Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | 9:00 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.

This is an invitation-only event. Guests from all over the state will join us to discuss the close business relationship between Japan and the State of Tennessee. Program highlights:

• Consul General Yoichi Matsumoto of Japan in Nashville will offer a brief opening remark and attend the event.
• Lunch will feature keynote speaker Allen Borden, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
• Four roundtable discussions moderated by UT campus leaders on supply chain, diversity, research, and talent engagement.
• Faculty lightning talks on energy, environment, sustainability, supply chain, and other research areas.
• A Japanese business showcase tabling event for businesses and UT campus and community members to connect.
• The event ends with a student poster session, a campus tour, and a closing reception inside the Neyland stadium.
• We will provide a luggage storage room onsite should any participants need it.

Agenda at a Glance
09:00 – 10:00	Registration & Japanese Business Showcase *Breakfast and refreshments presented by the UT Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development
10:00 – 10:30	Opening remarks Gretchen Neisler, Vice Provost for International Affairs Deborah Crawford, Vice Chancellor for Research Tyvi Small, Vice Chancellor for Diversity Yoichi Matsumoto, Consul-General of Japan in Nashville
10:30 – 11:00	Lightning Talks—Faculty & Research David Harper, Joint UTK Associate Professor—Materials Science and Engineering & Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Noriko Horiguchi, Associate Professor and Chair of the Japanese Program—World Languages and Cultures Dayakar Penumadu, Fred N. Peebles Professor and IAMM Chair of Excellence—Civil and Environmental Engineering Andrea Sordi, Clinical Assistant Professor, Academic Director and Executive MBA for Global Supply Chain—Supply Chain Management Xiaopeng Zhao, Professor—Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering
11:00 – 12:00	Roundtable discussions (selected UT representatives and non-UT participants)—diversity, supply chain, research and talent engagement (4 tables and rotate at half-hour time)
12:00 – 13:00	Lunch and keynote speaker Allen Borden, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development *Lunch presented by the DENSO Corporation
13:00 – 14:00	Roundtable discussions (selected UT representatives and non-UT participants)—diversity, supply chain, research and talent engagement (4 tables and rotate at half-hour time)
14:00 – 15:00	Student poster session
15:00 – 15:30	Break and pack
15:30 – 16:30	Campus walking tour
16:30 – 17:30	Closing reception at Lauricella Center inside Neyland Stadium *Closing reception presented by the UT Division of Diversity and Engagement

Location

Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, Toyota Auditorium
Address: 1640 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37996

Contact

Dr. Rachel Rui jrui@utk.edu, Director, Office of Asia Engagement, Center for Global Engagement, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Accommodations

The Graduate Knoxville hotel is located on Cumberland Avenue, also known as “the Strip,” and is just a short walk from Howard Baker Center. A special rate and package are available to guests participating in the 2023 Japanese roundtable. The discount link will be shared with guests in the confirmation email after they have registered to attend.

Event Sponsors

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Center for Global Engagement. Campus partners for this event include the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, Division of Diversity and Engagement, Haslam College of Business, and the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development. Business and community partners include the DENSO Corporation, Asian Culture Center of Tennessee and the Japan-America Society of Tennessee.