More than 80 members and guests gathered in Tokyo for the SCCIJ VIBES April Luncheon, focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence in scientific research and innovation. The event featured Dr. Hiroaki Kitano, President and CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, who presented an outlook on AI as an emerging “scientific actor” reshaping research methodologies and discovery cycles.
The discussion highlighted how autonomous systems and AI-driven laboratories are increasingly accelerating scientific processes, compressing traditional research timelines and redefining how knowledge is produced. According to Dr. Kitano, this shift is not only technological but structural, with implications for innovation models across both academic and industrial ecosystems.
The luncheon also counted with the presence of H.E. Roger Dubach, Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan, underscoring the diplomatic and economic dimension of scientific collaboration between the two countries. The event served as a platform for exchange between business leaders, researchers and institutional representatives at the intersection of AI, science and innovation policy.
Participants emphasised the importance of cross-border collaboration in emerging technologies, particularly in fields where AI is becoming embedded in research infrastructure. The dialogue reflected a growing convergence between scientific development and business strategy, where innovation cycles are increasingly shaped by computational capabilities.
The event reinforced the role of the Swiss-Japanese business community as a networking hub for high-level discussions on technological transformation, positioning AI not only as a tool for efficiency, but as a potential driver of new value creation models in science and industry.
