sanika Sulochani Ramanayake and Keun Lee

Part III. Regional Innovation Systems and Policies:

10. Innovation policies and new regional growth paths, Markus Grillitsch and Michaela Trippl

11. Spinoffs and clustering, Russell Golman and Steven Klepper

12. Examining technological innovation systems of smart cities, Masaru Yarime and Martin Karlsson

13. Does invention agglomerate? Chris Forman, Avi Goldfarb and Shane Greenstein

Part IV. Innovation Management and its Links with Policy:

14. Knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship: going beyond the Schumpeterian entrepreneur, Franco Malerba and Maureen McKelvey

15. The Three great issues confronting Europe: the need for a new policy stance, Jan Fagerberg, Staffan Laestadius and Ben R. Martin

March 28, 2018:

The School of Energy and Environment (SEE) of the City University of Hong Kong will organize a two-week summer course, Urban Sustainability in Hong Kong, jointly with Arizona State University (ASU) on June 3-15. We will work together in teams on the city's major sustainability challenges, including air pollution, energy efficiency, water security, housing shortage, and waste management, and propose policy-focused solutions incorporating environmental, economic, social, and technological dimensions.

March 25, 2018:

The 18th Global Development Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation for Development was held at the Global Development Network (GDN) in New Delhi on March 22-23, in partnership with the Campbell Collaboration, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). One of the key challenges discussed at the conference was the digitalization of innovation and its implications for sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Yarime, Masaru, "Digitalization of Innovation and Its Implications for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," 18th Global Development Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation for Development, Global Development Network (GDN), New Delhi, India, March 22-23 (2018).

March 16, 2018:

The 18th Global Development Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation for Development will be held at the Global Development Network (GDN) in New Delhi on 22-23 March, in partnership with the Campbell Collaboration, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In Session on Facilitating Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we will discuss key questions such as "What are the challenges to the developing countries in moving towards sustainable development?" "What opportunities can STI provide to the developing countries for SDGs?" and "How can the developing countries make the best use of STI through public policy and institutional design?"

March 15, 2018:

I wrote a paper on evolutionary implications of the theory of probabilistic functionalism for learning and open data in sustainability transitions, which has just been published in the journal Environment Systems and Decisions, in response to Roland Scholz's article on utilizing Brunswik’s theory for decision and sustainability research.

Yarime, Masaru, "Learning and Open Data in Sustainability Transitions: Evolutionary Implications of the Theory of Probabilistic Functionalism," Environment Systems and Decisions, 38 (1), 88-91 (2018).

March 13, 2018:

I had a meeting with Dr. Ron YU, a member of the Board of Governors of the International IP Commercialization Council (IIPCC). IIPCC, a global, non-profit, non-partisan organization, provides a platform for the innovator and entrepreneur communities and enterprises to increase their understanding of intellectual property. We discussed collaboration on exploring the role of data in creating innovation and challenges in policy making and institutional design.

March 7, 2018:

I spoke on the issue of innovation and government policy at Backchat of RTHK Radio 3 on Wednesday 7 March at 8:30 am - 9:30 am. We discussed the recent government plan to make a large invest in innovation and technology and its implications for the industry's competitiveness and people's welfare in Hong Kong.

"Innovation and Technology Development in the Budget," Backchat, RTHK Radio 3, March 7 (2018).

Naubahar Sharif, Associate Professor, Division of Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Pindar Wong, Member, Committee on Innovation, Technology and Re-industrialization

Masaru Yarime, Associate Professor, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

KF Tsang, Associate Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong; and Vice Chairman, Smart City Consortium

March 6, 2018:

Our paper discussing global leadership for social design and management has been published in the journal Sustainability Science.

Scholz, Roland W., Masaru Yarime, and Hideaki Shiroyama, "Global Leadership for Social Design: Theoretical and Educational Perspectives," Sustainability Science, 13 (2), 447-464 (2018).

February 24, 2018:

I participated in the Second Annual Meeting of the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes (GCSO) on February 21-23 in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the representative of the City University of Hong Kong. We are pursuing collaborative projects to promote sustainability solutions across the globe.

Yarime, Masaru, "City University of Hong Kong and Its Contribution to the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes," Second Annual Meeting of the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes (GCSO), Washington, D.C., February 21-23 (2018).

February 19, 2018:

STIG PoP Seminar "Creating Data-Driven Innovation: Current Trends and Future Challenges in Japan and China" was held on Friday, February 16 at the Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Tokyo, organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program. Experts coming from academia, industry, and government discussed the growing investment and start-ups in artificial intelligence (AI) in China, key challenges in promoting and regulating innovation in AI for medical applications, and international comparison of the innovation systems of smart cities in Japan, United States, and China.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation Systems of Smart Cities in Japan, United States, and China," STIG PoP Seminar "Creating Data-Driven Innovation: Current Trends and Future Challenges in Japan and China," Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, February 16 (2018).

February 7, 2018:

We will organize STIG PoP Seminar "Creating Data-Driven Innovation: Current Trends and Future Challenges in Japan and China" on Friday, February 16 at the Graduate School of Public Policy in the University of Tokyo. We will discuss the current trends in investment markets in artificial intelligence (AI), policy challenges in governing AI for medical applications, and the innovation systems of smart cities in Japan and China for urban sustainability. If you are interested in these topics, please join us in the seminar.

STIG PoP Seminar "Creating Data-Driven Innovation: Current Trends and Future Challenges in Japan and China"

Date: Friday, February 16, 2018, 10:00-12:30

Venue: Lecture Room, 3/F, Ito International Research Center, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo

Program:

"Investment Market in Artificial Intelligence in China," Mr. YAMAMOTO Ryota, Macnica Shanghai

"Policy Challenges in Governing Innovation on Artificial Intelligence for Medical Applications," Dr. OKUMURA Takashi, Center for Public Health Informatics, National Institute of Public Health

"Innovation Systems of Smart Cities for Urban Sustainability in Japan and China," Dr. YARIME Masaru, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

February 3, 2018:

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors organized RICS 150th Anniversary Series: "Realising Hong Kong’s Smart City Vision" on Friday 2 February. We had a stimulating discussion with Albert Wong, Director, Consulting, PwC Hong Kong; Eric Yeung, Convener of Smart City Consortium; Ray Wong, Managing Partner, Biscovery Limited; and Ben Chan, Chair, Geomatics Professional Group Committee, RICS Hong Kong Board.

Yarime, Masaru, "Bringing Forth Innovation for Sustainable Smart Cities in Hong Kong and Beyond," RICS 150th Anniversary Series: "Realising Hong Kong’s Smart City Vision," Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Hong Kong, February 2 (2018).

January 22, 2018:

Campus Sustainability Day "Innovations for Sustainable Future" as organized by the City University of Hong Kong on 22 January. In the Briefing Session for Campus Sustainability Fund and the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes, I discussed the curriculum development and career exploration for the Minor in Sustainability as the Convenor of Sustainability Education Cluster.

Yarime, Masaru, "Opportunities and Challenges in Sustainability Education," Briefing Session for Campus Sustainability Fund and the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes, Campus Sustainability Day "Innovations for Sustainable Future", City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, January 22 (2018).

January 19, 2018:

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will organize RICS 150th anniversary series seminar "Realising Hong Kong’s Smart City Vision" on 2 February. We will discuss opportunities and challenges in smart city development in Hong Kong. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 150th Anniversary Series: "Realising Hong Kong’s Smart City Vision"

Date: Friday 2 February 2018, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: RICS Office, Room 3707-09, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Wanchai

Speakers:

Albert Wong, Director, Consulting, PwC Hong Kong

Prof Yarime Masaru, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

Eric Yeung, Convener of Smart City Consortium

January 13, 2018:

The City University of Hong Kong will organize Campus Sustainability Day on 22 January 2018.

Kick-off Ceremony & Seminar on Urban Sustainability Challenges

Venue & Time: LT-10, Yeung Kin Man Academic Building, 10:30 - 11:30

Speakers:

Prof Rob Melnick, Arizona State University, "The Ubiquity of Urban Sustainability Challenges"

Prof Yeh Shin-cheng, National Taiwan Normal University, "Developing Sustainability Competencies of college students through environmental and agro-food education"

Discussant: Prof Chan Chak Keung, Dean (SEE)

January 10, 2018:

The School of Energy and Environment (SEE) in the City University of Hong Kong will organize SEE Seminar by Professor Yasunori BABA of the University of Tokyo. With his experience of getting involved in the Alliance of Global Sustainability (AGS), he will discuss key opportunities and challenges in mobilising and managing international collaboration for sustainability.

SEE Seminar

"Mobilising and Managing International Collaboration for Sustainability: Lessons and Implications from the Alliance for Global Sustainability (AGS)"

Professor Yasunori BABA, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo

Date: 24 January 2018 (Wednesday)

Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Venue: Y5-305, 5/F, Yeung Kin Man Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Organizer: School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

January 9, 2018:

My short article on data-intensive approaches to creating innovation for sustainable smart cities has been published in Science Trends.

Yarime, Masaru, "Data-Intensive Approaches To Creating Innovation For Sustainable Smart Cities," Science Trends, January 9 (2018).

January 6, 2018:

Our paper that analyzes the introduction of energy-efficient technologies in small- and medium-sized enterprises in the apparel industry has been published online in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Pathirana, Shakila, and Masaru Yarime, "Introducing Energy-Efficient Technologies in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Apparel Industry: A Case Study of Sri Lanka," Journal of Cleaner Production, 178, 247-257 (2018).

January 5, 2018:

Briefing Session for the Campus Sustainability Fund 2018 and the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes will be held on 22 January at the City University of Hong Kong. I will discuss initiatives on sustainability education.

Briefing Session for CityU Campus Sustainability Fund 2018 and the Global Consortium for Sustainability Outcomes

Date: Monday 22 January 2018, 15:00-16:30

Venue: Y5-203, Yeung Kin Man Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong

Speakers: Prof Samuel Ho, Associate Provost (Institutional Initiatives)

Dr Huang Gongsang, Associate Professor (ACE) - Convenor of Energy Saving Cluster

Dr Masaru Yarime, Associate Professor (SEE) - Convenor of Sustainability Education Cluster

Dr LU Yang, Associate Professor (MBE) - Convenor of Reuse and Recycling Cluster

Prof Rob Melnick, Arizona State University

December 31, 2017:

Our paper that examines the introduction of energy-efficient technologies in small- and medium-sized enterprises in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Pathirana, Shakila, and Masaru Yarime, "Introducing Energy-Efficient Technologies in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Apparel Industry: A Case Study of Sri Lanka," Journal of Cleaner Production, forthcoming.

December 26, 2017:

A review of the book Japan: The Precarious Future, Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., New York: Social Science Research Council and New York University Press (2015), has been published in the Social Science Japan Journal.

December 23, 2017:

I have contributed a chapter with Martin Karlsson on the innovation system of smart cities to the forthcoming book Innovation Policy, Systems and Management, which will be published by the Cambridge University Press in 2018.

Yarime, Masaru, and Martin Karlsson, "Examining Technological Innovation Systems of Smart Cities," in Jorge Niosi, ed., Innovation Policy, Systems and Management, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming.

December 22, 2017:

The final version of our paper analyzing supply chain stakeholders in biomass energy systems is now available online in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Ahl, Amanda, Johanna Eklund, Per Lundqvist, and Masaru Yarime, "Balancing Formal and Informal Success Factors Perceived by Supply Chain Stakeholders: A Study of Woody Biomass Energy Systems in Japan," Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 50-59 (2018).

December 19, 2017:

A cover story on smart cities has been published in China Daily Asia Weekly. I talked about stimulating innovation on smart energy systems.

"On grid but outside the box," Cover Story, China Daily Asia Weekly, December 18-24, 5 (2017).

December 10, 2017:

I have joined the Expert Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, a platform to gather expert opinion on science, technology and innovation policy issues of recent interest to policy makers across the globe. The topics discussed so far include technology transfer, business innovation support, and innovation indicators.

December 9, 2017:

I hosted the Task Group Meeting 2017 on Linked Open Data for Global Disaster Risk Research (LODGD), organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) of the International Council for Science (ICSU), on December 8 at the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. We are currently working on the White Papers on Gap Analysis on Open Data Interconnectivity for Global Disaster Risk Research, Next Generation Disaster Data Infrastructure, and Policy Studies on Open Data with Opportunities and Challenges in Emerging Innovations.

Yarime, Masaru, "Policy Studies on Open Data for Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities and Challenges in Emerging Innovations", Task Group Meeting 2017 on Linked Open Data for Global Disaster Risk Research (LODGD), organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) of the International Council for Science (ICSU), School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, December 8 (2017).

December 8, 2017:

The 2nd Conference of Digital Belt and Road (DBAR 2017) was held on December 6-8 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. DBAR has been initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) as an international science program for the sustainable development of the Belt and Road region using Big Earth Data.

Yarime, Masaru, "Opportunities and Challenges in Open Data for Establishing Sustainable Smart Cities: Implications for the Digital Belt and Road," The 2nd Conference of Digital Belt and Road (DBAR 2017), Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, December 6-8 (2017).

December 1, 2017:

The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Netherlands Initiative for Education Research (NRO) of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) have recently launched a new program for innovation in higher education, Comenius Programme. I acted as a peer reviewer for a proposal for this program.

November 28, 2017:

My paper on evolutionary implications of the theory of probabilistic functionalism for learning and open data in sustainability transitions has just been published online in the journal Environment Systems and Decisions.

Yarime, Masaru, "Learning and Open Data in Sustainability Transitions: Evolutionary Implications of the Theory of Probabilistic Functionalism," Environment Systems and Decisions (2017), doi: 10.1007/s10669-017-9668-z.

November 22, 2017:

The Panel of Experts Meeting on Sustainable Urbanization Global Initiative (SUGI) Food-Water-Energy Nexus was held on November 21-22 at Project Management Jülich in Berlin, organized by the Belmont Forum and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). We discussed research proposals for international collaborative projects on urban sustainability through transdisciplinary co-creation in research and innovation.

November 19, 2017:

My paper on learning and open data in sustainability transitions has just been accepted for publication in the journal Environment Systems and Decisions.

Yarime, Masaru, "Learning and Open Data in Sustainability Transitions: Evolutionary Implications of the Theory of Probabilistic Functionalism," Environment Systems and Decisions, forthcoming.

November 17, 2017:

My article on data-intensive approaches to innovation for smart cities has finally been published in the completed journal issue.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating data-intensive approaches to innovation for sustainability: opportunities and challenges in building smart cities," Sustainability Science, 12 (6), 881-885 (2017).

November 16, 2017:

Our paper on woody biomass energy systems in Japan has just been accepted for publication in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Ahl, Amanda, Johanna Eklund, Per Lundqvist, and Masaru Yarime, "Balancing Formal and Informal Success Factors Perceived by Supply Chain Stakeholders: A Study of Woody Biomass Energy Systems in Japan," Journal of Cleaner Production (2017), doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.108.

November 12, 2017:

I had an opportunity to visit JENESIS, a leading electronics manufacturing service (EMS) provider in Shenzhen. We had a fruitful discussion with JENESIS, a leading electronics manufacturing service (EMS) provider in Shenzhen, on the innovation system in the Pearl River Delta based on its strong manufacturing knowledge and expertise accumulated in the region.

November 6, 2017:

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is to establish an online catalogue of policy support tools and methodologies. An expert group has been established to support the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel and Bureau in developing the catalogue and further guidance regarding policy support tools and methodologies.

October 31, 2017:

An article about my discussion on the Japanese experience in developing smart cities has been published by OpenGov.

Bhunia, Priyankar, "Enhancing Efficiency, Flexibility and Resilience through Sustainable Smart City projects in Japan - Dr Masaru Yarime talks about reducing the environmental burden and dealing with natural disasters and a declining and ageing population through Smart City innovations," OpenGov, October 27 (2017).

October 27, 2017:

Mobility and Energy Systems in Smart Cities of the Future: A Conference at the Intersection of Business, Academia and Government was held on Friday October 27 at the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong. This conference was jointly organized by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Innovation for Smart Cities through University-Industry-Government Collaboration: Opportunities and Challenges in Hong Kong and Beyond," Mobility and Energy Systems in Smart Cities of the Future: A Conference at the Intersection of Business, Academia and Government, in collaboration with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Central Government Offices, Hong Kong, October 27 (2017).

October 21, 2017:

Mobility and Energy Systems in Smart Cities of the Future: A Conference at the Intersection of Business, Academia and Government will be held on October 27 at the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich. We will discuss opportunities and challenges in mobility and energy systems for moving towards sustainable smart cities.

14:00 Welcome Messages

Nicholas W. Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR

Corine Mauch, Mayor of Zurich

14:10 Smart City: Opportunities and Challenges for Hong Kong and Zurich

Ir. Allen Yeung, Government Chief Information Officer, HKSAR

Anna Schindler, Director, Office for Urban Development, City of Zurich

14:20 Mobility in Smart Cities of the Future

Keynote Speech: Prof. Kay Axhausen, Professor, Institute for Transport Planning and Systems, ETH Zurich

Prof. Becky P. Y. Loo, Professor of Geography, Director of the Institute of Transport Studies, University of Hong Kong

Gracie Ng, Manager ICT Cluster, Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation

Dr. Ulf Blanke, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Antavi

15:20 Coffee Break - Networking

15:45 Energy Systems in Smart Cities of the Future

Keynote Speech: Prof. Masaru Yarime, Associate Professor, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

Dr. Christian Schaffner, Executive Director of the Energy Science Center (ESC), ETH Zurich

Christina Tang, Founder & CEO, BlueSky Energy Technology

Hans Gut, Managing Director, MAN Diesel & Turbo

16:45 Panel Discussion: Integrating Solutions in Smart Cities

Prof. Gerhard Schmitt, Director of the Singapore-ETH Center in Singapore and Professor for Information Architecture at ETH Zurich

Prof. Yee Leung, Professor, Director Institute of Future Cities, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Sharon Liu, Chief Town Planning Manager, MTR Corporation Limited

Eric Yeung, President and Convener, Smart City Consortium, Hong Kong

Anna Schindler, Director, Office for Urban Development, City of Zurich

Michael Law, Chief Engineer, Transport Department, HKSAR

Moderator: Hazem Galal, Global Leader, Cities & Local Government Sector, PriceWaterhouseCoopers

17:45 Networking

October 20, 2017:

HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Program "Innovation in Governance: Smart and Sustainable Cities" was held on October 18-20 at the Institute of Public Policy in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). In this three-day executive education program, I led the session on Japan's Experience of Smart and Sustainable Cities: Lessons and Implications for Hong Kong and Beyond and discussed with senior policy makers key challenges in policy areas covering energy, environment, innovation, data, and international trade and investment.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japan's Experience of Smart and Sustainable Cities: Lessons and Implications for Hong Kong and Beyond," HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Program "Innovation in Governance: Smart and Sustainable Cities," Institute of Public Policy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), October 18-20 (2017).

October 11, 2017:

The Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy was held on October 9-11 at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, United States. As a member of the Program Committee, I took part in reviewing papers and chairing Session on Participatory Technology Assessment, in addition to making a presentation on emerging innovation systems of smart cities in Japan and the United States.

Yarime, Masaru, "Integrating Innovation on Energy and Information and Communication Technologies: A Comparative Study of Emerging Innovation Systems of Smart Cities in Japan and the United States," Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, October 9-11 (2017).

October 9, 2017:

We discussed the critical role of learning and open data in promoting sustainability transitions in the following article that has just been accepted for publication in the journal Environment, Systems and Decisions.

Yarime, Masaru, "The Theory of Probabilistic Functionalism and Evolutionary Implications: The Role of Learning and Open Data in Sustainability Transitions," Environment, Systems and Decisions, forthcoming.

October 6, 2017:

Data-intensive approaches to innovation for sustainability are discussed in the following articles that has just been published in the journal Sustainability Science.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating data-intensive approaches to innovation for sustainability: opportunities and challenges in building smart cities," Sustainability Science, DOI 10.1007/s11625-017-0498-1 (2017).

October 3, 2017:

We will start a new program of Minor in Sustainability at the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. A briefing session will be held on November 3.

September 25, 2017:

AECOM-Asia Society Forum "Imagine Hong Kong: The Potential of Hong Kong at the Water's Edge" was held on September 25 at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center as a part of Imagine 2060: Delivering Tomorrow's Cities Together initiative. We had stimulating discussions about in what ways Hong Kong will maintain its distinctiveness in the context of increasing economic integration of the Pearl River Delta, or the Greater Bay Area, in comparison to the Tokyo Bay Area and the San Francisco Bay Area.

September 20, 2017:

The International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) 2017 was held on September 18-19 at Columbia University in New York. In Session on Governance of Energy Transformations: Key to Sustainable Electric Systems, our paper written with Ranaporn Tantiwechwuttikul and Kohzo Ito on the innovation system of photovoltaics in Thailand was presented to discuss investment models and policy interventions and their implications for facilitating sustainability innovation.

Tantiwechwuttikul, Ranaporn, Kohzo Ito, and Masaru Yarime, "The Innovation System of Photovoltaics in Thailand: Investment Models and Policy Interventions," Session on Governance of Energy Transformations: Key to Sustainable Electric Systems, International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) 2017, Columbia University, New York, United States, September 18-19 (2017).

September 19, 2017:

Public Conference on Mobility and Energy Systems in Smart Cities of the Future will be held on October 27 in Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich. We will discuss opportunities and challenges in mobility and energy systems for moving towards sustainable smart cities.

September 14, 2017:

HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Program "Innovation in Governance: Smart and Sustainable Cities" will be held on October 18-20, 2017 at the Institute of Public Policy in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). In this three-day executive education program, we will discuss social, environmental, and technological challenges in creating sustainable smart cities with leaders and stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

September 13, 2017:

Smart Energy Roundtable: An Interflow of Energy Management & Action for Climate Change in the Smart City Blueprint was organized by the Smart City Consortium on September 13 at KPMG in Hong Kong. Experts coming from academia and industry discussed the current business environment in the electric utility sector and key challenges in collecting, managing, and utilizing data obtained through sophisticated devices for various purposes.

September 12, 2017:

I have received a recognition by Publons as one of the Top Reviewers for University College London.

September 11, 2017:

I participated in a panel discussion on facilitating materials innovation through integration of various disciplinary approaches at the University of Tokyo.

September 6, 2017:

The news on the award of the First Runner-up Prize in the Championship for the International Competition on Second Life for Retired Batteries from Electric Vehicles has been introduced on the web site of the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong.

September 4, 2017:

The School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong is now inviting applications for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2018-2019. The deadline is 1 December 2017.

September 1, 2017:

My paper discussing data-intensive approaches to facilitating innovation for sustainability in the case of smart cities has just been accepted for publication in the journal Sustainability Science.

Yarime, Masaru, "Facilitating Data-Intensive Approaches to Innovation for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges in Building Smart Cities," Sustainability Science, forthcoming.

August 24, 2017:

Workshop on Exploring Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Interdisciplinary Approaches was held on August 21-22, organized by the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. Among the issues we discussed in the workshop are co-evolution of technological and social and behavioural dimensions of smart cities, integration of efficiency improvement through data-intensive ICTs and legitimacy through participation and transparency, and a balance between top-down and bottom-up approaches to decision making and consensus building.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation Systems of Smart Cities: Knowledge, Actors, and Institutions," Workshop on Exploring Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Interdisciplinary Approaches, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, August 21-22 (2017).

August 19, 2017:

Publons aims to provide proper recognition to peer reviewers of academic articles. I have been listed in the top 10% of reviewers in Social Sciences for 2016 in Publons Peer Review Awards: Honoring the Sentinels of Science and Research.

August 17, 2017:

We will organize the Workshop on Exploring Sustainable Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Interdisciplinary Approaches on August 21-22 at the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. Leading experts from academia, industry, and government will discuss sustainable development and smart cities from diverse perspectives including environmental, economic, social, and technological dimensions.

August 16, 2017:

The 2017 AIEA-NBER Conference was held on August 14-16 at the University of Hong Kong, organized by the Asian Innovation and Entrepreneurship Association (AIEA) and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). I played the role of Discussant for the paper "Joint Venture Choice, Market Share Rivalry, and Spillovers: Evidence from China" by Kun Jiang, Wolfgang Keller, Larry D. Qiu, and William Ridley.

August 15, 2017:

I made a visit to Huawei and DJI in Shenzhen, Guangdong.

August 7, 2017:

I have joined the International Data Policy Committee established by the International Council for Science (ICSU) Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA). Our task is to provide expert input on the development and implementation of data policies to a range of international initiatives.

August 5, 2017:

The 2017 AIEA-NBER Conference will be held on August 14-16 at the University of Hong Kong, organized by the Asian Innovation and Entrepreneurship Association (AIEA) and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Scholars participating from the U.S., China, South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong will discuss research findings in the economics and management of innovation and entrepreneurship.

August 1, 2017:

Our study of a policy network related to grassland management in China, which has just been published in the journal Ecology and Society, shows that political polarization and power imbalances in the network have confined the framing of environmental problems to specific areas, impeding the development of comprehensive policies.

Li, Aitong, and Masaru Yarime, "Polarization and Clustering in Scientific Debates and Problem Framing: Network Analysis of the Science-Policy Interface for Grassland Management in China," Ecology and Society, 22 (3), 8 (2017).

July 29, 2017:

Japan: The Precarious Future, Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., New York: New York University Press (2015) is reviewed in the current issue of the Pacific Affairs.

July 28, 2017:

We had a productive meeting with Mr. Tony Wong, Founder of Alaya Consulting, for collaboration on internship and research on sustainability reporting, investment and strategies.

July 24, 2017:

Japan: The Precarious Future, Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., New York: New York University Press (2015) is reviewed by David Leheny in the Journal of Japanese Studies.

July 21, 2017:

Ms. HU Yunzi of the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation "Valorisation of Food Waste and Textile Waste into Value-added Products by Novel Biorefinery Strategies." I served as Chair of the Panel of Examiners.

July 10, 2017:

I had a stimulating discussion on sustainability innovation with Mr. Carl Page, President of the Anthropocene Institute, Dr. Frank Ling, and Sasakura Hideshi-san.

July 6, 2017:

We discussed theoretical issues and educational challenges in new academic initiatives on global leadership for social design in a paper that has just been published in the journal Sustainability Science.

Scholz, Roland W., Masaru Yarime, and Hideaki Shiroyama, "Global Leadership for Social Design: Theoretical and Educational Perspectives," Sustainability Science, doi:10.1007/s11625-017-0454-0 (2017).

July 2, 2017:

I gave lectures for the intensive course "Economic Analysis of Innovation" at the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) in the University of Tokyo.

June 30, 2017:

The Third International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP3) was held on June 28-30 at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in the National University of Singapore. In Panel on Smart Cities in Asia, experts coming from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Singapore discussed what policy initiatives are implemented on smart cities and what impacts are made in the context of diverse economic, social, and political conditions.

Yarime, Masaru, "The Innovation System of Smart Cities: A Comparative Analysis of Japan and the United States," Third International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP3), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, June 28-30 (2017).

June 28, 2017:

The Championship for the International Competition on Second Life for Retired Batteries from Electric Vehicles was held in Hong Kong on June 25. Our team with Professor Steve Evans and Ms. Na Jiao of the University of Cambridge received the First Runner-up Prize.

Evans, Steve, Na Jiao, and Masaru Yarime, "Maximising the Value of Second-Life Batteries for a Smarter Demand-Side Management in Hong Kong: The Cloud Energy Storage System Based on Big Data," EVOG-16015, First Runner-up Prize, The Championship for the International Competition on Second Life for Retired Batteries from Electric Vehicles, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, June 25 (2017).

June 23, 2017:

Our paper that analyzes the network structure of the interface between science and policy in grassland management in China has been accepted for publication in the journal Ecology and Society.

Li, Aitong, and Masaru Yarime, "Polarization and Clustering in Scientific Debates and Problem Framing: Network Analysis of the Science-Policy Interface for Grassland Management in China," Ecology and Society, forthcoming.

June 22, 2017:

Our paper discussing the implications of flexibility for complex, resilient socio-ecological systems has been published online in the journal Sustainability.

Asokan, Vivek, Masaru Yarime, and Miguel Esteban, "Introducing Flexibility to Complex, Resilient Socio-Ecological Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Economics, Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Evolutionary Biology, and Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, 9 (7), 1091 (2017).

June 18, 2017:

International Studies Association (ISA) International Conference 2017 was held on June 15-17 at the University of Hong Kong. I presented a paper written with Dr. Aitong LI on fragmentation of epistemic communities in science-policy interface on transboundary air pollution in East Asia in Session on Global Environment Governance: Global-Local Practices and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and played the role of Discussant in Session on Environmental Diplomacy and Geopolitics in the Pacific Century.

Yarime, Masaru, and Aitong Li, "International Cooperation for Tackling Air Pollution in East Asia: Overcoming Fragmentation of the Epistemic Communities," International Studies Association (IAS) International Conference 2017, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, June 15-17 (2017).

June 13, 2017:

The Workshop on Forming Synergies in Greening China’s Growth was organized on June 13 by the Department of Public Policy and the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. In Roundtable Discussion: Epistemic Communities on a Co-benefit Approach to Low-Carbon Development I discussed innovation systems of smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation Systems of Smart Cities: Past Lessons and Future Challenges," Workshop on Forming Synergies in Greening China’s Growth, organized by the Department of Public Policy and the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, June 13 (2017).

June 6, 2017:

The Workshop on Forming Synergies in Greening China’s Growth will be held on 13 June, jointly organized by the Department of Public Policy and the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. The workshop is aimed to open a dialogue between policymakers, scientists, educators, and future environmental leaders on forming synergies in air pollution control and low carbon development in China.

Forming Synergies in Greening China's Growth

Date : 13 June 2017 (Tuesday)

Venue: Connie Fan Multi-Media Conference Room, Cheng Yik Chi Building, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Keynote Speaker: Ms Christine Loh Kung-wai, JP (Under Secretary for the Environment, Hong Kong SAR Government)

Morning Session: 08:45-13:00 Forming Synergies in Air Pollution Prevention and Control

Dong Cao, Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Chak Keung Chan, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

Jianmin Chen, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University

Tat Yan Ip, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Chunlei Liu, Shanghai Qingyue Open Environmental Data Center

Peter Kwok-keung Louie, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government

Zhi Ning, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

Jintian Yang, Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Xuetao Zhao, Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Afternoon Session: 14:30-17:40 Forming synergies in Low Carbon Development

Andy Chung, Smart City Consortium

William Chung, Department of Management, City University of Hong Kong

Barbara Finamore, Natural Resources Defense Council

Chazhong Ge, Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Kit Poon, Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong

Han Shi, Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong

Wei Wang, State Information Center

Jintao Xu, School of National Development, Peking University

Tao Xue, E20 Environmental Platform

Masaru Yarime, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

Ying Zhou, Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Workshop Organizers: Department of Public Policy and School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

Workshop Sponsor: Campus Sustainability Fund, Office of the Provost, City University of Hong Kong

Supporting Organizations: Center for East Asian and Comparative Philosophy, City University of Hong Kong; Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning; Hong Kong Smart City Consortium; Hong Kong and Macau Research Center, Tsinghua University; World Alliance for Low Carbon Cities

May 23, 2017:

I participated in a panel of experts meeting on urban sustainability organized by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) in Arlington, Virginia. We discussed research proposals for international collaborative projects to address critical challenges in urban sustainability through transdisciplinary co-creation in research and innovation.

May 15, 2017:

Our proposal for the International Competition on Second Life for Retired Batteries from Electric Vehicles has been selected as one of the top 5 finalists. The championship will be held in Hong Kong on 25 June.

EVOG-16015 "Maximising the Value of Second-Life Batteries for a Smarter Demand-Side Management in Hong Kong: Cloud Energy Storage System Based on Big Data," Na Jiao (University of Cambridge), Steve Evans (University of Cambridge), and Masaru Yarime (City University of Hong Kong).

May 5, 2017:

I had an opportunity to give a distance lecture on innovation for smart cities to the students taking the course on Urbanisation Issues in the Asia Pacific Region at the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies in the RMIT University in Melbourne, kindly arranged by Dr. Brendan Barrett. Our discussion touched upon a wide range of issues, reflecting the diversity in understanding the concept of smart cities, such as the implications of introducing photovoltaics for cooperation among households and the potential benefits and risks in collecting and utilizing an increasing amount of data concerning various dimensions of energy, housing, and transportation.

April 28, 2017:

Dr. Ali Kharrazi, one of the former students I have supervised for Ph.D., talks about resilience and sustainability in an interview by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).

April 13, 2017:

A summary of my talk at King's College London has become available online.

Yarime, Masaru, "Digitalizing Innovation in Japan: The Development of Smart Cities and Implications for Business, Policy, and Sustainability in Asia-Pacific," Contemporary Japan Speaker Series Part 3, London Asia Pacific Centre for Social Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom, February 2 (2017).

April 1, 2017:

My appointment as Visiting Scholar has been extended at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Research Institute. Currently we are working on the research project Policy Measures for Improving Urban Air Quality in Asia, particularly focusing on PM2.5.

March 31, 2017:

I have been appointed as Visiting Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) in the University of Tokyo. I will teach an intensive course on Economic Analysis of Innovation in early July.

March 30, 2017:

Our paper exploring sustainability co-creation between universities and society has just been accepted for publication in the journal Sustainability.

Trencher, Gregory, Masafumi Nagao, Chen Chiahsin, Kentaro Ichiki, Tobai Sadayoshi, Mariko Kinai, Mio Kamitani, Shojiro Nakamura, Aiko Yamauchi, and Masaru Yarime, "Implementing Sustainability Co-creation between Universities and Society: A Typology of Potential Models, Challenges and Strategies," Sustainability, 9 (4), 594 (2017).

March 29, 2017:

Our paper on the development of smart cities in Japan has just been published.

Nyberg, Roy A., and Masaru Yarime, "Assembling a Field into Place: Smart City Development in Japan," in Marc-David Seidel and Henrich Greve, eds., Emergence, Research in the Sociology of Organizations, Volume 50, 253-279 (2017).

March 12, 2017:

The Workshop for Disaster Resilience through Big Open Data and Smart Things (DRBoaST) will be organized in conjunction with IEEE Smart World Congress 2017 on August 4-8 in San Francisco. The aim of the workshop, for which I'm serving on the Organizing Committee, is to bring together researchers, practitioners, and solution providers in disaster management, IoT, smart buildings, building management and safety systems, and related areas to discuss opportunities and challenges in this field and establish future collaborations for transforming research prototypes into active emergency response systems. The deadline for submitting papers is March 21.

March 11, 2017:

I've joined the Sustainability Committee of the City University of Hong Kong. We advise the president on sustainability-related policies, strategies and initiatives for education, research and knowledge transfer activities in the context of the strategic plan.

March 8, 2017:

My presentation at the Energy Research Seminar organized by the Asian Energy Studies Centre in Hong Kong Baptist University on 2 March has been uploaded to YouTube.

March 7, 2017:

The School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong will organize on 21 March a seminar, "Interdisciplinary Program for Science, Technology and Public Policy: The Experience at the University of Tokyo," by Professor Hideaki SHIROYAMA, Former Dean of the Graduate School of Public Policy and Professor of Public Administration of the Graduate School for Law and Politics in the University of Tokyo. He will talk about the experience of initiating the Graduate Leaders Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM) and discuss the lessons and implications for interdisciplinary programs for integrating science, technology, and public policy to address societal challenges, including energy security, environmental protection, and sustainability.

SEE Seminar

Title: Interdisciplinary Program for Science, Technology and Public Policy: The Experience at the University of Tokyo

Speaker: Prof. Hideaki SHIROYAMA Former Dean of the Graduate School of Public Policy and Professor of Public Administration of the Graduate School for Law and Politics, The University of Tokyo, Japan

Date: 21 March 2017 (Tuesday)

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Venue: Room 6-214, 6/F., Lau Ming Wai Academic Building (AC3), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Organizer: School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong

Contact: Dr. Masaru YARIME

March 2, 2017:

Energy Research Seminar was organized by the Asian Energy Studies Centre at Hong Kong Baptist University on March 2. I joined experts from France and Japan in discussing policy experiences and institutional challenges in promoting clean energy innovation and transitions in Japan, China, and Europe.

Yarime, Masaru, "Encouraging Innovation for Smart Cities: An Analysis of Innovation Systems and Implications for Public Policy," Energy Research Seminar, Asian Energy Studies Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, March 2 (2017).

February 27, 2017:

Our paper that develops a method for evaluating the impacts of research activities across multiple academic fields was presented at the Research Conference of the Technical Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge-Based Processing (AI) in the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) at Okayama, Japan on February 18.

Muraoka, Koki, Yuta Yamauchi, Naoki Nonaka, Teruaki Hayashi, Masaaki Imaizumi, Seonwoo Kim, Kensaku Matsunami, Hee-Woon Lee, and Masaru Yarime, "A Study on the Evaluation Method of Research Impact across Multiple Fields," Research Conference of the Technical Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge-Based Processing (AI), Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE), Okayama, Japan, February 18 (2017).

February 22, 2017:

Our paper just published in Energy Policy quantifies the diversity of countries’ supplier-portfolios of embodied energy and discusses its strategic implications for energy security.

Sato, Masahiro, Ali Kharrazi, Hirofumi Nakayama, Steven Kraines, and Masaru Yarime, "Quantifying the supplier-portfolio diversity of embodied energy: Strategic implications for strengthening energy resilience," Energy Policy, 105, 41-52 (2017).

February 18, 2017:

A session on Accelerating Low-Carbon Innovation Through Policy was organized on Saturday, February 18 during the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2017 Annual Meeting in Boston. I joined Professor Tobias Schmidt of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and Professor Jessika Trancik of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in discussing how innovation studies can inform policy decisions to accelerate low-carbon innovation in the future.

Yarime, Masaru, "Encouraging Innovation on Smart Cities: An Analysis of Innovation Systems in Japan and the United States," Accelerating Low-Carbon Innovation Through Policy, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2017 Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, February 18 (2017).

February 15, 2017:

I gave a seminar on February 15 at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability in the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Innovation for Smart Cities: Japan’s Experience and Global Implications," Golisano Institute for Sustainability Research Seminar, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, February 15 (2017).

February 10, 2017:

The First Interdisciplinary Symposium on East Asian Business "Digital East Asia: Emerging Trends in Public Policy and Regulation" was held on Friday, February 10 at the East Asian Studies Center in the University of Southern California. We discussed the implications of digitalization of innovation for business and public policy in the context of East Asia.

Yarime, Masaru, "Digitalizing Innovation: Japan’s Experience of Developing Smart Cities and Implications for Business, Public Policy, and Sustainability in East Asia," First Interdisciplinary Symposium on East Asian Business "Digital East Asia: Emerging Trends in Public Policy and Regulation," East Asian Studies Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States, February 10 (2017).

February 3, 2017:

Contemporary Japan Speaker Series Part 3 "Digitalizing Innovation in Japan: The Development of Smart Cities and Implications for Business, Policy, and Sustainability in Asia-Pacific" was held at King's College London on February 2, kindly organized by the London Asia Pacific Centre for Social Science.

Yarime, Masaru, "Digitalizing Innovation in Japan: The Development of Smart Cities and Implications for Business, Policy, and Sustainability in Asia-Pacific," Contemporary Japan Speaker Series Part 3, London Asia Pacific Centre for Social Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom, February 2 (2017).

February 2, 2017:

STEaPP Seminar: Digitalisation of Innovation and Its Implications for Sustainability - Japan's Experience of Developing Smart Cities was held on February 1 at the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) of University College London.

Yarime, Masaru, "Digitalisation of Innovation and Its Implications for Sustainability: Japan's Experience of Developing Smart Cities," STEaPP Seminar, Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), University College London, London, United Kingdom, February 1 (2017).

January 1, 2017:

I have moved to Hong Kong to join the School of Energy and Environment in the City University of Hong Kong. I will work on science, technology, and innovation policy, management, and governance, focusing on the implications of digitalization and globalization of innovation including smart cities and IoT for sustainability particularly in the context of Asia and beyond.

December 16, 2016:

The Academia International Conference on Economic and Financial Cooperation: Hong Kong and the World under the Belt and Road Initiative was held on December 15-16 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, co-organised by the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. I talked about potential opportunities in exploring complementarities of Japanese and Chinese investments in innovation for sustainability through the initiative.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Innovation for Sustainability under the Belt and Road Initiative: The Role of Japan in International Cooperation and Collaboration," Academia International Conference on Economic and Financial Cooperation: Hong Kong and the World under the Belt and Road Initiative, co-organised by the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, December 15-16 (2016).

December 9, 2016:

I had an opportunity to give a talk on innovation for smart cities, kindly organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Japan. We had a stimulating discussion on Japan's past experience and lessons and implications for global collaboration with the Science and Technology Counsellors of the EU and its member states and representatives from the Science and Technology Diplomatic Circle and European science organisations.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japan's Experience of Innovation for Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in Policy, Business, and Sustainability, Delegation of the European Union to Japan, Tokyo, Japan, December 9 (2016).

December 3, 2016:

International Council for Science (ICSU) Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) has established the Task Group on Linking Open Data for Global Disaster Risk Research (LODGD). A meeting of the White Paper Team was held on December 2 in Sanya, Hainan, China to finalize White Paper 1 on Gap Analysis on Open Data Interconnectivity for Global Disaster Risk Research, which is to be published by May 2017, and to discuss the direction and content of White Paper 2 on the Next Generation Disaster Data Infrastructure led by Dr. Edward Chu and White Paper 3 on National Policies on Data for Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities and Challenges in Global Cooperation on Open Data, which I'm going to lead in the next two years.

Yarime, Masaru, "Proposal for White Paper 3 on National Policies on Data for Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities and Challenges in Global Cooperation on Open Data," Task Group on Linking Open Data for Global Disaster Risk Research (LODGD), International Council for Science (ICSU) Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA), Sanya, Hainan, China, December 2 (2016).

November 28, 2016:

The University of Southern California (USC) East Asian Studies Center will organize an international symposium, "Digital East Asia: Emerging Trends in Public Policy and Regulation," on February 10, 2017 in Los Angels, as the first of the symposium series on the Interdisciplinary Study of East Asian Business. I will join international experts in discussing key issues arising from the emergence of digital innovations in the public and private sectors in East Asia.

Digital East Asia: Emerging Trends in Public Policy and Regulation

Date: February 10, 2017, 10:00AM - 5:00PM

Venue: Social Sciences Building (SOS) B40, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States

10:00AM: Planning, Urbanization, and Public Policy

Masaru YARIME, University of Tokyo, "Digitalizing Innovation: Japan’s Experience of Developing Smart Cities and Implications for Business, Public Policy, and Sustainability in East Asia"

Eric HEIKKILA, University of Southern California, "Big Data, Social Media, and Emergency Information Systems"

12:00-2:00 Lunch Break

2:00PM: Regulation and the Internet

ANG Peng Hwa, University of Singapore, "Regulation of Disruptive Services such as UBER and AirBnB"

Yu HONG, University of Southern California, "China’s Internet Plus Policy and Economic Restructuring"

Yanhui WU, University of Southern California, "The Political Economy of Social Media in China"

November 27, 2016:

Our discussion at the CIGS International Symposium: The Role of Innovation for Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Mitigation organized by the Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS) has been reported in an article on Technology Innovation in Energy in the Run-up to Marrakech by Dr. Laura Diaz Anadon, University Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the Department of Politics and International Studies in the University of Cambridge.

November 26, 2016:

The School of Energy and Environment (SEE) in the City University of Hong Kong offers research studies leading to the degrees of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in all energy- or environment-related subjects. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is available for those who are seeking admission as new full-time PhD students. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2016.

November 25, 2016:

The London Asia Pacific Centre for Social Science will kindly organize my seminar on February 2, 2017 at King's College London. I will discuss digitalizing innovation in Japan through cases of smart cites and emerging innovation and their implications for business, policy, and sustainability in Asia-Pacific.

Contemporary Japan Speaker Series Part 3: Digitalizing Innovation in Japan

The Development of Smart Cities and Implications for Business, Policy, and Sustainability in Asia-Pacific

Location: Nash Lecture Theatre (K2.31) Strand Campus, King's College London, London

When: 02/02/2017 (18:15-20:00)

Speaker: Prof Masaru Yarime

Contact: asiapacificcentre@gmail.com

November 22, 2016:

The Academia International Conference on Economic and Financial Cooperation: Hong Kong and the World under the Belt and Road Initiative will be held on December 15-16 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, co-organised by the Central Policy Unit of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. I will participate in the conference as one of the panelists to discuss opportunities and challenges in the initiative, including development strategies and policies, investment and finance, energy, e-commerce and information technology, infrastructure, and logistics and supply chains.

November 18, 2016:

The 2016 International Conference on Urban Infrastructure and Management was held on November 17-18 in Shanghai, as part of the activities of World Cities Day. How to manage an increasing urbanization is a critical agenda in China, and we discussed some of the key challenges, including transportation, investment and financing in infrastructure construction, intelligent urban management, and the development of sponge city. I gave a talk about Japan's experience of innovation for smart cities and its implications for urban sustainability in Asia and beyond.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Innovation for Smart Cities: Japan’s Experience and Challenges for Urban Sustainability," The 2016 International Conference on Urban Infrastructure and Management, Shanghai, China, November 17-18 (2016).

November 17, 2016:

The final version of our paper on innovative policy practices to promote building energy efficiency and retrofitting in C40 cities has been published in the journal Environmental Science & Policy.

Trencher, Gregory, Vanesa Castán Broto, Tomoko Takagi, Zoe Sprigings, Yuko Nishida, and Masaru Yarime, "Innovative policy practices to advance building energy efficiency and retrofitting: Approaches, impacts and challenges in ten C40 cities," Environmental Science & Policy, 66, 353-365 (2016).

November 16, 2016:

The 5th Asian Conference on Innovative Energy and Environmental Chemical Engineering (ASCON-IEEChE) was held in Yokohama on November 13-16. As a member of the Local Organizing Committee, I chaired Session 6 on Sustainable Engineering and Environmental Protection, in which I discussed challenges in stimulating sustainability innovation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Sustainable Innovation: A Case Study of Smart Cities," The 5th Asian Conference on Innovative Energy and Environmental Chemical Engineering (ASCON-IEEChE), Yokohama, Japan, November 13-16 (2016).

November 15, 2016:

The International Conference on the Relevance of Area Studies for the Sciences and Public Policy: Examples from Europe and Asia was held on November 14-15 at the University of Tokyo, co-organized by the Network for Education and Research on Asia (ASNET), Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), and the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ). We discussed key challenges in science and public policy, including ecological and energy transitions, health and food security, and digitalization of innovation, from comparative perspectives of Europe and Asia.

Yarime, Masaru, "Diversity in Implementing Smart Cities: Implications of Area Studies for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Governance," International Conference on the Relevance of Area Studies for the Sciences and Public Policy: Examples from Europe and Asia, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, November 14-15 (2016).

November 11, 2016:

A report has been uploaded on CIGS International Symposium: The Role of Innovation for Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Mitigation, which was held on Friday, October 7 at the University of Tokyo, organized by the Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS) in collaboration with Policy Alternatives Research Institute (PARI) of the University of Tokyo. I joined international experts in discussing opportunities and challenges in policy measures and international cooperation for facilitating innovation, which has been become an critical issue since the Paris Agreement last year.

October 31, 2016:

The International Conference on the Relevance of Area Studies for the Sciences and Public Policy: Examples from Europe and Asia will be held on November 14-15 at the University of Tokyo, co-organized by the Network for Education and Research on Asia (ASNET), Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), and the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ). From comparative perspectives of Europe and Asia, we will discuss key challenges in science and public policy concerning sustainability, including ecological and energy transitions, health and food security, and digitalization of innovation.

October 27, 2016:

I gave a talk on innovation systems for global sustainability for the Energy and Environmental Seminar Series at the Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS).

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation Systems for Global Sustainability," Energy and Environmental Seminar Series, Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS), Tokyo, Japan, October 27 (2016).

October 20, 2016:

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program will organize the 50th STIG Policy Platform Seminar "GE’s Industrial IoT Strategy: Implications for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, Management, and Governance" on Friday, October 28 at the University of Tokyo. Mr. Mayoran Rajendra, a graduate of the University of Tokyo with a master's degree in precision engineering, will explain GE's strategy on the Internet of Things (IoT) / Industrial Internet and discuss its implications for science, technology, and innovation policy, management, and governance. Digital industrial transformation would have significant impacts on our efforts to move towards sustainability.

The 50th STIG Policy Platform Seminar

Date: Friday, October 28, 2016, 17:30-19:00

Venue: Kojima Conference Room, Economics Research Annex (Kojima Hall), University of Tokyo

Title: GE’s Industrial IoT Strategy: Implications for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, Management, and Governance

Speaker: Mayoran Rajendra, Solution Architect, GE Digital

Abstract: GE Digital connects streams of machine data to powerful analytics and people, providing industrial companies with valuable insights to manage assets and operations more efficiently. GE’s overall capabilities help drive digital industrial transformation for big gains in productivity, availability and longevity, by leveraging PREDIX, a cloud-based operating system, purpose built for the unique needs of industry. GE’s digital transformation is not the result of being in the right place at the right time. Instead, it is the result of a structured approach that involved a strong top-down digital vision, capability development, achieving all-round buy-in and a constant focus on innovation. The implications of digital transformation via IoT / Industrial Internet are discussed for science, technology, and innovation policy, management, and governance.

Organizer: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, University of Tokyo

Contact: YARIME Masaru

October 12, 2016:

Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program will organize the 49th STIG Policy Platform Seminar "How to design future-proof regulations? Evidence-based Policymaking and Adjudication in Health" on Wednesday, October 26 at the University of Tokyo. Professor Alberto Alemanno of HEC Paris will discuss evidence-based policy making in the public health sector mainly through legal cases in Europe and the United States.

The 49th STIG Policy Platform Seminar

Date：Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 18:30-20:00

Venue: School of Law Building, Room 204, Hongo Campus, University of Tokyo

Title: How to design future-proof regulations? Evidence-based Policymaking and Adjudication in Health

Speaker: Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law and Regulation, HEC Paris, France

Abstract: How to design future-proof regulations? The challenge is to integrate the best evidence available with public input. This presentation will discuss how evidence-based policy making may occur in the public health sector by focusing on some of the most controversial and experimental measures such as plain packaging for tobacco products, soda taxes and other economic incentives as well as nudges.

Reference: Alberto Alemanno and Enrico Bonadio, eds., The New Intellectual Property of Health: Beyond Plain Packaging, Edward Elgar (2016).

October 7, 2016:

CIGS International Symposium: The Role of Innovation for Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Mitigation was held on Friday, October 7 at the University of Tokyo, organized by the Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS) in collaboration with Policy Alternatives Research Institute (PARI) of the University of Tokyo. Since the Paris Agreement was adopted at the end of last year, innovation has been increasingly emphasized in tackling climate change globally. I joined international experts in discussing opportunities and challenges in policy measures and international cooperation for facilitating innovation.

Yarime, Masaru, "International Cooperation for Accelerating Innovation for Tackling Climate Change," CIGS International Symposium: The Role of Innovation for Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Mitigation, organized by the Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS) in collaboration with Policy Alternatives Research Institute (PARI), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, October 7 (2016).

October 2, 2016:

The Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) will start a new initiative, GraSPP Policy Challenge - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Technology and Policy Innovation Lab, to encourage students to make policy proposals for tackling sustainability challenges, including energy, health, cities, and climate change. An orientation session on will be held on Tuesday, October 4. Finalist groups will be invited to present their policy proposals at the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN) Student Conference at Sciences Po Paris in February 2017.

September 30, 2016:

My discussion about Japan's approach to smart cities with OpenGov has been reported in Citiscope.

"Japan 'smart' cities rely on public-private partnerships," Citiscope, September 30 (2016).

September 13, 2016:

SciDataCon 2016: Advancing the Frontiers of Data in Research was held on September 11-13 in Denver, Colorado as part of International Data Week, convened by the International Council of Science (ICSU) Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) and World Data System (WDS) and the Research Data Alliance (RDA). Data-driven transformation of science was among the themes of the conference, in which I served on the Programme Committee.

Yarime, Masaru, "Providing Incentives to Data Sharing and Integration for Disaster Risk Reduction: Implications for Institutional Design and Public Policy," Session on Disasters and Disasters Risk Data, SciDataCon 2016, Denver, Colorado, United States, September 11-13 (2016).

September 9, 2016:

The Institute for 21st Century Energy, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, provides a policy platform on energy reflecting views, arguments, and recommendations in the American business community. A discussion with Ms. Karen Alderman Harbert, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Stephen D. Eule, Vice President, Climate & Technology, was very informative in understanding the current context of policy debates concerning energy and climate change in the U.S.

September 8, 2016:

I had a fruitful discussion with Ms. Sarah O. Landislaw, Director and Senior Fellow of the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), on EPA's Clean Power Plan and its legal, political, and institutional implications for the use of executive orders in the U.S.

September 7, 2016:

I made a visit to the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. for discussions on energy and climate change policy and international cooperation for innovation with Dr. Robert Marley, Director, Office of International Science and Technology Collaboration and U.S. Director of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC), and Ms. Stephanie Duran, Director for International and External Partnerships, Office of Clean Coal and Carbon Management.

September 6, 2016:

I had a series of meetings with Professor Joanna Lewis of Georgetown University on green innovation in China, Professors Robert Stavins, Robert Stowe, and Joseph Aldy of Kennedy School on U.S. policy on climate change, and Professor William C. Clark of Kennedy School on technological innovation and usable knowledge for sustainability, in addition to a seminar by Professor Joseph Nye on U.S. Strategy toward China and Japan at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs in Harvard University.

September 5, 2016:

I talked to OpenGov about Japan's experience in developing smart cities and their implications for stimulating sustainability innovation, enhancing efficiency, flexibility, and resilience.

"Enhancing Efficiency, Flexibility and Resilience through Sustainable Smart City projects in Japan: OpenGov speaks with Dr Masaru Yarime about Smart City development in the Japanese context." OpenGov, September 5 (2016).

September 4, 2016:

CIGS International Symposium "The Role of Innovation for Long-Term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Mitigation" will be held on Friday, October 7 at the University of Tokyo, organized by the Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS). Since the Paris Agreement was adopted at the end of last year, innovation has been increasingly emphasized in tackling climate change globally. In this symposium I will join international experts in discussing opportunities and challenges in policy measures and international cooperation for facilitating innovation.

September 3, 2016:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has established the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) for education and research on information and decision systems, statistics and data science, and social sciences to address complex societal challenges in the key domains of expertise including energy systems, urbanization, social networks, health, and finance. I had stimulating discussions with Dr. Bryan Moser and Dr. Abdelkrim Doufene on integrating systems thinking and data-driven approaches to designing and implementing innovation for sustainability.

August 30, 2016:

I had a lunch meeting with Professor Sarah Cheah at the National University Singapore (NUS) Business School on August 26. Her expertise on Singapore's initiative to encourage entrepreneurship taught me a lot about its national innovation system.

August 29, 2016:

The Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), since it was set up by the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore in 2008, has been working to conduct research and create knowledge platforms on liveable and sustainable cities. I had an opportunity to discuss with Mr. Zhou Yimin and Dr. Joanne Khew on August 25 for collaboration on international comparison of the processes and mechanisms of establishing smart and sustainable cities.

August 28, 2016:

I had meetings with Professors Asit Biswas and Yumin Joo at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in the National University of Singapore on August 25. We had good discussions for collaborative research on examining the experiences of creating innovation for sustainable smart cities in Asian countries.

August 27, 2016:

Secure Cities: A NetApp Dialogue was held in Singapore on August 24. As cities are increasingly interconnected, experts from the private and public sectors including INTERPOL discussed various challenges in promoting smart, secure, and sustainable cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Sustainable Smart Cities and the Role of Data," Secure Cities: A NetApp Dialogue, Singapore, August 24 (2016).

August 25, 2016:

I was interviewed by TechTalkThai about smart cities and their implications for innovation policy.

"Interview with Professor Yarime Masaru about Smart City Projects in Japan with the Introduction of IoT Applications," TechTalkThai, August 24 (2016).

August 20, 2016:

A video showing Session MA7 Data-Intensive Science in 2010 Microsoft Research eScience Workshop held in Berkeley, California on October 11-13, 2010 has been uploaded to YouTube.

Yarime, Masaru, "Analyzing the Process of Knowledge Dynamics in Sustainability Innovation: Towards a Data-Intensive Approach to Sustainability Science," Session MA7 Data-Intensive Science, 2010 Microsoft Research eScience Workshop, Berkeley, California, United States, October 11-13 (2010).

August 18, 2016:

A NetApp Smart Nation Dialogue will be held in Singapore on August 24. I will talk about sustainable smart cities and the role of data. Experts will discuss how the public and private sectors can work together to secure smart cities in the regional and global contexts.

August 16, 2016:

Recommendations for the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), which will be held in Kenya later this month, have been submitted by Dr. KISHI Teruo, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. A particular emphasis is placed on human resource development and evidence-based policy making in science and technology, shifting from brain drain to brain circulation for Agenda 2063. I'm currently served on the Study Group on International Cooperation for the Science and Technology Diplomacy Advisory Network chaired by him.

August 10, 2016:

The 76th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM) was held on August 5-9 in Anaheim, California, under the overall theme of Making Organizations Meaningful. Our paper on smart cities in Japan was presented in Session on Emergence of Organizations & Fields.

Nyberg, Roy, and Masaru Yarime, "Assembling a Field into Place: Smart Cities in Japan," The 76th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM), Anaheim, California, United States, August 5-9 (2016).

August 8, 2016:

I attended the Maker Faire Tokyo 2016, which was held on August 6-7, with many exhibitions, seminars, and demonstrations made by various types of Makers including academic researchers, citizen groups, and startup entrepreneurs. The Maker movement would potentially make significant impacts on education, business, and society in general. A serious challenge would be how to scale up and assimilate it to mainstream activities.

August 7, 2016:

I had a meeting with Dr. Susanne Brucksch, Senior Research Fellow of Deutsches Institut fur Japanstudien (DIJ). We are currently working on a comparative study of the digitalization of innovation and its economic, social, and environmental implications between Japan and Germany.

August 3, 2016:

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program will organize the 48th STIG Policy Platform Seminar on International Regulatory Cooperation, Impact Assessment, and Policy Learning on Monday, September 5 in Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo. Professor Jonathan B. Wiener of Duke University will discuss opportunities and challenges in international regulatory cooperation and the use of impact assessment for policy learning toward improving regulation, with significant implications for polices and regulations concerning energy, environment, and sustainability.

The 48th STIG Policy Platform Seminar

Date: Monday, September 5, 2016, 10:30-12:00

Venue: Room 203, School of Law Building, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo

Title: International Regulatory Cooperation, Impact Assessment, and Policy Learning

Speaker: Jonathan B. Wiener, William R. and Thomas L. Perkins Professor of Law at Duke Law School, Professor of Environmental Policy at the Nicholas School of the Environment, and Professor of Public Policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States

Abstract: Regulatory standards may vary across countries. In some cases, such regulatory variation may pose barriers to trade. This has stimulated interest in “international regulatory cooperation” (IRC), in order to reduce unnecessary regulatory differences and increase trade. International agreements to promote IRC, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), seek in part to harmonize some regulatory standards. Debate continues over whether such harmonization would streamline or undermine regulatory protections. But there is a deeper role for IRC: promoting “policy learning” toward improving regulation. This approach to IRC would encourage the use of “impact assessment” (IA) to design and review regulations in each country. It would see regulatory variation across countries not only as a problem, but also as a useful source of data and experience to evaluate regulatory impacts and choose the best regulatory approaches, building a “global policy laboratory.” It would employ regulatory impact assessment not only prospectively (ex ante), but also retrospectively (ex post) and iteratively (continually), toward “planned adaptive regulation” that builds learning and updating into regulatory systems.

Organizer: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, University of Tokyo

July 30, 2016:

SciDataCon 2016: Advancing the Frontiers of Data in Research will take place on September 11-13, 2016 in Denver, Colorado as part of International Data Week, convened by the International Council of Science (ICSU) Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) and World Data System (WDS) and the Research Data Alliance (RDA). Data-driven transformation of science and its implications for practice, policy, and institutions will be discussed in this conference, in which I'm taking part as a member of the Programme Committee.

July 29, 2016:

My appointment as Honorary Reader has been extended in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) of University College London.

July 27, 2016:

The third meeting of the Study Group on International Cooperation for the Science and Technology Diplomacy Advisory Network was held on July 27 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among the issues discussed in the meeting are the recommendations to be submitted by Professor KISHI Teruo, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Kenya on August 27-28, 2016, in collaboration with African countries in tackling sustainability challenges, including energy security, environmental protection, public health, and poverty reduction. Japan-ASEAN cooperation through science and technology is also an important issue to be explored further in the study group.

July 26, 2016:

A study on the success factors of small-scale woody biomass energy systems in Japan was conducted by Amanda Ahl and Johanna Eklund in the Division of Energy Technology in the School of Industrial Engineering and Management of KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. I worked with them as a research adviser for their field work on biomass supply chains in Japan.

July 22, 2016:

The Caltech–Japan Internship Program, which was started in 1994, provides Caltech students with opportunities to collaborate on industrial projects with Japanese companies. I attended the welcome luncheon for this year's interns held in Tokyo as the coordinator of the Caltech Alumni Association in Japan.

July 21, 2016:

The Second NetApp Smart Nation Dialogue, under the theme of "Secure Data, Secure Cities: Making Connected Cities Future-Proof," will be held in Singapore on August 24. I will take part in this event as a panelist to discuss how data can be kept safe and secure, while also being accessible to the businesses and organizations that rely on it to make informed decisions.

July 20, 2016:

Our paper analyzing innovative policy practices to promote building energy efficiency and retrofitting in ten cities participating in C40 has just been published online in the journal Environmental Science & Policy.

Trencher, Gregory Patrick, Vanesa Castán Broto, Tomoko Takagi, Zoe Sprigings, Yuko Nishida, and Masaru Yarime, "Innovative policy practices to advance building energy efficiency and retrofitting: Approaches, impacts and challenges in ten C40 cities," Environmental Science & Policy, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.06.021

July 14, 2016:

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Lemelson Foundation have jointly created the AAAS-Lemelson Invention Ambassadors Program designed to encourage invention and innovation. I participated in a special event organized to celebrate the newly selected Class of 2016-2017 Invention Ambassadors, who presented how their inventions have made an impact in tackling global challenges.

July 12, 2016:

I had an opportunity in Washington, D.C. to visit 1776, a start-up incubator and seed fund for tackling some of the most pressing challenges our society faces today, such as clean energy, healthcare, smart cities, and sustainability. Start-ups are provided with access to the latest techniques and expertise and connections to mentors, industry partners, policy makers, and investors so that they will be able to build scalable businesses.

July 11, 2016:

The 16th International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society Conference was held on July 6-8 in Montreal, Canada. In Track A on Innovation Systems I made a presentation on an international comparative analysis of smart cities by utilizing the framework of innovation systems.

Yarime, Masaru, "Examining Innovation Systems of Smart Cities:Towards an International Comparative Analysis," The 16th International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society Conference, Montreal, Canada, July 6-8 (2016).

July 10, 2016:

Our paper on university's function of co-creation for sustainability has been listed as one of the highly cited articles published in the journal Science and Public Policy.

Trencher, Gregory, Masaru Yarime, Kes McCormick, Christopher Doll, and Steven Kraines, "Beyond the third mission: Exploring the emerging university function of co-creation for sustainability," Science and Public Policy, 41 (2), 151-179 (2014).

July 9, 2016:

The 32nd European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Colloquium was held at the University of Naples Federico II in Naples, Italy on July 7–9. Our paper was presented at Session on Societal Transformation and Digital Re-organization in the theme of Digital Transformations: Technology, Organization and Governance in the Algorithmic Age.

Nyberg, Roy, and Masaru Yarime, "Smart City Development in Japan: Digital Transformation or More of the Same?" The 32nd European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Colloquium: Organizing in the Shadow of Power, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy, July 7–9 (2016).

July 8, 2016:

I had a discussion with Dr. Carolin Kaltofen at the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) in University College London. Currently we are conducting a joint research project on science diplomacy, with a particular focus on tackling common challenges for sustainability in East Asia through science and technology cooperation.

July 7, 2016:

I had a research meeting with Na Jiao, a researcher specializing in industrial sustainability at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) in the University of Cambridge. We are currently working on examining the innovation systems of utilizing batteries used in electric vehicles.

July 5, 2016:

R&D Management Conference 2016 - From Science to Society: Innovation and Value Creation is currently held at Churchill College in the University of Cambridge. I made a presentation on innovation systems of smart cities from an international comparative perspective.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation Systems of Smart Cities:A Comparative Analysis of Japan and the United States," R&D Management Conference 2016 - From Science to Society: Innovation and Value Creation, Churchill College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, July 3-6 (2016).

July 2, 2016:

I had a discussion with Dr. Carlos Lopez Gomez at the Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (CSTI) in the University of Cambridge. We are currently working on developing a framework to analyse upgrading processes and mechanisms in manufacturing industries, with strategic implications for decision-making systems on science, technology, and innovation policy.

June 28, 2016:

Our paper analyzing innovative policy practices to promote building energy efficiency and retrofitting in ten cities participating in C40 has just been accepted for publication in the journal Environmental Science & Policy.

Trencher, Gregory Patrick, Vanesa Castán Broto, Tomoko Takagi, Zoe Sprigings, Yuko Nishida, and Masaru Yarime, "Innovative policy practices to advance building energy efficiency and retrofitting: Approaches, impacts and challenges in ten C40 cities," Environmental Science & Policy, forthcoming.

June 25, 2016:

A new book, Technology Assessment in Japan and Europe, has been published by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Scientific Publishing, with kind supports from ITAS-KIT (Germany), RISTEX-JST (Japan) and FCT-UNL (Portugal). I contributed a chapter on utilizing strategic resource logistics for implementing sustainability innovation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Implementing Technology Assessment through Stakeholder Platforms: Strategic Resource Logistics for Socially Robust Models of Sustainability Innovation," in Antonio Moniz and Kumi Okuwada, eds., Technology Assessment in Japan and Europe, Karlsruhe: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Scientific Publishing, 129-145 (2016).

June 21, 2016:

The 47th Session of the Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy (TIP) is currently held at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. We discussed policy instruments for system transformation/innovation based on case studies in various fields, including industry 4.0, green growth, and smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japanese Case Study on System Transformation: Smart Communities," 47th Session of the Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy (TIP), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France, June 20-22 (2016).

June 18, 2016:

A feature article on Japan's solar market has been published in PV Magazine, with my comments on the liberalization of the electricity market and its implications for smart cities in Japan.

"A platform for reform: Japan has made it again," PV Magazine, 78538 (2), 16-19 (2016).

June 16, 2016:

A review of Japan: The Precarious Future, Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., New York University Press (2015) has been published in Foreign Affairs. I contributed to this book a chapter discussing future challenges facing Japan's science and technology.

Yarime, Masaru, "Integrated Solutions to Complex Problems: Transforming Japanese Science and Technology," in Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., Japan: The Precarious Future, New York: New York University Press and United States Social Science Research Council (SSRC), 213-235 (2015).

June 10, 2016:

HKU-USC-IPPA Conference on Public Policy: Coping with Policy Complexity in the Globalized World is currently held at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in collaboration with the University of Southern California (USC) and the International Public Policy Association (IPPA). Our paper on a comparative analysis of public-private partnerships on smart cities in Asia was presented in the session on Asian Cities as Policy Innovation Hub.

Sakai, Nobuyuki, and Masaru Yarime, "The Development and Implementation of Smart Cities as a Policy Innovation: A Comparative Analysis of Public-Private Partnerships in Asia," HKU-USC-IPPA Conference on Public Policy: Coping with Policy Complexity in the Globalized World, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, June 10-11 (2016).

June 8, 2016:

Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program will organize the 46th STIG Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar on Bayesian and Non-Bayesian Methods for the Assessment of the Risks of Major Nuclear Accidents on Friday, June 10 in the Hongo campus of the University of Tokyo. Professor François Lévêque of Mines ParisTech will discuss the assessment of nuclear accidents damage and probabilities, based on his research on the economics and uncertainties of nuclear power.

The 46th STIG Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar

Date: Friday, June 10, 2016, 10:00-11:30

Venue: Seminar Room 2, Economics Research Annex (Kojima Hall), The University of Tokyo

Title: Bayesian and Non-Bayesian Methods for the Assessment of the Risks of Major Nuclear Accidents

Speaker: Professor François Lévêque, CERNA, Centre d’Economie Industrielle, Mines ParisTech, France

Abstract: How do past observations inform us on the future risks of major nuclear accidents? How did the catastrophe at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant changed the expected frequency for such events? Little has been the consensus in answering these questions. While opponents of nuclear power claim that the probability of serious accident is very high, the industry ensures that it is negligible. Furthermore, when facing such ambiguity, or multiple sources of information, how should policy-makers behave regarding these rare but catastrophic risks? The aim of the presentation is to present two methods developed in CERNA-Mines ParisTech that try to shed light on these questions. We will first present a Bayesian method which tries to determine the effect of the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident on the probability of witnessing future major nuclear accidents. Second, we will present a non-Bayesian method which tries to account for the ambiguity that characterizes the risks of nuclear power accidents.

Bio: François Lévêque is professor of economics at Mines ParisTech. He is part-time professor at the Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies (European University Institute, Florence School of Regulation). His research, teaching and consulting interests are in the areas of antitrust, intellectual property rights and network regulation. He taught economics of natural resources at the Ecole des mines de Paris (1984-1990), environmental economics at EHESS (1997-2001) and at Pavia University (1999-2002), EU Competition Law at the Boalt Law School, University of California at Berkeley (2002-2007). He created in 1999 a new major in law and economics at the Ecole des mines. He has taught industrial economics at the Ecole des mines since 1996. His expertise activity is aligned with his academic interests. He has been regularly commissioned by the French government, OECD and the European Commission to participate to advisory committees.

Reference: Lévêque François, The Economics and Uncertainties of Nuclear Power, Cambridge University Press (2015)

Contact: YARIME Masaru

June 7, 2016:

We organized Sustainability Innovation Seminar Series 54 on Tuesday, May 31 at the University of Tokyo.

Sustainability Innovation Seminar Series 54

Title: A Study on the Success Factors of Small-Scale Woody Biomass Energy System Supply Chains in Japan

Speakers: Amanda Ahl and Johanna Eklund, School of Industrial Engineering and Management, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract There is an abundance of forest in Japan, yet a lack of utilization of woody biomass in energy systems. Small-scale woody biomass can enable a supply chain based on domestic forest that can be integrated with local industry and demands, in turn facilitating local vitalization. Successful creation of collective energy systems integrated with local communities is strongly connected to supply chain design based on local conditions and stakeholders. A supply chain perspective is key in enabling woody biomass energy systems. In these supply chains lies a complex stakeholder network, in turn incurring a need to understand both formal factors, such as technology, and informal factors, such as social relations. The purpose of this study is therefore to investigate the main challenges, success factors and convergence or divergence of perceptions of key stakeholders across the supply chain of small-scale woody biomass, based on domestic forest. In doing so, a comprehensive system’s approach is attained. This is facilitated through literature studies and semi-structured interviews with experts as well as with key stakeholders in the woody biomass supply chain in field studies in Kyushu, Japan. The key success factors of small-scale woody biomass energy system supply chains are presented. If these factors can highlighted and managed, small-scale woody biomass energy systems in Japan can be enabled by incorporating a system’s approach through a supply chain perspective.

Contact: YARIME Masaru

May 29, 2016:

The 45th Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar on Moore’s Law and the Governance of Innovation will be organized on Friday, June 3 by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program. Professor Christophe Lécuyer of Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6 will discuss the emergence of new forms of innovation governance in the semiconductor industry and its implications for innovation in other sectors, including nano, bio, and photovoltaic technologies.

The 45th STIG Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar

Date: Friday, June 3rd, 10:30-12:00

Venue: Room 610, 6th floor, Administration Bureau Bldg. 2, The University of Tokyo

Title: Moore’s Law and the Governance of Innovation

Speaker: Christophe Lécuyer, Professor of the History of Science and Technology, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, France, and Senior Research Fellow, Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, United States

Abstract: The landscape of research and innovation has experienced significant changes since the early 1980s. One of these changes has been the appearance of new forms of innovation governance such as Moore’s Law and the technology roadmaps for semiconductors. How did these forms of governance emerge? What social and economic forces presided over their appearance? This paper shows that Moore’s Law, the statement that the number of transistors per microchip doubles every two years, emerged as a multipurpose tool in Silicon Valley in the first half of the 1960s. It was a technology of comprehension and persuasion; it was a marketing and promotion tool; it was a competitive device; and it was a contrivance used to allocate engineering resources and guide the development of new semiconductor technologies at the firm level. From the early 1990s to the mid-2010s, this multipurpose instrument became the centerpiece of a new governance structure in the microelectronics industry: the technology roadmaps for semiconductors. In response to fierce competition from Japan, US corporations used Moore’s Law to guide, plan and coordinate the development of device, process, and design technologies across the whole industry. Thereby, they accelerated the miniaturization of microchips and the digitalization of many industrial sectors. In the 1990s and 2000s, other industries such as nanotechnology, biotechnology and photovoltaic cells adopted similar modes of innovation governance.

Bio: Christophe Lécuyer is professor of the history of science and technology at Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6 and senior research fellow at the Charles Babbage Institute at the University of Minnesota. He taught at MIT, Stanford University, and the University of Virginia. He also held senior research appointments at Collegium de Lyon and the Institute for Advanced Studies at Central European University. He is known for his research on Silicon Valley and the history of high technologies. He is the author of Making Silicon Valley: Innovation and the Growth of High Tech, 1930-1970 (MIT Press, 2006) and the co-author of Makers of the Microchip: A Documentary History of Fairchild Semiconductor (MIT Press, 2010). He is a graduate of the Ecole Normale Supérieure and received his Ph.D. from Stanford University.

Registration: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, University of Tokyo

Contact: YARIME Masaru

May 18, 2016:

Modeling Science, Technology and Innovation Conference was held on May 17-18 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., organized by the National Science Foundation’s Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) program and the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University. Experts from economics, social science, scientometrics and bibliometrics, information science, physics, and science policy discussed opportunities and challenges in utilizing mathematical, statistical, and computational models in decision makings on science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Modeling Innovation Systems to Address Grand/Societal Challenges: A Case of Smart Cities," Modeling Science, Technology and Innovation Conference, organized by the National Science Foundation’s Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) Program and the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., United States, May 17-18 (2016).

May 14, 2016:

Science, Technology, and Innovation (STIG) Program of the University of Tokyo will organize the 41st Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar "Has India become more innovative since the onset of economic liberalisation?" on Wednesday, June 1 in the Hongo campus. Professor Sunil Mani of the Centre for Development Studies in Kerala, India will examine policy and institutional changes introduced for economic liberalization since the 1990s and discuss their impacts on India's national system of innovation.

The 41st Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar

Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2016, 17:00-18:30

Venue: Seminar Room 2, Economics Research Annex (Kojima Hall), The University of Tokyo

Title: Has India become more innovative since the onset of economic liberalisation?

Speaker: Dr Sunil Mani, Professor, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Abstract: Until 1991 India followed a policy of direct intervention in all matters related to economic activity. The country was subscribing to an important substituting strategy of becoming self-reliant in technology. However it never ever achieved that in any reasonable manner and her overall rate of growth of her economy never crossed what is now referred to as the “Hindu rate of growth”. All this was to change in 1991 when the economy liberalized, albeit in an ad hoc and unstructured manner. Direct intervention was replaced with indirect intervention as far as technology development was considered. The country also tried to alter her National System of Innovation (NSI) by placing private business enterprises almost at the core of her NSI. An outcome, although strongly debated within the country, has been significant improvement in her overall economic growth performance so much say that India has now emerged as the fastest growing country in the world and is likely to remain at that exalted position for some more time in the future. She has also become the largest exporter of computer software services in the world since 2005, has become the sixth largest exporter of aircraft components and is usually referred to as ‘pharmacy of the developing world’ as far as her generic drugs industry is concerned. She has also become one of the most preferred location for R&D services by MNCs. But have India really become very innovative during this phase of liberalization? It is this important question that the seminar proposes to answer with the aid of numerous indicators for measuring a country’s innovation performance as prescribed by the literature on economics of innovation. The presentation also seeks to unravel the feet that India needs to have to firmly place her on the sure path to technological dynamism.

Bio: Dr Sunil Mani is a Professor at the Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, Kerala, India and is now Visiting Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan. Earlier he has been a visiting professor at Bocconi University, Milan, Italy, the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Kolkata, India and has also worked at the United Nations University- MERIT, Maastricht, The Netherlands as a researcher and head of graduate studies. He is specialized in the economics and policy studies of innovation and one of his most recent publications include a book with Professor Richard Nelson of Columbia University, TRIPS Compliance, National Patent Regimes and Innovation, Evidence and Experience from Developing Countries, Cheltenham, UK and Northampton, Mass, USA., 2013 He holds a PhD in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and has done post-doctoral research at University of Oxford.

Registration: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, University of Tokyo

Contact: YARIME Masaru

May 11, 2016:

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) organized the First Anniversary Symposium of ARISE Japan on Resilience on May 10 in Tokyo. ARISE has been established through public-private partnership for implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. In this symposium we introduced some of the recent initiatives for facilitating resilience in various sectors and discussed their lessons and implications for public policy and corporate management.

Yarime, Masaru, "Understanding and Implementing Resilience: Opportunities and Challenges for the Future," ARISE Japan First Anniversary Symposium on Resilience, organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE), Tokyo, Japan, May 10 (2016).

May 4, 2016:

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) will organize Public Symposium on Resilience on May 10 in Tokyo, celebrating the first anniversary of the establishment of ARISE Japan. Resilience has been increasingly emphasized in global discussions on sustainability challenges, including climate change and disaster risk reduction. The concept plays a key role in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the global blueprint for reducing disaster losses adopted at the Third UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in March last year. ARISE has been established through public-private partnership for implementing the Sendai Framework in various sectors. In this symposium, which will be held in Japanese, we will discuss the government and corporate activities for resilience and their lessons and implications for public policy and institutional design for the future.

April 29, 2016:

Forum Co-creation for Ecological and Social Transition was held on April 29 at the Université catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, organized by LPTransition (Louvain Partnership Research for Ecological and Social Transition). The experiences of transdisciplinary research in partnership with societal actors in different countries were discussed from a perspective of international comparison.

Yarime, Masaru, Opportunities and Challenges in Sustainability Transitions: A Reflection on Japanese Experiences of Transdisciplinary Research," Forum Co-creation for Ecological and Social Transition, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, April 29 (2016).

April 27, 2016:

I had a meeting at the University of Tokyo with the Renault Foundation and the Sustainable Mobility Institute (IMD), which was established by Renault and ParisTech to create a multidisciplinary platform for joint research work on the future of transport. We have started to strengthen collaboration on pressing challenges in sustainable mobility, including electromobility and autonomous driving.

April 24, 2016:

Modeling Science, Technology and Innovation Conference will be held on May 17-18 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., funded by the National Science Foundation’s Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) program and the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University. In this agenda-setting conference, leading experts from economics, social science, scientometrics and bibliometrics, information science, physics, and science policy will discuss opportunities and challenges associated with the usage of mathematical, statistical, and computational models in science, technology, and innovation (STI) decision making. I will give a two-minute flash talk on the first day.

April 22, 2016:

Our paper that examines the development of smart cities in Japan through the concept of organisational fields has been accepted for publication in the Research in the Sociology of Organizations.

Nyberg, Roy, and Masaru Yarime, "Assembling a Field into Place: Smart City Development in Japan," in Marc-David Seidel and Henrich Greve, eds., Research in the Sociology of Organizations, forthcoming.

April 21, 2016:

Forum Co-creation for Ecological and Social Transition will be held on April 29 at the Université catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, organized by LPTransition (Louvain Partnership Research for Ecological and Social Transition). International experiences of transdisciplinary partnership research will be discussed with participants coming from Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Japan.

April 8, 2015:

A review has been published of the book Japan: The Precarious Future, Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., New York: New York University Press and United States Social Science Research Council (2015). I contributed to this book a chapter, "Integrated Solutions to Complex Problems: Transforming Japanese Science and Technology."

April 5, 2016:

Orientation Session will be organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program on Wednesday, April 6 at the University of Tokyo. If you are interested in learning various issues concerning science, technology, and innovation policy and governance, you are very welcome to join us.

April 1, 2016:

A roundtable on Japan's Possible Futures – Sponsored by U.S. Social Science Research Council (SSRC) was held in the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) Annual Meeting 2016 on March 31 in Seattle. This roundtable served as a book launch for Japan: The Precarious Future, edited by Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, which was published by New York University Press in December 2015. We discussed critical challenges in Japan's future, including gender issues, Abenomics and financial revival, the controversy about the constitution, post-Fukushima preparation for mega-disasters, and science and technology.

Yarime, Masaru, "Integrated Solutions to Complex Problems: Transforming Japanese Science and Technology," Roundtable on Japan's Possible Futures – Sponsored by U.S. Social Science Research Council (SSRC), Association for Asian Studies (AAS) Annual Conference 2016, Seattle, Washington, United States, March 31 (2016).

March 30, 2016:

I had a good discussion with Professor John P. Walsh at the School of Public Policy in the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. We have started to work on a project to examine the effects of policy and institutional reforms introduced in the past decade on scientific research in academia and university-industry collaboration.

March 28, 2016:

I had a meeting with Dr. Jeffrey Bohn, Senior Vice President of GX Labs of State Street Global Exchange in San Francisco. We discussed the evaluation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and its implications for corporate finance and risk assessment.

March 26, 2016:

I had a fruitful discussion with Professor Daniel Kammen of the University of California at Berkeley, joined by my colleague Professor Jun Arima, on policy measures and international collaboration to stimulate innovation for tackling climate change from a long-term perspective.

March 23, 2016:

The first meeting of the Study Group on International Cooperation for the Science and Technology Diplomacy Advisory Network was held on March 23, organized by the Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We discussed how to promote science and technology to address global challenges such as energy security, environmental protection, public health, and poverty reduction in collaboration with African countries, in preparation for the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) to be held in Kenya on August 27-28, 2016.

March 22, 2016:

I have joined the Programme Committee of SciDataCon 2016: Advancing the Frontiers of Data in Research, which will take place on September 11-13 in Denver, Colorado, United States, as a part of International Data Week organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) and the World Data System (WDS) of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the Research Data Alliance (RDA). Addressing broader societal challenges and data-driven innovation, we will discus various issues relating to data, including, among others, policy frameworks, data quality and interoperability, long-term stewardship of data, and the research skills, technologies, and infrastructures required by increasingly data-intensive research.

March 15, 2016:

I gave a lecture on innovation and sustainability for the course on Science, Technology and Public Policy at the School of Public Policy in the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, United States. We discussed the effects of environmental policy on technological change, use of scientific knowledge in policy making, and stakeholder collaboration for implementing innovation for sustainability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainability: Public Policy Approaches and Their Impacts," Lecture for the Course on Science, Technology and Public Policy, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, March 14 (2016).

March 14, 2016:

An article on Japan's nuclear sector has been published in PV Magazine, with my comments on the country's future goal for renewable energy.

"Tough times continue for Japan's nuclear industry," PV Magazine, News, March 14 (2016).

March 10, 2016:

I had a good discussion with Dr. Bryan Norton, who has recently published the book Sustainable Values, Sustainable Change: A Guide to Environmental Decision Making. As Professor Emeritus he has been teaching a course on Sustainability and Environmental Policy at the School of Public Policy in the Georgia Institute of Technology. Uncertainty, complexity, and normativity involved in decision making would require a process-oriented approach to sustainability, based on pluralism and heuristic proceduralism for adaptive collaborative management.

March 7, 2016:

Symposium on Science and Technology Data was held on March 3-4 in Tokyo, organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) and the World Data System (WDS) of the International Council for Science (ICSU), coinciding with the Seventh Plenary Meeting of Research Data Alliance (RDA). Given the strong emphasis on university-industry collaboration in science and technology policy in recent years, open science would pose many questions and challenges in encouraging innovation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Open Science and Its Enemies: Republic of Science and Enterprise of Technology," Symposium on Science and Technology Data, organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) and the World Data System (WDS) of the International Council for Science (ICSU), Seventh Plenary Meeting of Research Data Alliance (RDA), Tokyo, Japan, March 4 (2016).

March 7, 2016:

The Third Symposium on the Principles for Financial Action for the 21st Century: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investment for Sustainability was held on Friday, March 4 in Tokyo, organized by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Introducing the current state of academic findings about climate change, I discussed various kinds of climate-related risks and their implications for investors and financial institutions.

Yarime, Masaru, "Current State of Scientific Findings on Climate Change and Implications for Investors and Financial Institutions," Third Symposium on the Principles for Financial Action for the 21st Century: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investment for Sustainability, organized by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, Tokyo, Japan, March 4 (2016).

March 1, 2016:

A series of Symposia on Science and Technology Data will be held on March 3-4 in Tokyo, organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) and the World Data System (WDS) of the International Council for Science (ICSU), coinciding with the Seventh Plenary Meeting of Research Data Alliance (RDA). Among the issues to be discussed would be open data and science, intellectual property rights, long-term data preservation, business models, and interdisciplinary data usage and applications for societal challenges. I will talk about tackling complex problems through integrated solutions with data and its implications for science, technology, and innovation policy.

February 29, 2016:

The Third Symposium on the Principles for Financial Action for the 21st Century, focusing on ESG investment for sustainability, will be held on Friday, March 4 in Tokyo, organized by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Experts from academia, government, and financial institutions will discuss investment practices and activities incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and opportunities and challenges in the future. I will talk about the current state of academic findings about climate change and its implications for investors and financial institutions.

February 21, 2016:

Science and Technology Indicators Conference 2016, the annual event of the European Network of Indicator Designers (ENID), will take place at INGENIO (CSIC‐UPV) in València, Spain on September 14-16. This conference, in which I'm involved as a member of the Scientific Committee, is aimed at stimulating discussions on the frontiers of S&T indicator development and use and their implications for peripheral or marginal spaces, geographically, cognitively, or socially, to the center of economic, scientific, or technological activities.

February 20, 2016:

A feature article on the smart city has been published in the German newspaper Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, with my comments on the implications of the development of smart cities for our relationship with new technologies and potential concerns as well as opportunities.

"Die Stadt der Alleswisser: Besuch in der Smart City," Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, February 19 (2016).

February 19, 2016:

Global Leader Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM) will organize the Third GSDM International Symposium "Global Governance and Innovation in the Fields of Medicine and Health" on February 23 at the University of Tokyo. Experts coming from academia, industry, government, and international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund will discuss opportunities and challenges in promoting medical health innovation, which involves research and development, on-site application of research findings, and collaboration through public-private partnerships.

February 18, 2016:

PV Magazine has published in its February 2016 issue a feature article on Japan's solar market. I made comments on the liberalization of the electricity market and its implications for the emergence of smart cities in Japan.

"A platform for reform: Japan has made it again," PV Magazine, 78538 (2), 16-19 (2016).

February 15, 2016:

My page has been created on the web site of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Research Institute, where I'm currently working as Visiting Scholar for the projects on Policy Measures for Improving Urban Air Quality in Asia and Transformative Innovation for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction.

February 14, 2016:

There is a call for applications for participation in LKY-GraSPP Conference to be held in Tokyo on February 23 with students of Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore and the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo . We will discuss current policy challenges, including aging population, fiscal policy, education, national security, and industrial and economic development.

LKY-GraSPP Conference

Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Venue: School of Law Bldg, University of Tokyo Hongo Campus

Program:

14:00-14:10 Opening

14:10-15:40 Presentation & Discussion × 2 topics

15:40-15:50 Break

15:50-17:20 Presentation & Discussion × 2 topics

17:20-17:30 Break

17:40-18:20 Lecture of Prof. Suzuki

Policy Topics: Aging Population, Fiscal Policy, Education, National Security, and Industrial and Economic Development

Lecturers: Professor SUZUKI Kan, Professor NISHIZAWA Toshiro, Professor FUJIWARA Kiichi, and Professor YARIME Masaru

February 12, 2016:

The Fourth Neureiter Science Diplomacy Roundtable on Science & Technology Advice to Foreign Ministries was held on February 11 in Washington, D.C., organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Center for Science Diplomacy in partnership with the Office of the S&T Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Approximately 30 experts, diplomats, and S&T advisers were invited to discuss current challenges in connecting the S&T adviser network to scientific community, building internal S&T capacity in foreign ministries, and expanding science advisers network globally.

February 10, 2016:

I gave a lecture for the course on Science, Technology and Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Tracing the historical development of the national innovation system approach, we discussed the characteristics of Japanese innovation system and its challenges in the future, in comparison with other countries including China and the United States.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japan's National Innovation System and Its Future Challenges," Lecture for the Course on Science, Technology and Public Policy, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, February 9 (2016).

January 30, 2016:

The first SciREX Project Seminar will be held on Wednesday, February 24 at 16:00 in the Hongo campus of the University of Tokyo, organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) program. In our efforts to tackle societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction, the role of science and technology is increasingly emphasized in international frameworks and agreements on policy making and institutional design. Professor John P. Walsh of the Georgia Institute of Technology will discuss authorship norms and project structures in science based on a recent empirical study comparing across different academic fields in the United States.

January 29, 2016:

The UNISDR Science and Technology Conference on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was held on January 27-29 in Geneva. An important issue discussed in the conference was how to promote and support the availability and application of science and technology to decision-making in disaster risk reduction. The conference was co-organized by the International Council for Science (ICSU), in which I'm serving the Task Group on Linking Open Data for Global Disaster Risk Research (LODGD) organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA). As LODGD has been proposed to act as a knowledge hub, we plan to publish the First White Paper on Gap Analysis on Open Data Interconnectivity for Global Disaster Risk Research and the Second White Paper on Next Generation Disaster Data Infrastructure.

January 28, 2016:

I made comments on the development of smart cities and communities and their implications for promoting electric vehicles (EVs) in the following article in PV Magazine.

"UK awards £40 million in funding to boost EVs," PV Magazine, News, January 27 (2016).

January 27, 2016:

I had a series of meetings on research projects on Science Diplomacy and Science Advice with my colleagues at the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) of University College London. Through this international collaboration we aim to advance the development of science diplomacy and science advice as interdisciplinary fields of research, closely linked to the real-world practices of science and policy making.

January 26, 2016:

Our paper examining the resilience of embodied energy networks in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has just been published in the journal Global Environmental Research.

Sato, Masahiro, Ali Kharrazi, Hirofumi Nakayama, Steven Kraines, and Masaru Yarime, "The Resilience of Embodied Energy Networks: A Critical Dimension for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Global Environmental Research, 19 (2), 187-198 (2016).

January 24, 2016:

I got another interview by a journalist working for Die Zeit and Der Spiegel in Germany. As there has been a growing interest in smart city projects developed around the world including especially Japan, we discussed many questions being raised now: e.g., is technology replacing human autonomy; what is being done with all the data collected; are there likely to be unforeseeable social consequences?

January 23, 2016:

I got interviewed by a journalist working for PV Magazine, a monthly publication covering the latest technological trends and worldwide market developments in the field of photovoltaics. We discussed Japan's efforts to deregulate the energy sector and their implications for renewable energy.

January 20, 2016:

White Paper Team Meeting of the Task Group on Linked Open Data for Global Disaster Risk Research (LODGD) was held on January 18-19 at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, organized by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) of the International Council for Science (ICSU). We are currently working on the First White Paper on Gap Analysis on Open Data Interconnectivity for Global Disaster Risk Research, which will be published later this year.

January 15, 2016:

The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) Annual Meeting 2016 will be held from March 31 to April 3 in Seattle, United States. There will be a roundtable on Japan's Possible Futures, in which I will discuss the transformation of science and technology to meet societal challenges.

Japan's Possible Futures – Sponsored by U.S. Social Science Research Council (SSRC)

Organizer: Frank P. Baldwin

Date: Thursday, March 31, 2016, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Panel Abstract: The purpose of this roundtable is fourfold: introduce research on Japan’s possible futures, look beyond the disasters of 2011 at new developments in the years ahead, serve as a book launch for Japan: The Precarious Future, and enable the contributors to interact with an audience of scholars and students in a Q & A discussion. The edited volume was published by New York University Press in December 2015. The theme of the roundtable is the near-term outlook for Japan as seen by eighteen scholars (five will attend) and the scope is broad. The essays range from grim demographic constraints, employment patterns, and the rivalry between China and Japan to the legacy of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Some authors see gloom (but not doom) while others foresee a successful muddling through. The consensus is summed up in the book’s title: a precarious future. Each discussant will address an aspect of Japan’s future based on her/his chapter in the book. Ayako Kano will discuss gender issues. Saori Katada will discuss Abenomics and financial revival. Lawence Repeta will discuss the controversy over Japan’s constitution. William Siembieda will discuss post-Fukushima preparation for mega-disasters. Masaru Yarime will discuss the transformation of science and technology to meet social challenges. This is a committed effort to present multidisciplinary social science research at the AAS conference. Researchers in Japan are showing greater interest in the country’s future. Two public symposia in Tokyo this year have looked at where Japan will be circa 2030. Each was narrow in scope, basically limited to one discipline. This roundtable will demonstrate the benefits of a wider focus.

January 14, 2016:

My research seminar was organized on Wednesday, January 13 by the Resilience Engineering Research Center of the University of Tokyo, with which I'm affiliated as Cooperation Researcher.

Yarime, Masaru, "Understanding and Implementing Resilience in Energy Systems: Implications for Network Governance for Global Sustainability," Research Seminar Resilience Engineering Research Center, University of Tokyo, January 14 (2016).

January 13, 2016:

Co-creation of knowledge and societal experiments for sustainability at universities is discussed with case studies in Japan, Sweden, and the United States in the book Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level, which will be published soon by Springer.

Trencher, Gregory, Daniel Rosenberg Daneri, Kes McCormick, Toru Terada, John Petersen, Masaru Yarime, and Bernadett Kiss, "The Role of Students in the Co-creation of Transformational Knowledge and Sustainability Experiments: Experiences from Sweden, Japan and the USA," in Walter Leal Filho and Luciana Brandli, eds., Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level, Berlin: Springer, 191-215 (2016).

January 11, 2016:

My page has been created on ORCID, which provides a registry to obtain a unique identifier and manage a record of activities for researchers.

December 31, 2015:

Google Scholar provides information on the citations of my publications at the end of 2015.

December 30, 2015:

Amazon's Author Page has been updated for 2015, with two books published and another one forthcoming.

December 29, 2015:

A year-end update has been made on my page at Publons, with 18 reviews of papers conducted in 2015.

December 25, 2015:

The book Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level, edited by Walter Leal Filho and Luciana Brandli, will be published by Springer early next year. Our chapter discusses the co-creation of knowledge and experiments for sustainability based on the experiences of some leading universities in Japan, Europe, and the United States.

Trencher, Gregory, Daniel Rosenberg Daneri, Kes McCormick, Toru Terada, John Petersen, Masaru Yarime, and Bernadett Kiss, "The Role of Students in the Co-creation of Transformational Knowledge and Sustainability Experiments: Experiences from Sweden, Japan and the USA," in Walter Leal Filho and Luciana Brandli, eds., Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level, Berlin: Springer, forthcoming.

December 22, 2015:

The IoT Acceleration Consortium was established in October 2015 in Japan to promote the development and demonstration of innovative technologies and the creation of business models for the Internet of Things (IoT) through close collaboration among academia, industry, and the public sector. I have joined the consortium as an Expert Member.

December 17, 2015:

The 5th Asian Conference on Innovative Energy and Environmental Chemical Engineering (ASCON-IEEChE) will be held in Yokohama, Japan on November 13-16, 2016. I have joined the Organizing Committee to support the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge among researchers and practitioners in academia and industry in Asia in various fields related to chemical engineering, particularly focusing on energy, environmental protection, and sustainability. The deadline for submitting abstracts is January 31, 2016.

December 15, 2015:

The Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo will start a new Ph.D. program in April 2016, with a research focus on International Finance and Development and International Security, including Energy Security, Global Health, Risk and Resilience, and Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Governance. Everyone is very welcome to attend the information session on Thursday, December 17 at 19:00-20:00 at Room 610 on the sixth floor of the Administration Bureau Building 2 in the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo.

December 14, 2015:

I've joined the Editorial Board of SpringerPlus, an open-access journal that considers for publication manuscripts from all disciplines of academic research. With the first Impact Factor to be announced in June 2016, we expect a considerable increase in the number of submissions to the journal.

December 12, 2015:

The book Japan: The Precarious Future, edited by Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, has been published by New York University Press and U.S. Social Science Research Council (SSRC). This book is based on a project initiated by SSRC with the participation of a group of scholars of economics, politics, law, sociology, and public policy to examine the various roads that might lie ahead of Japan. Contributors explore issues such as national security, political leadership, manufacturing prowess, diplomacy, population decline, gender equality, and science and technology. This book would be essential for understanding the current landscape and future prospects of Japan, also providing valuable perspectives in thinking about the sustainability of this country.

Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., Japan: The Precarious Future, New York: New York University Press and United States Social Science Research Council (SSRC), (2015).

Introduction: Japan's Possible Futures - Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison

1. Demography as Destiny: Falling Birthrates and the Allure of a Blended Society - Sawako Shirahase

2. Precarity and Hope: Social Connectedness in Postcapitalist Japan - Anne Allison

3. Risk and Consequences: The Changing Japanese Employment Paradigm - Machiko Osawa and Jeff Kingston

4. The Future of Gender in Japan: Work/Life Balance and Relations between the Sexes - Ayako Kano

5. After Fukushima: Veto Players and Japanese Nuclear Policy - Jacques E.C. Hymans

6. Japan’s Megadisaster Challenges: Crisis Management in the Modern Era - William J. Siembieda and Haruo Hayashi

7. Fiscal Survival and Financial Revival: Possible Futures for the Japanese Economy - Saori N. Katada and Gene Park

8. Manufacturing in Japan: Factories and National Policy - Takahiro Fujimoto with Frank Baldwin

9. Integrated Solutions to Complex Problems: Transforming Japanese Science and Technology - Masaru Yarime

10. Military Cooperation and Territorial Disputes: The Changing Face of Japan’s Security Policy - Hiroshi Nakanishi

11. Economic and Strategic Leadership in Asia: The Rivalry between China-Japan - Claude Meyer

12. Possible Futures of Political Leadership: Waiting for a Transformational Prime Minister - Ellis S. Krauss and Robert J. Pekkanen

13. State Power versus Individual Freedom: Japan’s Constitutional Past, Present, and Possible Futures - Lawrence Repeta and Colin P.A. Jones

December 11, 2015:

The Gathering of Japan Foundation Fellows 2015 was held on Friday, December 11 in Tokyo. As an Abe Fellow I enjoyed very much discussing with other Fellows at the presentation session organized on a variety of topics, ranging from Japanese language and literature to international politics and public policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "University-Industry-Government Collaboration for Innovation to Tackle Grand/Societal Challenges: Implications and Opportunities for Science and Technology Policy," The Gathering of Japan Foundation Fellows 2015, Japan Foundation, Tokyo, Japan, December 11 (2015).

December 10, 2015:

The International Conference on Social Research on Off-Grid Solar was organized by University College London (UCL) and the University of Edinburgh on December 9-10 at UCL. Researchers, practitioners, and policy makers brought their knowledge and expertise to discuss this growing research area from various perspectives, including technology design, business model, user interaction, and public policy.

Yarime, Masaru, "Assessing the Sustainability of Off-Grid Solar: Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts of Solar LED Lanterns," International Conference on Social Research on Off-Grid Solar, organized by University College London (UCL) and the University of Edinburgh, UCL, London, United Kingdom, December 9-10 (2015).

December 9, 2015:

The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) has published a conference report on Technology and Climate Change: Innovation and Partnership for Transitional Change organized by ORF in New Delhi, India in September 2015. I was invited as one of the speakers to the conference, which focused on the strategies and policies on innovation for enabling transformative changes in global energy systems and building adaptive capacities in the country. The global debate on intellectual property rights (IPRs), adaptive and absorptive capacities, and bilateral opportunities for joint R&D are among the issues discussed in the conference, in the lead up to COP 21 currently held in Paris.

December 3, 2015:

The EcoDesign 2015 Conference: Sustainability through Innovation in Product Life Cycle Design is currently taking place in Tokyo. In Session on Future Design for Sustainability we discussed key concepts, methodologies, and practices recently proposed or implemented for designing possible futures towards sustainability, including participatory deliberation, stakeholder platform, uncertainty assessment, backcasting, and virtual future generations.

Yarime, Masaru, "Stimulating Innovation for Sustainability Transitions: The Role of Stakeholder Platforms for University-Industry-Government Collaboration on Smart Communities," EcoDesign 2015 Conference: Sustainability through Innovation in Product Life Cycle Design, Tokyo, Japan, December 2-4 (2015).

December 2, 2015:

Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program of the University of Tokyo will organize the 40th Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar on Thursday, December 17. Dr. Carlos Lopez-Gomez of the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (CSTI) in the University of Cambridge will discuss recent developments in the industrial-innovation policy agenda in the UK and Japan, focusing on key challenges identified globally, including the digitization of manufacturing and innovation for industrial sustainability.

The 40th Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2016, 17:00-18:30

Venue：Seminar Room 2, Economic Research Annex (Kojima Hall), The University of Tokyo

Title: International Approaches to Industrial-Innovation Policy: A Focus on UK and Japan

Speaker: Dr. Carlos López-Gómez, Research Associate, Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (CSTI), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Visiting Researcher, Center for Research and Development Strategy (CRDS), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), University of Tokyo

Abstract: The role of innovation policies in supporting manufacturing-based economic growth is the subject of much debate internationally. Particularly in the context of potentially disruptive developments such as the "digitisation of manufacturing" and rapid advances in related emerging technologies, countries around the world are developing new strategies and policies to help their industries overcome current and future competitiveness challenges. Approaches adopted across countries vary considerably, owing to differences in national policy tradition and priorities, industrial strengths and institutional infrastructure. This talk will discuss recent developments in the industrial-innovation policy agenda in the UK and Japan. Emphasis will be placed on key industrial challenges recently identified in both countries and new institutional approaches aimed at supporting manufacturing innovation. Examples will be drawn from the 'digitisation of manufacturing' policy agenda in both countries.

Short Bio: Carlos López-Gómez is the head of knowledge exchange at the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (CSTI), University of Cambridge. His work explores the interfaces of industrial and innovation policy with particular emphasis on how countries capture value through manufacturing innovation. Carlos has advised regional and national governments as well as international institutions, including the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the European Commission as well as regional governments in Mexico and Spain. Carlos is currently a visiting researcher at the Center for Research and Development Strategy (CRDS), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST); and at the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), University of Tokyo.

Organizer: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, The University of Tokyo

Contact: YARIME Masaru

December 1, 2015:

I have just joined the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Research Institute as Visiting Scholar. My work here focuses on the research projects on Policy Measures for Improving Urban Air Quality in Asia and Transformative Innovation for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction.

November 30, 2015:

The International Energy Forum (IEF) and and King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) organized a joint seminar on sustainable transport technology on November 10 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Experts invited from academia, industry, and the public sector discussed recent development and implementation of emerging transport technologies and future research directions for sustainable transportation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Implementing Innovation on Smart Cities through Stakeholder Collaboration: International Comparative Analysis," Seminar on Driving Adoption of Sustainable Transport Technology: What Policy and Business Strategies are Effective?, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 10 (2015).

November 27, 2015:

China-Japan Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Innovation Forum 2015 was held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China on November 25-26, organized by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Experts coming from academia, industry, and the public sector in Japan and China discussed various issues involving innovation-driven development, with potentials for establishing smart or intelligent societies through cooperation and collaboration between Japan and China.

Yarime, Masaru, "Innovation on Smart Cities through Stakeholder Collaboration: Opportunities and Challenges in Japan-China Cooperation," China-Japan Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Innovation Forum 2015: Innovation-Driven Development for Establishing Smart Societies, organized by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), China National Convention Center, Beijing, China, November 25-26 (2015).

November 21, 2015:

Energy resilience of countries was investigated by quantifying the diversity in suppliers both of direct and embodied energy through global trade networks. Our paper discussing the research findings with implications for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has just been accepted for publication in the journal Global Environmental Research.

Sato, Masahiro, Ali Kharrazi, Hirofumi Nakayama, Steven Kraines, and Masaru Yarime, "The Resilience of Embodied Energy Networks: A Critical Dimension for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Global Environmental Research, forthcoming.

November 20, 2015:

The Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo will start a new Ph.D. program in April 2016, with a research focus on International Finance and Development and International Security, including Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Governance. Information sessions will take place on Thursday, November 26 at 12:20-13:20 at Room 710 and on Thursday, December 17 at 19:00-20:00 at Room 610 in the Administration Bureau Building 2 in the Hongo Campus.

November 19, 2015:

Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program will organize STIG International Symposium 2015 "Using Behavioral Science Insights to Design Innovative Public Policy and Business" on Wednesday, November 25 at the University of Tokyo. Dr. Ken Haig of Opower Japan, Professor Alberto Alemanno of HEC Paris, and leading experts will discuss recent findings of behavioral science and their implications for public policy and business in facilitating innovation for energy saving, public health, and disaster mitigation.

STIG International Symposium 2015 "Using Behavioral Science Insights to Design Innovative Public Policy and Business"

Behavioral changes in daily life are essential for saving energy, preventing diseases, and reducing damages from natural disasters. However, it is often difficult to set in place laws and other regulatory measures that are directly targeted at individual behavioral changes. That is why there is an increasing interest in using behavioral science insights, which are called "nudges." They utilizes the psychological biases of people in an attempt to lead their behaviors toward "good" outcomes. This symposium will look into innovative approaches for public policy and business utilizing nudges, focusing on energy savings and health promotion.

Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2015, 13:00-16:00

Venue: Yayoi Auditorium Annex, Hongo Campus, University of Tokyo

Keynote Lectures: Dr. Ken Haig, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Opower Japan Professor Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor of Law, HEC Paris

Organizer: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, University of Tokyo

November 18, 2015:

The 11th SciREX Seminar "An Agenda for Science and Technology Policy in The Netherlands" was held on Tuesday, November 17, organized by the Science for Redesigning Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (SciREX) Center. Mr. Jan Staman, Former Director of the Rathenau Institute in the Hague, talked about recent controversies in environmental issues involving science and technology in the Netherlands. I facilitated a discussion with the audience on how stakeholders in academia, government, and civil society can restore trust in science and technology, implementing innovation for tackling sustainability challenges.

Yarime, Masaru, "Questions and Discussions on Contested Science: Public Controversies about Science and Policy," The 11th SciREX Seminar "An Agenda for Science and Technology Policy in the Netherlands," Expert Club Kasumigaseki Knowledge Center, Tokyo, Japan November 17 (2015).

November 13, 2015:

Green Technology Center in Seoul organized GTC International Symposium 2015: Korea's Opportunities in Response to Major Countries' Climate Change and Green Technology Policy. Experts invited from the United States, Germany, China, Japan, and South Korea presented green technology policies in response to climate change in different national contests and discussed opportunities and challenges in facilitating international cooperation, with a particular focus on Asia.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japan’s Experience of Implementing Green Innovation and Strategies for Tackling Climate Change," Green Technology Center (GTC) International Symposium 2015: Korea's Opportunities in Response to Major Countries' Climate Change and Green Technology Policy, Seoul, South Korea, November 12 (2015).

November 10, 2015:

King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia organized a workshop, "Drivers of Transportation Fuel Demand: Is Policy Expanding the Reach of Alternative and Fuel Efficient Vehicles?," and a seminar, "Driving Adoption of Sustainable Transport Technology: What Policy and Business Strategies are Effective?" More than 30 experts invited from academia, industry, and the public sector participated in roundtable discussions to develop new insights and identify future research directions for sustainable transportation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Implementing Innovation on Smart Cities through Stakeholder Collaboration," Seminar on Driving Adoption of Sustainable Transport Technology: What Policy and Business Strategies are Effective?, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 10 (2015).

November 7, 2015:

I made a visit to Ecole Polytechnique in France to discuss opportunities for strengthening cooperation and collaboration on research and educational activities with the University of Tokyo. Dr. Elena Mure and Ms. Gaelle Le Goff in charge of International Development and Professor Yukio Koriyama in the Department of Economics are very keen to promote the exchange of students and faculty members between the two institutions.

November 6, 2015:

The Sustainable Mobility Institute (IMD), which was established by Renault, Renault Foundation, and ParisTech in 2009, conducts research on transportation and mobility for a sustainable future. I have started to collaborate with Haruki Sawamura-san and our colleagues at École Polytechnique on a project to explore opportunities and challenges in implementing electric mobility systems in Bangalore, India.

October 27, 2015:

The First National Meeting in 2015 of Experts for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was organized on Tuesday, October 27 by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment to share and exchange information about the expert groups of IPBES. In the Expert Group on Deliverable 4c, which I have joined through nomination by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), we are currently developing a proposal for a catalogue of policy support tools and methodologies (IPBES/3/INF/8 Annex III) and a guidance on how the further development of policy support tools and methodologies could be promoted and catalysed in the context of the Platform (IPBES/3/5 Annex II).

Yarime, Masaru, "Current State of Activities and Discussions in the Expert Group on Catalogue of Policy Support Tools and Methodologies (Deliverable 4c)," First National Meeting in 2015 of Experts for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), organized by the Ministry of the Environment, Tokyo, Japan, October 27 (2015).

October 26, 2015:

A report has been published on the Conference on Technology and Climate Change: Innovation and Partnership for Transitional Change, which was organized on September 23 by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi, India. UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd and the Indian Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar were among the speakers invited to discuss the policy frameworks required to stimulate technology innovation and global partnerships, in the lead up to COP 21 in Paris this December. In Panel 2 on Technological Transitions and Innovation: Learning from New Centers and Sectors I talked about Japan's experience of innovation on energy and lessons and implications for tackling climate change.

October 23, 2015:

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program will organize the 38th Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar on the Ethos of Science Advice on Friday, November 6 at the University of Tokyo. Professor Arthur Petersen of the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) at University College London (UCL) will discuss the roles and processes of science advice for public decision-making at local, national, and international levels, based on his experiences at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

The 38th Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar

Date: Friday, November 6, 2015, 17:00-18:30

Venue: Seminar Room 404, School of Law Building, The University of Tokyo

Title: The Ethos of Science Advice

Speaker: Professor Arthur C Petersen, Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), University College London (UCL), United Kingdom

Abstract: There are many theories that can inform analysis of how science advice is done or should be done. Here I define “science advice” as “practices involving individuals, organisations and structures that mobilise natural and social scientific and engineering knowledge into public decision-making”. In this seminar, I will demonstrate that although some theories are well elaborated, empirical proof for the described changes, roles and processes in scientific advice is limited. After reviewing literature and outstanding questions on roles of scientific advisors at local, national and international levels, I will offer a pragmatist analysis of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Subsequently, I will assess capacity-building needs in science advice across a range of cultural and political contexts, and governance scales: What skills do future science advisors and recipients of science advice need to deal responsibly with their tasks? I will conclude with presenting elements of an ethos of scientific advice, which are based on experiences with implementing post-normal science at the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

Biography: Professor Arthur C Petersen (DPA PhD MA MSc) joined UCL STEaPP fulltime in September 2014 after more than 13 years’ work as scientific adviser on environment and infrastructure policy within the Dutch Government. Most recently he served as Chief Scientist of the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (2011–2014). Arthur is also Adjunct Professor of Science and Environmental Public Policy at the VU University Amsterdam (since 2011) and Research Affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (since 2009), and has been Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (2009–2014) and at UCL STEaPP (January–August 2014). Arthur studied physics and philosophy, obtained doctorate degrees in atmospheric sciences (Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Utrecht University, 1999) and philosophy of science (Doctor of Public Administration – DPA, VU University Amsterdam, 2006), and now also finds disciplinary homes in anthropology and political science. Most of his research is about managing uncertainty.

Organizer: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG), The University of Tokyo

Contact: YARIME Masaru

October 20, 2015:

The Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development, edited by Matthias Barth, Gerd Michelsen, Marco Rieckmann, Ian Thomas, will be published next week. In this handbook I have written the first chapter on education for sustainable development and sustainability science with Dr. Yoko Mochizuki.

Mochizuki, Yoko, and Masaru Yarime, "Chapter 1 - Education for Sustainable Development and Sustainability Science: Re-purposing Higher Education and Research," in Matthias Barth, Gerd Michelsen, Marco Rieckmann, and Ian Geoffrey Thomas, eds., Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development, London: Routledge, 11-24 (2015).

October 19, 2015:

Top downloaded papers published in Science and Public Policy from 2014 and 2015 will be free to read until the end of this year, including our paper on the university's emerging function of co-creation for sustainability.

Trencher, Gregory, Masaru Yarime, Kes McCormick, Christopher Doll, and Steven Kraines, "Beyond the third mission: Exploring the emerging university function of co-creation for sustainability," Science and Public Policy, 41 (2), 151-179 (2014).

October 17, 2015:

The 34th Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar will be organized on Thursday, October 22 in the Hongo campus of the University of Tokyo. Jan Staman, Former Director of Rathenau Institute based in the Hague in the Netherlands, will introduce a variety of issues involving controversies with regard to scientific evidence in recent years and discuss their lessons and implications for science, technology, and innovation policy and governance.

The 34th Policy Platform (PoP) Seminar

Date/Time: Thursday, October 22, 2015, 15:00-16:30

Venue: Seminar Room 102, School of Law Building, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo

Title: Contested Science

Speaker: Jan Staman, Former Director of Rathenau Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands

Abstract: Scientific evidence for new innovation, such as shale gas exploitation, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination, nanotechnology, and synthetic biology, is often contested in society. In this seminar, Jan Staman, who until last was the Director of Rathenau Institute, the leading institution in the field of technology assessment in Europe, will discuss a wide range of recent developments on such topics as the nexus of science and society and the contested science.

Organizer: Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program, University of Tokyo

Contact: YARIME Masaru

October 15, 2015:

The Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) at the University of Tokyo will start a new Ph.D. program in April 2016. The main fields of research will be International Finance and Development and International Security, including science, technology, innovation policy and governance. The application period will be in the middle of January 2016.

October 14, 2015:

The Science for RE-designing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciREX) Center organized the Symposium "Toward Co-evolution of Science for Policy and Policy Making Process in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy - Challenges and Future Perspectives" on Wednesday, October 14 at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. I introduced to the audience the research and educational activities at the Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG) Program at the University of Tokyo and discussed the implications for SciREX of current issues and opportunities, including globalization, grand/societal challenges, transdisciplinarity, emerging technologies, big data, behavioral sciences, impact assessment, and responsible research and innovation.

Yarime, Masaru, "Challenges and Opportunities in Coordinating Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Policy Making Processes," Symposium "Toward Co-evolution of Science for Policy and Policy Making Process in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy - Challenges and Future Perspectives," Science for RE-designing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciREX) Center, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo, Japan, October 14 (2015).

October 10, 2015:

Co-creation of knowledge and societal experiments for sustainability at universities is examined through case studies of Japan, Sweden, and the United States in the forthcoming book Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level.

Trencher, Gregory, Daniel Rosenberg Daneri, Kes McCormick, Toru Terada, John Petersen, Masaru Yarime, and Bernadett Kiss, "The Role of Students in the Co-creation of Transformational Knowledge and Sustainability Experiments: Experiences from Sweden, Japan and the USA," in Walter Leal Filho and Luciana Brandli, eds., Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level, Berlin: Springer, forthcoming.

October 9, 2015:

The Symposium "Toward Co-evolution of Science for Policy and Policy Making Process in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy - Challenges and Future Perspectives -" will be held at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo on Wednesday, October 14. It is organized for the first anniversary of the inauguration of SciREX (Science for RE-designing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy) Center. I will participate in the Panel on How Can We Bridge SciREX Activities and Policy Making Process: Challenges and Future Perspectives.

October 5, 2015:

I had discussions with Professor Aaron Levine and Dr. Jason Borenstein, Director of Graduate Research Ethics Program, at the School of Public Policy of the Georgia Institute of Technology, on ethics, responsible conduct of research, and innovation. It would be of critical importance to establish clear and appropriate rules, guidelines, and policies for ensuring research integrity so that researchers are encouraged to take risks in conducting research for innovation, without being excessively concerned about potential problems in their behavior and relationships with industry and other stakeholders.

October 3, 2015:

The Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy (CISTP) is the interdisciplinary policy research arm of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Its research programs focus on multifaceted examination of international security, including nuclear, energy, environmental, and cyber security. I had a good discussion with Professor Jarrod Hayes on current developments at the intersection of science, technology, innovation, and foreign policy.

October 2, 2015:

We examined the resilience of national energy systems with measurements of diversity in production-based and consumption-based electricity in the context of globalization of trade networks. The results have just been published in the journal Energy Policy.

Kharrazi, Ali, Masahiro Sato, Masaru Yarime, Hirofumi Nakayama, Yadong Yu, and Steven Kraines, "Examining the resilience of national energy systems: Measurements of diversity in production-based and consumption-based electricity in the globalization of trade networks," Energy Policy, 87, 455-464 (2015).

September 29, 2015:

I had a stimulating discussion with Professor Diana Hicks at the School of Public Policy of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Science and technology policy is increasingly influenced by what is called grand/societal challenges in many countries, including Japan, Europe, and the United States. As it would vary substantially how these challenges are perceived and understood, depending upon historical backgrounds and societal contexts, an interesting examination could be made on the trends in the future visions illustrated through foresight studies over the past decades and the ways in which they were reflected in the process of policy making.

September 28, 2015:

The 10th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) is currently held in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Our paper on recent initiatives by the aviation industry to establish an innovation system for alternative jet fuels was presented in Session on the Future of Sustainability: From Crisis to Abundance? by Dr. Hiroko Nakamura.

Nakamura, Hiroko, and Masaru Yarime, "The Aviation Industry's Initiatives to Build up an Innovation System for Alternative Jet Fuels," The 10th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), Dubrovnik, Croatia, September 27-October 2 (2015).

September 26, 2015:

An ecological information-based approach is explored to examine the configurations of global trade networks for strategic assessment of resilience in our recent paper, which has been published online in the Journal of Industrial Ecology.

Kharrazi, Ali, Steven Kraines, Elena Rovenskaya, Ram Avtar, Shuichi Iwata, and Masaru Yarime, "Examining the Ecology of Commodity Trade Networks Using an Ecological Information-Based Approach: Toward Strategic Assessment of Resilience," Journal of Industrial Ecology, forthcoming.

September 25, 2015:

I had a very fruitful discussion with Professor John P. Walsh of the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. One of the issues we discussed is how universities are addressing the challenge of implementing responsible research and innovation through university-industry collaboration. Universities are now expected to contribute to creating innovation with stakeholders, while managing various types of risk and concern, including conflict of interest, ethical consideration, and societal challenges such as sustainability. A serious examination would be required to understand how these factors actually influence the behavior of researchers and the process and outcome of research and innovation in practice.

September 24, 2015:

The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) organized the Conference on Technology and Climate Change: Innovation and Partnership for Transitional Change on Wednesday, September 23, in New Delhi, India. UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd and the Indian Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar were among the speakers who were invited to discuss the policy frameworks required to stimulate technology innovation and partnerships to facilitate transitions towards sustainability, in the lead up to COP 21 to be held in Paris this December. In Panel 2 on Technological Transitions and Innovation: Learning from New Centers and Sectors I talked about Japan's experience of innovation on energy and lessons and implications for tackling climate change.

Yarime, Masaru, "Japan’s Experience of Energy Innovation and Lessons for Tackling Climate Change," Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Conference on Technology and Climate Change: Innovation and Partnership for Transitional Change, New Delhi, India, September 23 (2015).

September 23, 2015:

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) has been established by UNESCO in co-operation with the Indian government to transform current education policies and practices by developing innovative teaching and learning methods. One of the projects at MGIEP led by Dr. Yoko Mochizuki focuses on examining school curricula in countries in the Asia-Pacific region to explore how sustainability can be well-integrated into mainstream subjects, so that students and teachers will seriously get engaged in this issue.

September 22, 2015:

I had a meeting with Professor K.V. Kesavan and Ms. Vindu Mai Chotani at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi, India. We discussed recent developments in Japan’s foreign policy, with their implications for the future of the Asia-Pacific region, and opportunities for Japan-Indian cooperation in various fields including economic development, climate change, and international security.

September 19, 2015:

Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2015 was held on September 17-19, organized by the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. As a member of the Program Committee I joined with our colleagues reviewing papers submitted to the conference. I discussed university-stakeholder collaboration to address societal challenges with a case study of smart cities.

Yarime, Masaru, "Collaboration between University and Stakeholders for Promoting Innovation to Address Societal Challenges: A Case Study of Smart Cities," Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2015, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, September 17-19 (2015).

September 18, 2015:

The resilience of national energy systems is examined with measurements of diversity in production-based and consumption-based electricity in the context of globalization of trade networks in our recent paper, which will be published soon in the journal Energy Policy.

Kharrazi, Ali, Masahiro Sato, Masaru Yarime, Hirofumi Nakayama, Yadong Yu, and Steven Kraines, "Examining the resilience of national energy systems: Measurements of diversity in production-based and consumption-based electricity in the globalization of trade networks," Energy Policy, forthcoming.

September 17, 2015:

Our paper discussing the co-creation of knowledge and societal experiments for sustainability at universities in Japan, Sweden, and the United States will be published soon in the forthcoming book Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level, in the World Sustainability Series edited by Walter Leal Filho.

Trencher, Gregory, Daniel Rosenberg Daneri, Kes McCormick, Toru Terada, John Petersen, Masaru Yarime, Bernadett Kiss, "The Role of Students in the Co-creation of Transformational Knowledge and Sustainability Experiments: Experiences from Sweden, Japan and the USA, in Walter Leal Filho and Luciana Brandli, eds., Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level, Berlin: Springer, forthcoming.

September 13, 2015:

I discussed the future of Japan's science and technology in addressing societal challenges in a chapter contributed to the book Japan: The Precarious Future, edited by Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, to be published soon by New York University Press.

Yarime, Masaru, "Integrated Solutions to Complex Problems: Transforming Japanese Science and Technology," in Frank Baldwin and Anne Allison, eds., Japan: The Precarious Future, New York: New York University Press, forthcoming.

September 12, 2015:

Currently I'm staying as a Visiting Scholar at the School of Public Policy (SPP) of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. SPP's Chair Professor Kaye Husbands Fealing was the inaugural program director for the National Science Foundation’s Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) program. We discussed opportunities for research collaboration with Japan's similar initiative, Science of Redesigning Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (SciREX) program, through joint projects and exchange of researchers.

September 10, 2015:

The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is currently organizing Intensive Core (IC) Courses for students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in sustainability-related fields. I gave a lecture on sustainability science for the course on Human Development and Global Sustainability.

Yarime, Masaru, "Implementing Sustainability Science: Knowledge, Institutions, and Transdisciplinarity," Course on Human Development and Global Sustainability, Intensive Core (IC) Courses, United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), Tokyo, Japan, September 10 (2015).