Okayama University Hosts the Inaugural Meeting of AI-HPC Partners to Foster Collaboration

Okayama University's Initiative for AI and HPC Collaboration

On November 26, 2025, Okayama University held the inaugural meeting of the AI-HPC Partners at the Tsushima Campus. This event aimed to bring together researchers and technical staff interested in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) to foster collaboration and share expertise. Approximately 40 participants, including faculty members, technical staff, researchers, and coordinators, gathered for this hybrid meeting, highlighting the growing interest in AI and computational research.

The meeting commenced with opening remarks by Masanobu Abe, an advisor and Vice-President for Digital Transformation (DX) and Green Transformation (GX), along with Atsushi Sekimoto, an associate professor from the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology. They emphasized the significance of AI and computational science research at Okayama University and expressed their hopes for the newly formed research community.

Following the introductory speeches, the audience was engaged by a keynote lecture from Ryuuichi Nakahara, a specially appointed lecturer from the Graduate School of Medicine. His presentation, titled "Research on Medical AI," offered insights into the latest trends in AI applications within the medical field, emphasizing the necessity for robust AI-HPC environments capable of handling large-scale models.

Additionally, Associate Professor Moriizumi from the Advanced Research Area presented on the topic, "Hello, MD! I Could Do It Too – Simulating Proteins in a Computer." He introduced examples of molecular dynamics simulations of proteins and shared key considerations for experimental researchers venturing into computational science. The discussion also addressed the significance of the community's supportive initiative in facilitating researchers' journeys through computational challenges.

After the lectures, participants moved to J Terrace Café for an exchange of ideas. Attendees discussed various topics, such as the implementation and operation methods of computing servers, challenges faced by HPC novices, student programming education, and suggestions for future study sessions. The discussions reflected a collaborative atmosphere aimed at addressing common hurdles in research.

Looking ahead, the AI-HPC Partners aim to organize additional meetings, including a second meeting planned for January 2026. This will be complemented by collaborative sessions with the Cypher Research Group, and special guest lectures and poster sessions are scheduled for March. Technical exchange meetings are also in the works, featuring beginner-friendly workshops, GPGPU hands-on sessions, and GPU mini-camps, all designed to nurture talent and promote collaborative research.

The AI-HPC Partners initiative extends a warm welcome to researchers and technical personnel eager to explore AI and data-driven computing. Interested participants are encouraged to join this vibrant community. As Okayama University continues to pave the way as a regional core institution with unique research capabilities, we can expect exciting developments in the coming years.

The information was officially released by Okayama University on December 9, 2025, and highlights the university's commitment to advancing research through collaboration and innovation.

Additional Resources

For inquiries regarding collaboration and partnerships, please contact the Okayama University Research and Innovation Co-Creation Organization at the following address: