- Home
- News Releases
- Back Issues
- October FY2025
- Leaders Session of the 7th RD20 Conference Held
Leaders Session of the 7th RD20 Conference Held
October 6, 2025
On Friday, October 3, 2025, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) hosted the Leaders Session of the 7th Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies (RD20) Conference in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Mr. Kato Akiyoshi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended on behalf of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), delivering an opening speech. The session brought together leaders of research institutes in the field of clean energy technology representing 18 countries and regions, including Japan. Toward creating innovation for decarbonization, the participants reported on RD20’s year-round activities and discussed how research institutes can further strengthen international collaborations and expand their activities.
Overview of the conference
RD20 is an initiative launched by major research institutes in G20 countries and regions in 2019 under the leadership of Japan to advance international collaboration in research and development toward achieving carbon neutrality.
Technical Sessions of the 7th RD20 Conference in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, were held on Tuesday, September 30, and Wednesday, October 1. A Site Visit Tour and Workshop were hosted on Thursday, October 2, and the Leaders Session took place on Friday, October 3.
The Leaders Session on Friday, October 3, was hosted as part of Tokyo GX Week, a period in which an array of international conferences focusing on energy and the environment take place with the aim of achieving green transformation (GX).
Mr. Kato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, outlining Japan’s financial and other support measures for GX promotion along with its long-term vision. He also shared his expectations for RD20’s activities in promoting international cooperation toward achieving carbon neutrality.
Following this, under the chairmanship of Mr. Ishimura Kazuhiko, President and CEO of AIST, leaders of 22 research institutes in 18 countries and regions, including Japan, held discussions. To showcase the initiatives of RD20, some RD20 members highlighted and discussed its year-round task force activities, RD20 Summer Schools that promote the global development of young researchers, and its contributions to the G20. Participants also discussed future RD20 activities for the next fiscal year and beyond, looking to further expand its initiatives. The results of the discussions are scheduled to be compiled into Leaders Recommendation and published on the RD20 website at a later date.
Related Link
Division in Charge
International Affairs Office, Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau