On Thursday, December 12, 2024, the Moonshot Goal 1 Kanai Project “Internet of Brains (IoB)” welcomed Prof. Dr. Marcello Ienca (School of Medicine and Health & TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich) and Ms. Margherita Moro (Università degli Studi di Udine) to visit the IoB Research Studio in Nakameguro, Tokyo. On the day, IoB researchers and project members gathered at the studio, including the following:
- Ryota Kanai (IoB Project Manager; CEO, Araya Inc.)
- Junichi Ushiba (IoB Interface Sub Project Manager; IoB Development of Fundamental Technologies Principal Investigator; Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University)
- Keigo Komamura (IoB Development of Fundamental Technologies Principal Investigator; Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University)
- Mitsuaki Takemi (IoB Development of Fundamental Technologies Principal Investigator; Project Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University)
- Tamami Fukushi (IoB Development of Fundamental Technologies; Professor, Faculty of Human Welfare, Tokyo Online University)
- Tomoharu Kokubo (IoB Development of Fundamental Technologies; Assistant Professor, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, University of Tokyo)
- Yasunori Nitta (IoB Project Management Officer)
- Ryu Miyata (IoB Science Communicator)
- Hitomi Kawahara (IoB Science Communicator)
- Sei Takeda (IoB Science Communication Intern)
Prof. Ienca is a pioneer in the field of neurorights, serving as the Neuroethics Lead for the International Brain Initiative and as an expert advisor to the United Nations. During the visit, Prof. Ienca toured the studio’s research facilities and engaged in discussions with IoB researchers on neurotechnology and neuroethics. In addition, Prof. Ienca expressed his concurrence regarding the importance of enhancing research collaborations between Japan and the EU.
【Comments from Prof. Komamura】
Recently, various international organizations have been releasing recommendations and reports concerning neurotechnology one after another. Having had the opportunity to engage in close discussions with Prof. Ienca who is at the forefront of these developments represents not only a significant step for IoB but also for the advancement of neuroscience, neuroethics, and neurolaw in Japan. We plan to organize an international symposium in the future, and we hope to have the opportunity to discuss again with the Prof. Ienca on how Japan should interpret the recommendations of international organizations and how to overcome theoretical challenges from a global perspective.