The SS-F Retreat was held over two days on March 21 and 22, 2023.
The SS-F Retreat, organized by SS-F with a “people-centric” philosophy at its core, brought together Stellar Inventors (outstanding researchers, core scientists in the community, or anchor researchers) from various fields. The goal was to take them away from their usual research environments, engage in discussions, share opinions, and discuss future projects, while fostering new inspiration and collaboration through these interactions.
The first retreat was held on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture with about 30 participants, including inventors from diverse fields such as life sciences, physics, computer science, and engineering, along with their families and supporters, led by Professor Hideyuki Okano.
Day 1 – March 21
Visit to Enryaku-ji Temple
The retreat began with a visit to Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei.
Enryaku-ji Temple was founded by Saichō in 785 as a training ground for the Japanese Tendai sect. It later developed into a center of learning and spiritual training, producing many nationally esteemed individuals. During the late Heian and early Kamakura periods, the temple was a training ground for the founders of various sects, such as Hōnen, Eisai, Shinran, Dōgen, and Nichiren, and became the epicenter of Japanese Buddhism, transcending sectarian boundaries.
SS-F strives to become a community like Enryaku-ji, where Japan’s top inventors gather and from which leaders of Japan’s scientific research community emerge.
Design Thinking Workshop (1)
The group then moved to the Lake Biwa Hotel by the lake to begin the main session.
The session took the form of a workshop focused on design thinking and ideation, engaging participants in thought processes different from their usual research environments.
After an icebreaker, participants were divided into small groups to discuss challenges at different stages of their research careers.
The groups then considered and presented what types of hubs or communities would be beneficial to address these challenges.
Despite differences in career stages or fields, participants identified common hurdles and brainstormed ideas to overcome them.
Networking Dinner
In the evening, a dinner was held to encourage networking among the inventors. The dinner provided an opportunity to continue the conversations from the day’s presentations and discussions, sharing ideas and insights from their respective fields. In a relaxed atmosphere, participants continued to exchange ideas and build relationships.
One-on-One Consultations
Following the dinner, one-on-one consultation sessions were held to discuss each inventor’s work and aspirations.
During these sessions, each inventor was paired with a few individuals, including business experts and science writers, to discuss their passion, vision, and the challenges they face in advancing their research.
Day 2 – March 22
Design Thinking Workshop (2)
After breakfast, another design thinking workshop was held.
Inventors participated in brainstorming sessions and, together with supporters, broke into small groups to explore concepts and possibilities for hubs where inventors could gather.
They touched on important insights such as the importance of communities that transcend universities, disciplines, and research areas, and the importance of creating environments that are open yet safe enough for comfortable interaction.
The SS-F retreat served as a catalyst to stimulate creativity and foster collaboration. Participants commented that they were inspired by the opportunity to meet and interact with inventors from different fields. In some cases, collaborative efforts have already begun.
It is expected that this experience will have a positive impact on the inventors’ research as new ideas are generated through these interactions. SS-F will continue to expand and refine the event initiatives.
as part of our ongoing pursuit of the philosophy of “Advancing the world through science.
