MEXT Delegation Visits Analytical R&E Center for Professor Mawatari’s SATREPS Project in Vietnam
- Posted
- Mon, 28 Sep 2026
On September 21, 2026, a delegation from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), led by Katsuhiko Hara, Assistant Minister and Director-General for International Affairs, visited the Hoa Lac Campus of VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-HUS). The delegation toured the Analytical Research and Education (R&E) Center, a hub for technology development and human resource development established with support from the JST/JICA SATREPS project, “Development of Easy-Operation High-Tech Analytical Devices and Human Resource for Food Safety and Environmental Quality Control.” Professor Kazuma Mawatari, who leads the Mawatari Laboratory at Waseda University’s Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems (IPS), serves as the project’s principal investigator (PI) in Japan.
During the visit, Associate Professor Tran Dinh Trinh of VNU-HUS, the project leader in Vietnam, presented an overview of the project and the Analytical R&E Center. He then guided the delegation through the facility and introduced the analytical equipment installed at the center.
Mr. Hara highly commended the collaboration between Japan and Vietnam and the project’s contributions to environmental monitoring in Vietnam.
About the JST/JICA SATREPS Project “Development of Easy-Operation High-Tech Analytical Devices and Human Resource for Food Safety and Environmental Quality Control”
International collaborative research to develop analytical technologies for use in the field and train the people who will apply them
This international collaborative research project aims to develop analytical technologies for rapid, on-site assessment of water and air pollution in Vietnam, while establishing a framework for training the personnel who will use these technologies.
Advancing Research and Human Resource Development at the Analytical R&E Center
The Analytical R&E Center is promoting initiatives to put research findings into practice in Vietnam and develop local expertise.
In July 2026, participants who had completed a Training of Trainers (ToT) course on air quality monitoring systems took the lead in providing training for analytical staff from local government authorities and other organizations. A total of 28 participants from environmental organizations in northern Vietnam and seven provinces took part in the training, which included practical exercises using monitoring equipment.
Also in July, Associate Professor Yuya Ieiri of IPS and other researchers working on “Output 5,” which focuses on integrating and analyzing environmental monitoring data and visualizing environmental information, visited Hanoi. They discussed plans to install low-cost sensors for air quality monitoring and conduct data analysis, and exchanged views on strengthening collaboration with the Northern Center for Environmental Monitoring (NCEM).
On September 18, a Training of Trainers (ToT) course on water quality monitoring and analysis was held, bringing together 13 participants, including faculty members and researchers from HUS, as well as representatives from NCEM and other universities.
Through these activities, the Analytical R&E Center serves as a hub for integrated efforts in air and water quality monitoring, data analysis, and human resource development.
