Outline

Period June 17th to August 7th, 2025 (7.5 weeks)
Venue Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity
Number of Participants 8 students from the US, 2 from Africa, and 6 from Japanese universities
Industrial Partners Fujitsu Limited, IHI Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Host Mathematical Science Center for Co-creative Society (MathCCS), Tohoku Forum for Creativity (TFC).Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR)
Co-host Institute for Pure & Applied Mathematics(IPAM), RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS)

Information related to programs offered by IPAM can be found at “Student Research Programs".

Projects

PROJECT01

Fujitsu Limited

Discoverability with modern AI

PROJECT02

IHI Corporation

Novel framework of optical character recognition for sustainable food supply chains

PROJECT03

Advanced Technology R&D Center,
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Estimating sensor viewpoints using a three-dimensional map

PROJECT04

Information Technology R&D Center,
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Key relay protocol for quantum key distribution

Program Schedule

Research discussing
2 student experiencing calligraphy
Sharing Event
presentation

  • Opening Day

    Representatives from each partner company pose an interesting problem related to their industry, as well as the motivation to seek a solution. After the explanation, each team meets with the industry experts to discuss different ideas of how to tackle the problem.

  • Design Thinking Course

    Students engage in an immersive course that shapes their project thesis and charts a clear path toward innovative solutions. Beginning with a dynamic introduction to core design thinking principles, they dive into guided brainstorming and mind mapping sessions. Working collaboratively, teams apply fresh insights directly to their projects, crafting creative and actionable Work Statements that drive real results.

  • Starting the Research

    Once our industry partners approve the Work Statement, students get started on a journey to achieve their proposed solutions. Students work intensively 5 days a week, but they are not alone! Dedicated industry mentors from our partner's companies, as well as young Tohoku faculty and researchers, are available to provide resources and guidance when needed.

    Research discussing

  • Japanese Language / Culture Classes

    Japanese Language and Culture Classes are held during the program, each week offering a different learning experience. Students participate in introductory Japanese language and culture classes, learning useful conversational skills and facts about Sendai. Activities such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, and making Tanabata decorations further enhance students introduction to Japan.

    2 student experiencing calligraphy

  • Sharing Event

    Each team member gives a presentation on their research progress in English. After the presentations, team mentors and team members meet to discuss and refine their current progress towards the proposed solutions.

    Sharing Event

  • Site Visits

    Team members visit our partner's companies to gain new insight on the motivations for their project. Students learn about our partner's resources and facilities, broadening their understanding of the problem's importance. Active discussion of the project's direction takes place.

  • Final Stages of Research

    Research is deepened in preparation for Project's Day (final presentation). With the available resources, motivation, plan of action and progress made, this week is when results take shape. Students are working hard toward their final report.

  • Final Reports

    The results of the research are summarized in the form of a final report shared with our industry partners for final approval.

  • Project’s Day

    Each team presents the results and conclusion of their research in English, introducing novel ideas and posing questions for discussion and future work.

    presentation

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Voices from Participants

Unique opportunity for personal and professional growth

Participating in G-RIPS Sendai 2025 was an incredible experience that broadened both my academic and personal horizons. As someone who hadn’t traveled much outside the U.S., living in Japan for the summer was eye-opening. The program provided a good balance; we worked hard and had ample free time to travel and explore the country.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was the chance to work closely with a team. Graduate research can often feel isolating—especially in my area of pure math—so collaborating on a real-world project with students from different disciplines and countries was a refreshing and energizing change. It also brought be down to earth, making me think about how mathematical tools can be applied in the real world.
The interaction with industry mentors was particularly enlightening. I learned not just about technical applications, but also about industry expectations—how companies approach problem-solving, communicate results, and define success. Working in a cross-cultural, interdisciplinary environment helped me develop a deeper appreciation for the practical impact of math and the diverse perspectives that drive innovation.
Overall, G-RIPS was a unique opportunity to grow as a researcher, collaborator, and global citizen.

International collaboration and friendship

The past eight weeks were an exceptionally meaningful experience. As a graduate student in pure mathematics, I usually spend most of my time working independently on abstract problems. In contrast, our team project demanded substantial human and computational resources. We manually labeled thousands of images, trained models, and iterated repeatedly on the design of preprocessing, postprocessing, and overall workflows through discussions with teammates.
Because I had been interested in data science and machine learning, I greatly enjoyed applying my knowledge in practice. The project allowed me to experience the entire development cycle—from pipeline design and model selection to dataset preparation, evaluation, and feedback. This process deepened my understanding far beyond theory.
On weekdays I focused on the project, while evenings and weekends were filled with hanging out. Dinners, karaoke, cycling, and hiking provided not only cultural exchange but also valuable opportunities to practice English. Having never studied abroad, I initially felt insecure about my communication skills, but gradually gained confidence. By the end, I recognized clear improvements in both listening and speaking.
Through G-RIPS, I developed international communication skills, broadened my research perspective, built lasting friendships, and learned about industry practices—assets that I believe will remain valuable throughout my career.

Study on theory and practice of international collaboration

During G-RIPS Sendai 2025, I learned many valuable lessons that I could not have gained through my previous academic experiences. One of the most important aspects was discovering how mathematics can be applied to solve real-world problems in industry. Until this program, I had rarely implemented mathematical theories into code. Through this project, I realized the importance of not only building mathematics from pure theory but also incorporating experimentation through implementation. This gave me a fresh perspective on how mathematics can be developed and applied, and I believe this program is especially beneficial for students who hope to bridge academic research and industry in their future careers.
Another significant learning experience was gaining an understanding of different cultures and recognizing what the global standards in mathematics research look like. In Japan, it is quite rare to spend eight weeks working closely with American students, and this program provides an excellent opportunity for Japanese students who may hesitate to study abroad. I was impressed to see that many American students came from diverse backgrounds, sometimes having studied other fields or returning to graduate school after work experience. Their familiarity with data science as well as pure mathematics was eye-opening to me, and I realized this might represent a global standard.
Beyond the project itself, I deeply enjoyed spending weekends and free time with American students—visiting tourist sites, sharing meals, and exchanging ideas. These experiences improved my English ability and encouraged me to reflect on my own perspectives. Overall, G-RIPS Sendai 2025 was an invaluable experience both academically and personally.