University of Tokyo joins Massachusetts research consortium

The Metal Processing Institute (MPI) and the co-located Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling (CR3), Worcester, Massachusetts, have announced that the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) has become the second international partner to join the research alliance. MPI and CR3 are located on the campus of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

“The University of Tokyo is recognized globally as a leading research university, and [will be] a true partner in CR3’s quest to provide for a more sustainable future,” states MPI. Established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan, UTokyo has gained worldwide recognition for the work it is doing to bring research and academia together, specifically in the area of addressing depletion of our natural resources and damage to the environment, according to MPI.

CR3 says its key contacts at the university will be Dr. Toyohisa Fujita and Dr. Gjergj Dodbiba. Fujita is a professor at the Graduate School of Engineering in the Department of Systems Engineering at UTokyo. His research interests are recycling technology, environmental purification and mineral processing. He is currently the president of the research forum on the recycling technology of rare metals in Japan.

Dodbiba is an associate professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Systems Innovation, University of Tokyo. He is the author of more than 80 papers and several registered patents in the areas of physical and chemical processing of materials, and environmental impact assessment. His subject areas of expertise include physical and chemical processing of secondary raw materials for recycling, size reduction or liberation of materials and resource recovery and solid waste management.

“The collaboration with University of Tokyo, as an international partner of CR3, will allow the members access to state-of-the-art research in resource recovery being conducted in Asia and networking opportunities with Japanese companies,” says Brajendra Mishra, director of CR3.

MPI’s and CR3’s other international research partner is KU (Katholieke Universiteit) Leuven  in Belgium.