Professor Kitamori is a globally acclaimed scientist in the field of microfluidic science and technology. He has held and continues to hold many significant positions in scientific management and research. He served as Dean of the School of Engineering, University of Tokyo (2010–2012), then as Vice President of the University of Tokyo (2012–2014), and subsequently became the advisor for International Cooperation to the University President from 2014 onwards.
In 2020, Professor Kitamori was appointed as a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He is currently an honorary professor at Lund University (Sweden); a professor at Tsing Hua University (Taiwan); and an honorary professor at the University of Tokyo (Japan).
In addition to research, Professor Kitamori is also an outstanding administrator and manager in science and technology research activities. He is currently the general director of the Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Japan; director of the Daicel R&D Centre — established through collaboration between Daicel Chemical Corporation (Japan) and Tsing Hua University (Taiwan); and founder and chief technology officer of IMF Company (a spin-off from Tsing Hua University, Taiwan).
Professor Kitamori’s philosophy of scientific and technological development and innovation goes beyond merely improving existing technologies; it aims to create entirely new, breakthrough, and innovative technologies to serve the community. A clear example of this is the creation by Professor Kitamori and his colleagues at IMF of a completely new product — the Desktop Chemical Plant.
Such a desktop plant can produce half the output of a conventional chemical factory while occupying only one percent of its physical space. This is achieved using a completely new and modern technology that integrates microfluidic chips in series and parallel, offering superior advantages in terms of space efficiency, reduced operation and maintenance costs, increased operational safety, lower carbon emissions, and faster chemical reaction rates.
From the very beginning of the establishment of the Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials for Green Growth in 2016, a key activity under the Science, Technology and Innovation Development Strategy of Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi — Professor Kitamori was present in Viet Nam and supported and cooperated with Vietnamese scientists in several flagship projects. On June 10, 2020, the president of Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, signed a decision to appoint Professor Kitamori as co-director of the laboratory, alongside Director Professor Nguyen Van Noi.
During his collaboration with scientists from the University of Science (Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi), Professor Kitamori made outstanding contributions, notably the implementation of the On-Site Education Program on Analytical Chemistry (OEPAC). This programme is part of the Super Global University Program of the University of Tokyo and the Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA), with partners in developing countries; Viet Nam is the first beneficiary of the project.
The Super Global University Program aims to establish a globally linked training model with cutting-edge research, fostering close and innovative partnerships between institutions in developing countries and top universities worldwide, including the University of Tokyo.
The OEPAC project in Viet Nam was developed as a result of the partnership established in 2015 between the University of Science (Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi) and the School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, with Professor Kitamori as the leader and coordinator. To date, ten leading Japanese companies in the field of advanced analytical equipment manufacturing — such as Shimadzu, Horiba, Hitachi, Jeol, Jasco, TOA-DKK, Rigaku, and others — have participated in this programme.
The modern analytical laboratory located at the University of Science (Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi) has been praised by the Embassy of Japan as a model of effective collaboration between academic scientific institutions (University of Tokyo, University of Science under Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi) and businesses (top companies of JAIMA).
In the coming period, Professor Kitamori will continue close cooperation with scientists at the University of Science under Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, in developing and implementing major science and technology research projects. These aim to apply breakthrough research results in microfluidic science and technology to the practical development of a green and sustainable chemical industry in Viet Nam, including microchemical chips, flow control technology, and ultra-sensitive detection technology.
Amidst the robust advancement of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is having increasingly deep impacts on all areas of social life, building a national image through science and technology development has become a top concern for many countries, including Viet Nam. Science, technology and innovation have become the most critical input factors for modern productive forces and are the keys determining the pace of development and the competitiveness of each nation.
Therefore, promoting collaboration with international scientists is an effective direction. Collaborations between Vietnamese scientists and world-leading experts such as Professor Kitamori have opened many new doors for the research, fabrication, and application of advanced materials for green development, a crucial trend in 21st-century materials science and technology.
At Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, the Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials for Green Growth is oriented to become a leading centre for excellent scientific research and technology transfer, generating foundational and pioneering scientific-technological products in advanced materials applied to environmental protection and green development, including green industry and smart agriculture.
