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Cowhey Center on Global Transformation CCGT

Hiroshi Fujiwara

Founder and President, BroadBand Tower, Inc.

Hiroshi Fujiwara

Residency: May 11–24, 2015

Public Talk: May 18, 2015 on "Japan and San Diego: An Evening of Art and Science”

Research Interests

  • Biotechnology
  • Engineering
  • Internet of Things (IOT)
  • Science & Technology

Biography

Hiroshi Fujiwara is the founder and president of Tokyo-based firms BroadBand Tower (BBTower) and Internet Research Institute (IRI). He is one of the key contributors to the global standardization of MPEG digital video compression technology and was an early architect of Japan’s Internet hardware system.

Prior to BBTower and IRI, he worked at IBM Japan, Hitachi Engineering, ASCI II and Bellcore. Dr. Fujiwara then founded IRI, an Internet technology venture firm that in 1999 became the first IPO at Tokyo’s new MOTHERS Exchange. In 2000, he founded BBTower, an Internet data center, cloud and e-commerce platform, that counts Yahoo!Japan as one of its largest clients.

Dr. Fujiwara is one of Japan’s leading Internet visionaries, philanthropists and investors. He is a key figure and mentor in science-based entrepreneurship in Japan, and his funds invest in industries ranging from the Internet to life sciences.

He holds degrees in astrophysics from Kyoto University and engineering from the University of Tokyo.

During his residency, he will explore the bridge between San Diego and Japan’s innovation ecosystems, the future of biotechnology and the Internet of Things (IOT).

Photos

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UC San Diego Launches Japan Forum for Innovation and Technology
Gift from Japanese technology leader Broadband Tower helps create program
May 20, 2015, UC San Diego News

Fostering increased collaboration and innovation between Japan and San Diego, the University of California, San Diego has established the Japan Forum for Innovation and Technology (JFIT). The new program, which will be housed in UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (formerly School of International Relations and Pacific Studies), will serve as a hub for research on contemporary business, science and technology in Japan, as well as associated policies. The launch of the Japan Forum at UC San Diego was made possible by a $300,000 pledged gift from Japanese IT company, Broadband Tower, Inc. Read more.