Murphy wraps up Japan trip, heads to South Korea

Gov. Phil Murphy has concluded the his Economic Trade Mission to Japan and is headed to South Korea as part of a nine-day trip to East Asia that began on Friday. 

On Tuesday, he witnessed the signings of research agreements between Rowan University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Sekisui Chemical, a global plastic manufacturer, and between Kean University and the Osaka University of Economics.

Sekisui Chemical has an office in Secaucus. 

Murphy also said an agreement between Princeton University and the University of Tokyo was reaffirmed. 

“These agreements will expand opportunities for researchers at one of New Jersey’s world-renowned universities, Rowan University, to partner with some of Japan’s brightest minds in the private sector and academia,”  Murphy said.   “New Jersey is the gateway into the American marketplace and we are eager to welcome our friends from Japan to join us in building a better, greener future—and creating generations of good-paying jobs in the process.”

Rowan will establish a student and faculty exchange with Shibaura to conduct joint research.

“As a result of our yearslong research collaboration on our campus, Rowan and Sekisui scientists developed an innovative method for converting a major greenhouse gas into useful materials. More importantly, this process is efficient, cost-effective and readily translatable into practice,” said Tony Lowman, the Rowan Provost.   “We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with Sekisui, appropriately recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable corporations. We’re also excited to begin working with Shibaura Institute of Technology, which will no doubt benefit both our institutions. It’s this free exchange of ideas that energizes research and propels technology forward.” 

Kean University President Lamont Repollet established a new partnership with Osaka University of Economics to conduct urban research.

“Kean already has seen the benefits of international, cross-cultural collaboration for our students and faculty in the region,” Repollet stated.  “Working with our counterparts at Osaka University of Economics, we expect to further expand both research and cultural understanding. I congratulate Governor Murphy for his leadership on this initiative.”