New $100 Million Fund Supports Maritime Research

Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation has announced the formation of a special $100 million endowment fund, Nippon Foundation-WMU Ocean Fund, within The Nippon Foundation,  which will support the World Maritime University (WMU) to establish itself, at “a critical point in human history,” as “an ocean and maritime research institution which engages in multidisciplinary scientific research in the marine field; and an educational institution that generates human resources who have the capacity to address ocean issues with a multidisciplinary approach.”

Speaking at the inauguration of WMU’s new academic complex in Malmo, Sweden, Mr. Sasakawa also pledged “3 million US dollars in annual support for the next 10 years, for the existing fellowship program and enhancement of the Nippon Foundation Chair.”

Mr. Sasakawa acknowledged the work of the IMO, industry and others to “reduce its negative impact on the oceans and seas, but,” he said, “I am afraid the levels of cross-sector collaborations have been insufficient to lead to any sustainable solutions.” He welcomed the recognized “need for WMU to expand its scope to include ocean-related matters and to strengthen its research functions for maritime policy and ocean subjects.”

Concluding his remarks by turning to the “global ocean issues” that must be tackled despite the challenge of institutions and individuals working in different places around the world, Mr. Sasakawa issued his warning to the assembled guests, “All of us are part of the Ocean Community. Let us all do our part and work together to overcome these challenges to protect the oceans and seas for future generations.”

The Inauguration of the complex, with its infrastructure funded by the City of Malmo, was performed by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Chancellor of WMU, Koji Sekimizu. At the ceremony, it was announced that the main hall of the new complex would be named the Sasakawa Auditorium.

IMO launched WMU as a training institute in 1983 when the presence and role of developing countries in the international maritime community was rapidly increasing. “However,” said Mr. Sasakawa, “they did not have enough qualified professionals who could assume key roles in their countries’ maritime affairs. WMU was established with a mission to address this pressing need.”

Mr. Sasakawa continued, “It was around this time that the Nippon Foundation started its support to WMU. Over three decades, our scholarship program has generated close to 550 fellows from over 60 countries around the world. We are very proud that some of them are now playing active roles in their countries as executive officers of maritime administrative agencies and presidents of maritime universities.”

Mr. Sasakawa added that The Nippon Foundation support started in the way of scholarships “but we have also been helping to enhance the WMU’s faculty and enrich its curriculum.”