On July 11^th, Dr. Jose Martin Herrera Ramirez (hereinafter Dr. Martin) and Dr.Ivanovich Estrada Cuel (hereinafter Dr. Estrada), researchers of Advanced Materials Research Center (CIMAV), visited Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT). CIMAV is one of the 23 Institutions of the National Council of Science and Technology: CONACYT. The institution, which mainly researches about materials, energy, environmental sector, and nanotechnology in particular, was established in Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico in 1994.

At TUT, Dr. Martin and Dr. Estrada have agreed to develop relationship of mutual trust for the future between CIMAV and TUT with Executive Trustee and Vice President of TUT, Dr. Inoue, Professor Mr. Takashima, Project Professor Dr. Umemoto, Associate Professor Dr. Todaka. After that, CIMAV and TUT signed an exchange agreement.

Later, Dr. Martin gave a lecture, titled "CIMAV, a Connection for Japanese Students to Perform Internship in Mexico" in the 1^st IGNITE (Institute for Global Network Innovation in Technology Education) seminar (40 participants). These are some topics in the lecture: Introduction of CIMAV, Education/Research Activities of CIMAV, Collaboration with Japanese Companies (University-Industry Cooperation), and Study/Internship Opportunities for Japanese Students. Two trainees from JICA Japan-Mexico Training Program for the Strategic Global Partnership also introduced cultures of Mexico and Universidad Tecnologica de San Juan del Rio.

Here are some impressions about the seminar from participants:

"I realized that Japan has a strong connection with Mexico, whose technological development is progressing rapidly,"

"I got a lot of valuable information about internship in Mexico."

IGNITE expects that students and faculty understand about Mexico more deeply and get a new connection with Research and Education Institutions in Mexico, such as CIMAV.