The Japan Committee for IIASA

• EANET / IIASA International Workshop (19 December 2022)
  Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface for Clean Air and a Sustainable Future in Asia
• ACP/ IIASA International Webinar (22 February 2022)
  How can systems analysis help align climate change, air pollution, and sustainable development policies in Asia: Opportunities for collaboration
• International Workshop (25 January 2021)
  Aligning climate change and sustainable development policies in Asia: quantifying, integrating, and advancing co-benefits
• ACP/IIASA Joint International Workshop (7 November 2019)
  Implementing Solutions to Air Pollution and Climate Change in Asia: Building Capacities, Strengthening Policies, and Financing Technologies
• International Workshop (19 February 2019)
  How Can Asia Manage Air Pollution and Climate Change?
  From Understanding Impacts to Implementing Solutions
• Seminar (9 October 2018)
  Future Outlook on “The World in 2050” Initiative (TWI2050)
• More Activity Report

In October 1972 at the height of the Cold War, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) was founded as an international research organisation conducting policy-oriented research. The IIASA project was to use scientific cooperation to build bridges across the Cold War divide and to research common mature society problems. Both East and West blocs left their political positions, and joined together to establish an independent (non-governmental) based International Research Institute.
After the ease of strained relationship between East and West, IIASA started to focus its research on solving global scale problems mainly in the field of systems analysis. IIASA has become one of the world’s leading international research institutes, with specialists like recipients of the Nobel Prize as well as IPCC lead authors. In recent years, developing countries have joined IIASA, and now the main issues of research are shifting from East-West problems to North-South problems (poverty, food, equality, etc.)

Austria, China, Egypt, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Slovak Republic, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vietnam (Total of 19 countries), Sub-Saharan Africa Region (1 region consisting of 17 countries: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

Observer: Brazil (Membership for 2011-2022)
Mexico (Membership for 2014-2020)
Prospective member: Jordan (Under negotiation since 2020)

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international research institute that applies advances systems analysis to identify policy solutions to reduce human footprints, enhance the resilience of natural and socioeconomic systems, and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Through its research programs and initiatives, IIASA conducts policy-oriented research into issues that are too large or complex to be solved by a single country or academic discipline. This includes pressing concerns that affect the future of all of humanity, such as climate change, energy security, population aging, and sustainable development.

Currently IIASA research is based on six programmes

• Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA)
• Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR)
• Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE)
• Population and Just Society (POPJUS)
• Economic Frontiers (EF)
• Strategic Initiatives (SI)

From 1977, IIASA has conducted the “Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP)”. YSSP is held at IIASA headquarters from June through August. The programme accepts about 50 young scientists (post doctorate degree students) nominated by each country and they work within the Institute’s Research Programs under the guidance of IIASA scientific staff.
More about YSSP: https://iiasa.ac.at/opportunities/yssp

Japan established the Japan Committee for IIASA at the same time that the IIASA was founded in 1972. The Japan Committee of IIASA was organised by persons with academic standing, and has cooperated with IIASA for its operation and development. Currently, Professor Kazuhiko TAKEUCHI, President, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies/ Project Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo, is the Chair of the Japan Committee for IIASA. Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, who is　Project Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo, serves as a Council Member of IIASA representing Japan. The Japan Committee for IIASA is made up of a total of 8 committee members.

The Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) is an annual three-month program for young scientists organised by IIASA from June to August. The programme is open to PhD students working on topics compatible with ongoing research at IIASA, and provides participants with direct mentoring by experienced IIASA scientists in an academic and international research environment. They will also have the opportunity to build up contacts for future collaboration within the institute's worldwide network.

Programme areas

• Advancing Systems Analysis
• Biodiversity and Natural Resources
• Economic Frontiers
• Energy, Climate, and Environment
• Population and Just Societies
• Strategic Initiatives

The call for applications for the 2023 YSSP is now open. For more information, please visit IIASA website

• To apply, please visit: IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program
• Application deadline for 2023 YSSP: 12 January 2023 (* Selection results will be announced on 12 March 2023)
• Programme period: 1 June - 31 August, 2023

IIASA Japan Committee Support System

The IIASA Japan Committee implemented the "IIASA Japan Committee Support System" to fund Japanese participants in the Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) in 2023 to support part of their travel expenses. In this system, the IIASA Japan Committee will make a recommendation from among those Japanese applicants left in the final selection of the YSSP in 2023, and will provide JPY300,000 as part of the travel expenses to participate in the program at IIASA.  (*If you participate online, there will be no financial support from IIASA Japan Committee )

Since this system is operated based on information on those remaining applicants from the final screening provided by IIASA, there is no need to apply separately to the Japanese Committee for this support system. Any YSSP participant who received support from the IIASA Japan Committee is requested to submit a report to the Committee, after completing their participation in YSSP.

Please note that this report may be made public in order to share information between IIASA and the Japanese research community.

The Japan Committee for IIASA Secretariat
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Strategic Management Office
2108-11 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama Kanagawa, 240-0115, Japan
Tel: 046-855-3852   Fax: 046-855-3809   [email protected]