Dr. Shutaro Takeda received the NIG Early Career Award, given to scientists making exceptional early career contributions to fusion science, at the Institute of Physics Awards 2021. The award recognises his outstanding contributions to the understanding of fusion science, and his entrepreneurial leadership of converting his fusion knowledge and research into successful commercial applications. Sensing the importance of commercialization of fusion science, Dr. Takeda co-founded the first fusion startup, KyotoFusioneering, by in this way empowering and driving widespread innovation in Japan. In his service to the international organization, IAEA, he worked together with all stakeholders of global society to elevate the discussion about fusion power and has cultivated a shared vision for change based on collaboration and mutual accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This award shows that expectations for fusion startups are increasing in the academic\u00a0world, and it is expected to give further impetus to the industrialization of nuclear fusion in\u00a0the future.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyotofusioneering.com\/kfwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/main-300x171.png\")
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In 2019, Dr. Takeda co-founded KF, Japanese nuclear fusion startup, with Taka Nagao,\u00a0Satoshi Konishi and Richard Pearson. By providing the world’s most advanced fusion\u00a0engineering platform technology originating from Kyoto University to customers around the\u00a0world, he has contributed to the early practical application of fusion energy. In 2020, he\u00a0assumed the position of Associate Officer for Fusion Projects at the International Atomic\u00a0Energy Agency (IAEA), where he facilitated forums of discussions for the global private\u00a0fusion industry at the top level to promote public-private partnerships. The award was\u00a0presented to him in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of fusion\u00a0science and physics through a series of achievements that led to statements of support for\u00a0the fusion industry by former U.S. President Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u3010Dr. Takeda’s Biography\u3011<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u3010Dr. Takeda’s Comment\u3011<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u3010About IOP\u3011<\/strong>
The Institute of Physics (IOP), founded in 1874, is the oldest international physics society in\u00a0the world, with more than 20,000 active members worldwide. Members have included some\u00a0of the world’s most famous physicists, from Einstein to Stephen Hawking. Today, as an\u00a0international academic exchange organization, an awarding organization, and the publisher\u00a0of 85 international journals, the Institute continues to lead the development of physics\u00a0around the world.
The NIG Early Career Prize is an international prize awarded annually to one person by the\u00a0judging committee of each section of the Institute of Physics, and Dr. Takeda was selected\u00a0by the Atomic Physics Section to receive the prize. Due to the effects of COVID-19, the\u00a0award ceremony will be held remotely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyotofusioneering.com\/kfwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sub1-1-300x298.png\")
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Born in Mie Prefecture, Japan, he is now 32 years old. After graduating from Kyoto\u00a0University with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, he was admitted to the Graduate School\u00a0of Energy Sciences, Kyoto University, where he was the first person in the history of the\u00a0graduate school to skip a year to earn a doctorate in research on fusion energy systems.\u00a0He earned a Master of Sustainability from Harvard University. In 2019, he co-founded KF\u00a0when he was a Specially Appointed Assistant Professor at Kyoto University. He was the\u00a0first Japanese citizen to work for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the\u00a0United Nations as an Associate Officer for the Fusion Project. He is currently the youngest\u00a0Program-Specific Associate Professor of Kyoto University and Strategic Advisor of KF. Has\u00a0appeared on NHK programs, Japan\u2019s only public broadcaster, and other media platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is a great honor for me to receive the NIG Early Career Prize from the historic Institute of\u00a0Physics. KF’s business concept was conceived at an international conference on private\u00a0sector nuclear fusion that Professor Konishi and I hosted in 2018 at the University of\u00a0Cambridge, UK. Receiving this prestigious award from the UK, the birthplace of KF,\u00a0confirms once again that we are on the right track. We will continue to do our best for the\u00a0development of the nuclear fusion industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n