Yachiyo Engineering Co-hosts Commemorative Lecture by Nobel Prize Winner Prof. Suguru Kitagawa

Commemorative Lecture by Nobel Prize Winner Prof. Suguru Kitagawa

Yachiyo Engineering Co., headquartered in Taito, Tokyo, proudly announces its co-hosting of a commemorative lecture featuring Professor Suguru Kitagawa, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This event is scheduled for February 4, 2026, and is set to take place online via YouTube Live from 12:00 to 13:45 JST.

Event Overview

The commemorative lecture will specifically delve into the groundbreaking work of Professor Kitagawa on the innovative material known as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and how this technology aligns with advancements in socio-infrastructural fields such as the Smart Gas Network initiative, actively promoted by Yachiyo Engineering, particularly in regions like Indonesia.

This event is hosted by Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in collaboration with esteemed institutions: the Graduate School of Management at Kyoto University, the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Systems at Kyoto University, Atomis Co., and of course, Yachiyo Engineering Co.

Among the prominent speakers, Professor Suguru Kitagawa, a vice president at Kyoto University, will present, alongside Prof. Arif Satria, the head of Indonesia's BRIN, and other notable guests.

Detailed Agenda

Participants interested in watching the lecture are encouraged to register and find more details through the official event page on the Kyoto University website. The registration deadline is February 2, 2026, at 12:00 JST.

Significance of Collaboration

Since 2022, Yachiyo Engineering has collaborated with Atomis, a company where Professor Kitagawa serves as a scientific advisor, to champion next-generation energy distribution systems, namely the Smart Gas Network. The technology underlying this system is pivotal; it utilizes the innovative materials discovered and developed by Professor Kitagawa, namely PCP/MOF (porous coordination polymers). This key technology enhances the efficiency of gas transportation and storage, paving the way for localized energy consumption independent of traditional pipeline systems, hence addressing significant societal issues regarding energy access.

Yachiyo Engineering and Atomis formalized a business partnership in 2023 and have been working alongside BRIN under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to initiate demonstration trials within Indonesia beginning November 2024. These collaborative efforts are geared towards realizing effective socio-implementation of these transformative technologies.

Professor Kitagawa’s receipt of the Nobel Prize serves as validation for the vital global impact that the advancements in MOF technology can offer. Yachiyo Engineering is honored to partner in sharing this knowledge and fostering innovation through the commemorative lecture, ensuring a brighter, more sustainable future.

For additional insights into Professor Suguru Kitagawa’s achievements and the implications of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, please refer to the related press release available on our website.