The City of Kitakyushu has unveiled a new strategic plan for its Kitakyushu Science and Research Park, aiming to drive industry-academia collaboration and business clustering centered on the semiconductor sector. Since its establishment in 2001, the park has hosted four universities, 13 research institutions, and 53 companies, primarily engaged in environmental and information technology research and education. Under the new strategy, the city will prioritize semiconductors as a core growth area, along with related fields such as next-generation mobility, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and environmental technologies. Efforts will include recruiting world-class researchers and promoting joint research and talent development in collaboration with international partners such as Taiwan’s Hsinchu Science.Park – home to semiconductor giant TSMC – as well as European research institutes and leading universities in Japan and overseas.