The Minister of State for Regional Revitalization, Satsuki Katayama visited Gifu Prefecture and inspected the Gifu Prefectural Research Institute for Food Sciences located within the premises of Gifu University on June 22, 2019.

The institute, located south of the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences buildings, has the Gifu Prefectural Industrial Technology Center (food division) on the first and second floors. The third floor is the base for industry-government-academia collaborations to promote joint research between the university and the private sector. Gifu University is the sole national university in Japan that houses the prefectural public research arm today.

First, Director Akio Inaba of the institute introduced the sake evaluation lab, sake brewing lab, clean room, microscope room, gas chromatography room to the minister. On the third floor, Professor Tomio Yabe, the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences gave her a brief explanation about joint research work with private enterprises, and research institutions in Gifu Prefecture. (Professor Yabe has his laboratory on the third floor.) Lastly, President Hisataka Moriwaki explained to her about a number of initiatives and activities undertaken at Gifu University today.

As being represented by the collaboration with the prefectural institute, Gifu University stays committed to contribute to regional revitalization by working closely with the prefectural government.