ASPIRE Forum 2026 held at Nanyang Technological University
The ASPIRE Forum, the annual general meeting of the ASPIRE League, which Institute of Science Tokyo is a member of, was hosted by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and took place from July 8 to 10 at the NTU campus. The ASPIRE League, initiated by Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology) and established in 2009, is a consortium of top science and engineering universities in Asia with the aim of forming an innovation hub in the region through the advancement of science and technology and the development of human resources. The five member universities are Tsinghua University (China), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST, China), Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST, Korea), and Institute of Science Tokyo. Since its launch, Science Tokyo has been serving as the League’s secretariat.
Symposium
Researchers from each member university delivered lectures related to this year’s forum theme, “Active Aging: Interdisciplinary Solutions for Longevity and Wellbeing.”
Professor Miki Saijo (School of Environment and Society) explained that in Human-Centered Design (HCD) for older adults, it is crucial not to view the end-user individually, but rather to design for a "team" in which three key roles — the older adult, the caregiver, and the machine — function together. She illustrated the importance of this approach using a concrete example: a fall-risk awareness system where risks are shared early before a fall occurs.
Following presentations by eight researchers — including one from University of Ljubljana, representing EUTOPIA, and one from the Singapore-ETH Centre, representing the IDEA League —panel discussions were held, chaired by Asst Prof Bernett Lee (Biomedical Informatics and Director, Centre for Biomedical Informatics, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU).
Vice Presidents and Senior Staff Meeting
On the afternoon of July 9, the Vice Presidents & Senior Staff Meeting was held with vice presidents and senior staff from each member university in attendance, chaired by Vice President Pooi See Lee (NTU) and Professor Nobuhiro Hayashi, Secretary General of the ASPIRE League and Vice President for International Engagement and Education at Science Tokyo.
Each vice president introduced recent activities at their universities. From Science Tokyo, Professor Tomohiro Morio, Executive Vice President for Global Affairs, presented on the Institute’s accreditation under the Universities for International Research Excellence program, the Visionary Initiatives, and the establishment of new organizational structures in robotics and medical engineering. Additionally, updates were shared regarding collaboration with member universities of the IDEA League.
After the meeting, proposals submitted for the 2026 cycle of the ASPIRE League Partnership Seed Fund (startup research support between member universities) were reviewed. Following the meeting, four research outcome presentation sessions were held online for joint research projects previously supported by the Seed Fund.
Student Workshop
This year’s student workshop took place from July 6 to 10 at NTU. Twenty-nine graduate students from each university gathered for an in-person workshop.
On the final day, July 10, students presented the results of their group work aligned with the forum theme “Active Aging: Interdisciplinary Solutions for Longevity and Wellbeing” to the vice presidents and symposium speakers. The students were divided into five mixed-university teams and proposed services dedicated to supporting older adults and their caregivers:
Group 1: A community platform designed to support informal caregivers (e.g., families) at risk of burnout and depression.
Group 2: A system aimed at eliminating the risk of older adults falling alone at home—especially in the bathroom—and remaining undiscovered for extended periods.
Group 3: A community-based activity program aimed at bereaved older adults coping with severe loneliness and depression following the loss of a spouse.
Group 4: A low-cost, clinically feasible nutritional intervention program targeting community-dwelling older adults in a prefrail state or facing nutritional risks (such as reduced appetite and chewing difficulties).
Group 5: An “invisible” vital sign monitoring system that seamlessly integrates into daily life for the early detection of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke — conditions highly prevalent among older adults.
Each team received questions and advice from vice presidents and symposium speakers, and awards were presented to each team.
Science Tokyo, as the chair institution for 2027, will host the upcoming ASPIRE League Forum from July 5 to 9, 2027.
Contacts
Planning and Coordinating Group, International Division