A delegation led by Professor Cristina Prandi of the University of Torino, Italy, together with Dr. Gianluigi Serianni, Science and Technology Attaché at the Embassy of Italy in Japan, visited the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) on June 11.
The University of Torino is a participating institution in the Belle II experiment and was the first institution in Italy to join its predecessor, the Belle experiment and has maintained long-standing collaborations with KEK through researcher exchanges and joint research activities at Super KEKB and J-PARC.
During the visit, Professor Luisella CELI, Vice-Rector for Research, and Professor Stefania Maria BEOLE introduced the University of Torino and highlighted its collaborative activities with Japanese universities and research institutions, including KEK. They also discussed opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between the two institutions, including exchanges of students and researchers, joint applications for research and innovation programs.
KEK Director General Shoji Asai presented an overview of KEK’s research activities and emphasized the extensive collaboration between KEK and Italian researchers in various experiments and projects. The subsequent discussions explored possibilities for expanding future joint research and personnel exchanges. Both sides agreed that quantum technology represents one of the most promising areas for future collaboration.
The delegation also toured several KEK facilities. At the Photon Factory, they visited beamlines in the experimental hall under the guidance of Head of Photon Factory Noriyuki Igarashi and received an introduction to KEK’s contribution to the upgrade of Elettra, the synchrotron radiation facility in Italy, as well as plans for future researcher exchanges.
The delegation further visited the newly completed building of the International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (WPI-QUP), guided by Director Toshiyuki Azuma and Principal Researcher Tatsumi Nitta. They also toured the Tsukuba Experimental Hall, where the Belle II detector is installed, with an introduction by Professor Shohei Nishida of the Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies.
The visit is expected to further strengthen the partnership between KEK and the University of Torino and promote broader collaboration in research, researcher exchanges, and other academic activities.
