The ceremony of signing Memorandum of Understanding between RIKEN (Japan) and KFU Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry was held on June, 17.

The document was signed during the meeting of Japanese delegation with KFU administration. RIKEN was represented by Director of Global Research Cluster Kohei Tamao, Associate Chief Scientist Katsunori Tanaka and Deputy Manager of Global Relations and Research Coordination Office WonKyung Kang.

KFU Rector Ilshat Gafurov and curators of this cooperation direction from the Institute of Physics and Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry took part in the ceremony.

After mutual greetings and words of gratitude Ilshat Gafurov, Kohei Tamao, Katsunori Tanaka, Director of Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry Vladimir Galkin and Associate Professor of the Department of Organic Chemistry Almira Kurbangalieva signed the MOU.

The Memorandum refers to the previous Memorandum of Understanding entered between the Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry and RIKEN in September, 2013. Its goals are to expand and strengthen scientific collaboration between the Parties, including the establishment of the Biofunctional Chemistry Laboratory as a KFU-RIKEN Laboratory and joint lecture courses.

According to Ilshat Gafurov, cooperation with RIKEN is one of the key parts of the KFU Development Program implementation. Opening of such laboratories develops the main component of KFU promotion – internationalization.

The strategic partnership agreement on cooperation in all natural sciences will be signed in the near future. The Rector informed that the KFU post-graduate students have got additional opportunities to work in RIKEN laboratories. In turn, one of the most talented young RIKEN researchers Prof. Tanaka will spend a month at the Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry. It is supposed to extend the visit of Prof. Tanaka up to six months. Ilshat Gafurov expressed hope that the group of initiative young scholars will be formed under supervision of Prof. Tanaka.   

The delegations members made a tour of Kazan University Museum and visited the Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry after the meeting. Prof. Kohei Tamao delivered a lecture “Elemento-Organic Chemistry Enhanced by a New Series of Versatile Bulky Protecting Groups “Rind”.

RIKEN is Japan’s largest and most comprehensive research organization for basic and applied science in a diverse array of scientific disciplines (physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, engineering and computers). In 2008 Kazan University and RIKEN signed Agreement of cooperation concerning the dual postgraduate diplomas. The first defense of thesis written by KFU-RIKEN postgraduate student was in 2011. In 2012 KFU opened three joint research KFU-RIKEN laboratories. At the same time RIKEN’s President Dr. Ryoji Noyori received the title of the KFU Doctor Honoris Causa. Dr. Ryoji Noyori is also a member of KFU International Academic Council established in 2013.  

II International Symposium KFU-RIKEN (devoted to multidisciplinary research) was held in 2012.  In 2013 KFU opened the Center for Quantum Technologies on the basis of joint research laboratories with participation of RIKEN partner – Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology.