Since 1986, the cities of Kobe, Japan and Philadelphia, Pa have been linked as sister cities, promoting friendship, cultural and commercial ties, and creating educational exchange opportunities.
That bond was further strengthened in June when delegates from Thomas Jefferson University and Kobe University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote academic exchange and cooperation between the two academic institutions.
The MOU, which was signed at Jefferson's Scott Memorial Library, envisions a wide range of collaborative initiatives, including student and faculty exchanges, joint research, co-hosted symposia, and shared educational programs—particularly in the areas of medicine, medical device development, and engineering.
In her remarks at the signing ceremony, Thomas Jefferson University president Dr. Susan Aldridge welcomed the signing of the new agreement and highlighted the importance of advancing collaborative research in areas such as robotics and artificial intelligence, emphasizing their potential to enhance patient care and healthcare access.
Kobe University president, Masato Fujisawa, who was also on-hand for the signing, emphasized, “This agreement is more than a document—it is a foundation for meaningful and sustainable collaboration. It will also contribute to the cultivation of globally minded professionals.”
President Aldridge and President Fujisawa were joined at the signing by distinguished colleagues from both universities, as well as delegates from the Kobe City Silicon Valley Office and partnering industry stakeholders.
While in Philadelphia, in the true spirit of the sister city relationship, the Kobe delegation also engaged in discussions with their counterparts on subjects including robotic surgery and medical design education.