On 2 October 2014, a co-operation agreement pertaining to biotechnology and medicine was signed between Liège University and Gunma University in Japan.
At the impetus of the Awex Tokyo office, a year ago contact was established between the two universities. Since then, Professor Vincent Castronovo, attached to the ULg's Faculty of Medicine (Metastasis Research Laboratory) got in touch with Professor Masahiko Nishiyama of the Faculty of Medicine of Gunma University where he also serves as the Director of the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Oncology. Over the space of one year, these contacts resulted in the signing of this co-operation agreement, which joins the list of agreements already in place between the ULg and various Japanese universities.
Liège University Hospital (CHU) is also set to get involved in this co-operation agreement, as it is planning a large multidisciplinary centre for cancer patients, set to open its doors in January 2018. Against this background, the exchange between research scientists between the ULg and Gunma is expected to unfold. The Giga (Biotechnology Research and Development Centre linked to Liège University Hospital) too will be actively involved as a stakeholder in this agreement, hosting Japanese students over on a research internship at the Giga. In conclusion, Gunma University is seeking to recruit foreign professors/guest lecturers and assistant professors, with the ULg in a position to put forward likely candidates.
