News

Toru Kumagai’s reports on R&D trends in Germany

No more disinterest in Industry 4.0 – Covid-19 pandemic Accelerates Digitalization of German Industry

July 09, 2021 [by Toru Kumagai] The results of a survey published on April 7, 2021 by the German Association for Information Technology (Bitkom) have attracted a great deal of attention in European academic and business circles. This is because the results of the survey clearly showed that the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been ravaging the world since the spring of 2020, has accelerated the digitization of German industry.

Toru Kumagai’s report on R&D trends in Germany

BioNTech Demonstrates German Capacity for Innovation to the World with Development of COVID-19 Vaccine

July 01, 2021 [by Toru Kumagai] BioNTech is an example of one of Germany’s most successful start-up companies, with a record that will go down in history. The company was the first in the world to receive approval for its COVID-19 vaccine, and it is saving millions of lives. BioNTech is a shining example of what in German is known as a Mittelstand, or a medium-sized enterprise. It illustrates how long years of medical research at a university can come to fruition in a venture start-up that will produces a product of vital importance for humanity.

Report: Virtual Symposium

Coping with the Crisis – The Psychosocial Impact of the Pandemic

The Corona crisis has affected societies in Japan and Germany in many ways. In addition to the health consequences, the pandemic also brings with it significant social and psychological effects such as unemployment and growing poverty, depression, loneliness, and conflicts in the home environment.

Toru Kumagai’s report on R&D trends in Germany

The Future of Work: New Technologies and the Workplace

June 16, 2021 [by Toru Kumagai] The ongoing COVID-19 crisis that began in spring 2020 is significantly changing how people work in Germany and Japan. The pace of digitalisation, the shift to working remotely, the spread of artificial intelligence (AI), and the adoption of robots are all accelerating. In particular, in Germany the idea that telecommuting should be retained as one working arrangement even after the COVID-19 crisis is over is a powerful one. Moreover, with the further spread and propagation of the oncoming Fourth Industrial Revolution (the so-called “Industry 4.0”), expanding telecommuting beyond the companies in the financial services and information technology (IT) sectors into manufacturing industry is becoming an important issue.

Toru Kumagai’s report on R&D trends in Germany

The fight of the German government and medical community against the psychological effects of the Corona pandemic

June 08, 2021 [by Toru Kumagai] The Corona pandemic threatens not only people’s physical health, their economic wellbeing (as well as the national economy), but also their mental health. As in Japan, the negative impact of the pandemic on people’s minds has been taken up as a serious issue in German academic circles and discussion forums.

Toru Kumagai’s report on R&D trends in Germany

Strengthening Post-Corona Resilience — Germany and Japan’s Efforts to Prepare for a New Global Crisis

March 2, 2021 [by Toru Kumagai] The new coronavirus (COVID-19) surge shows no sign of abating. On January 7, 2021, when this article was written, the number of new infections had skyrocketed in both Germany and Japan. Germany sees at least 10,000 newly infected people each day, sometimes surpassing 20,000 cases. On November 3, the government prohibited all restaurants and food services from operating, followed by tighter lockdown measures including closures of schools and most shops from December 16 until the end of January 2021. Meanwhile in Japan, Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures have declared a state of emergency with a month-long voluntary ban starting January 7.

Toru Kumagai’s report on R&D trends in Germany

Could the Coronavirus Crisis Spur Industrie 4.0?

January 18, 2021 [by Toru Kumagai]