Director General, Center for Research and Development Strategy (CRDS), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Hiroyuki Yoshikawa established his early reputation as an expert in engineering science and went on to become President of his Alma Mater, the University of Tokyo. Between 1998- 2001 he also presided over the University of the Air, a Japanese initiative that makes use of cutting edge technology to provide members from all sectors of society with lifelong learning opportunities. He has gained international renown for spearheading institutional efforts to promote freedom of scientific information access and has also earned global respect as a crusader for the removal of obstacles to technological advance in developing and transition countries. Hiroyuki Yoshikawa's capacities as scientist and modern humanist earned him election to the Presidencies of the Science Council of Japan (1997-2003) and the International Council for Science (1999-2002), tasks that he carried out with distinction. As president of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology whose institutional motto is “Full Research in Society, for Society”, he continued to champion the principle of scientific responsibility towards humankind as a whole.