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The STS forum (Science and Technology in Society forum) will hold its 22nd Annual Meeting for three days from Sunday, October 5 to Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Kyoto International Conference Center.

This year's opening ceremony will be honored by the attendance of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and His Majesty the Emperor is scheduled to deliver an address in English to global participants. His Majesty the Emperor has previously attended five times as Crown Prince, and Her Majesty the Empress also attended with His Majesty in 2017.

This year, the forum brings together leaders from various areas, including world-renowned scientists, (14 Nobel Prize laureates), Science and Technology Ministers from various countries, corporate leaders, heads of research institutions, university presidents, and influential journalists. Participants will engage in discussions from diverse perspectives, transcending national borders and disciplinary boundaries. They will address science and technology challenges and directions for humanity's future 100 to 500 years ahead, while also exchanging views on the pressing issue of AI and society under the general theme of "AI in 2030 and beyond."

Program
This year, in addition to the attendance of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, more than 200 global leaders will speak at 12 plenary sessions and 22 concurrent sessions. These include AI-focused panels such as "AI in 2030 and beyond," and "Global impact of AI by 2030 and beyond – Roadmap for the Next Decade." AI in Healthcare, Business, Government and Society will also be discussed in concurrent sessions. Other sessions focus on themes such as "Path to Sustainability toward a Zero Carbon Society," "Game-Changing Businesses," "Brain Health and Brain Augmentation," "Science Communication" and "Brain Circulation."

For more details, please refer to the official website: https://www.stsforum.org/kyoto2025/.

The webcast of the sessions from last year:
2024 Opening Plenary Session 100: The World in 2024 -- What do we need from S&T?
https://youtu.be/MSQF6XAwcYU

Plenary Session 102: Koji Omi Memorial Plenary: Lights and Shadows of AI
https://youtu.be/KcLqaHM4Aj8


About the STS forum:
The STS forum (Science and Technology in Society forum), a non-profit organization founded in 2004, aims to provide a unique platform for the world’s top leaders to meet and discuss how to deal with science and technology issues from a long-term perspective for the future of humankind.
https://www.stsforum.org/

Media Accreditation
Please download Media Accreditation Request form at https://www.stsforum.org/media/ and email the duly filled file to public_relations@stsforum.org by Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 5:00 pm (Japan Standard Time).


Contact
Public Relations, STS forum (NPO)
Email: public_relations@stsforum.org
Telephone: +81-(0)3-3519-3351

 

Photo (from the left)

1.   2024 Opening Session STS forum Chairman Hiroshi Komiyama
2.   2024 Opening Session Video Message by Prime Minister Mr. Shigeru Ishiba
3.   2024 Opening Session
4.   2024 Plenary Session Lights and Shadows of AI
5.   2024 Concurrent Session AI for Health
6.   STS forum logo