Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe inspected the National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College.

On December 1, Reiwa 6, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe and other officials from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology visited our university.

During the discussion with Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe and others, President Kamado of our university began by explaining the university’s distinctive features and its initiatives aimed at the sustainable development of regional manufacturing cities. This was followed by a presentation from Project Leader Ogasawara of the Nagaoka COI-NEXT Center, who outlined the center’s overview and initiatives. In addition, the guests were treated to a tasting of last year’s rice and this year’s new crop—both grown at the center’s research fields and stored in a snow cellar—as well as fermented foods introduced at “Season 3: ‘The Science of Fermentation’ Idea Library” (held on September 30), an event organized in collaboration with the National Institute of Technology.

Minister Abe expressed his hope that we would continue to actively pursue initiatives aimed at realizing a fully circular resource-based society and strengthening our collaboration with the National Institutes of Technology.

Next, Mr. Yamagishi of FieldWorks Co., Ltd.—a participating organization in this research hub—introduced the compact grass-cutting robot currently under development. During the tour of the Fermentation Science Laboratory, the faculty member in charge explained research achievements, including technologies for identifying microorganisms and culturing the identified microorganisms. Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe listened intently to the explanation of the center’s research and development activities.

This visit provided a valuable opportunity for participants to learn not only about our university but also about the initiatives and research activities of this center.

[For Your Reference]

・Footage from the press conference held at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on December 3 (from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s YouTube channel)
　Our university is mentioned around the 2-minute 50-second mark.

・It was also featured on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s website
　"Minister Abe and Parliamentary Secretary Akamatsu Visit Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture"
https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/activity/detail/2024/20241201.html

・The website for “Season 3: ‘The Science of Fermentation’ Idea Library,” which features the fermented foods that Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe also sampled this time
https://www.microorganisms.jp/