STS Forum
The STS Forum is one of the largest and most influential gatherings of scientists, technologists, and policymakers in the world. Its annual global summit held in Kyoto, Japan, brings together around 1,400–1,500 participants from more than 100 countries and regions, including heads of state, Nobel laureates, ministers, and leaders from academia and international organizations such as the United Nations and OECD. Often described as a “Davos for science and technology,” the forum serves as a platform to explore how innovation can advance human welfare while addressing its ethical, social, and environmental implications across themes such as AI, climate change, biotechnology, and global governance. It was founded in 2004 by Koji Omi, former Minister of Finance of Japan, to promote science and technology in service of humanity.
Opening Session Address by H.M. Emperor Naruhito
Science and technology for the future of our Earth and sustainable development
At the opening ceremony of the 22nd Science and Technology in Society Forum (STS Forum) on October 5 2025, the Emperor saying that while artificial intelligence is generating innovations across broad areas of society, there are “a host of challenging issues … that require careful, thoughtful deliberation.” He also expressed his “heartfelt wish that global leaders will continue their efforts to bring their wisdom together and search for the best way to make the most of science and technology for the future of our Earth and the sustainable development of humankind.” Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan attended the opening.
Chairman’s Address
Calls for a long-term vision extending 100 to 500 years ahead
In his Chairman’s Vision for the 2025 Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, Hiroshi Komiyama, reflects on humanity’s rapid progress since the Industrial Revolution and the urgent need to “strengthen the lights and control the shadows of science and technology.” He calls for a long-term vision extending 100 to 500 years ahead, addressing challenges such as inequality, environmental strain, AI, circular economies, and education reform for a fast-changing world. Komiyama emphasizes synthesis over fragmentation in knowledge and advocates “lifelong mutual active learning in inclusive societies,” where people from all walks of life collaborate on global issues.
Looking at the World in 2030 and Beyond
The Future of Science and Technology and Humankind
The plenary session explored how rapid advances in innovation will shape humanity’s future and the global order. Framed by Chair Hiroshi Komiyama, the discussion emphasized that while breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and clean energy hold immense promise, their governance will determine whether they advance collective well-being or deepen inequality and fragmentation. Participants agreed that the coming decade demands a renewed commitment to sustainability, inclusive innovation, and international cooperation. They called for stronger science–policy interfaces, anticipatory ethics, and educational systems that equip societies to navigate transformation responsibly. The session concluded that human agency, trust in science, and global collaboration will be decisive in steering technology toward a sustainable and humane future.
Panel:
Chair: Hiroshi Komiyama, Chairman, Science and Technology in Society Forum (STS Forum); Chairman, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., Japan
Speakers: Chairman of Force for Good
- Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, European Commission, EU
- Philippe Varin, Chair, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), France
- Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA); Chairman Emeritus, Nestlé S.A., Switzerland
- Marcia McNutt, President, National Academy of Sciences (NAS), U.S.A.
- Atsushi Horiba, Chairman, Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Chairman & Group CEO, HORIBA Ltd., Japan
AI in Society
Social Networks and Communications
The session opened by highlighting the dual nature of AI, its “lights” of connectivity and democratized access to knowledge, and its “shadows” of manipulation, polarization, and cybercrime. The chair-moderator illustrated this shift through personal reflections on how the internet evolved from a tool of connection to one of division. Speakers emphasized that technology must serve humanity, not profit, and discussed how social media and AI reshape communication, education, and trust. The striking idea of AI representing a neurological-psychological conquest was introduced, replacing the physical domination of the industrial era. Participants called for AI literacy, lifelong learning, and global governance to protect truth and human agency. The cornerstone criteria for creating safe AI was also identified in a discussion among experts.
Panel:
Chair-Moderator: Eric Mazur, Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Past President, Optica, U.S.A.
Speakers:
- Juliana Chan, CEO, Asian Scientist Magazine, Singapore
- Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector, Catholic University of Portugal, Portugal
- Ketan J. Patel, Chair, Force for Good; Chief Executive Officer, Greater Pacific Capital LLP, U.K.
- Makoto Usami, Professor, Kyoto University, Japan
- Jim Zemlin, Executive Director, Linux Foundation, U.S.A.
Biodiversity
The panel explored the escalating crisis of biodiversity loss, emphasizing that while the dangers are well understood, the barriers to effective action remain political, economic, and perceptual. Chair-Moderator Sir Peter Gluckman noted that biodiversity protection is often seen as a luxury compared to climate change, despite its equal relevance to human survival. Speakers highlighted that ecosystem preservation demands diverse partnerships, policy integration, and new tools such as environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring to assess ecosystem health. They cautioned that short-termism and transactional politics impede meaningful progress, and that concepts like natural capital must be reframed to resonate with policymakers and citizens. The central challenge, they concluded, lies in crafting narratives that translate scientific urgency into social and political will.
Panel:
Chair-Moderator: Sir Peter Gluckman,d President, International Science Council (ISC); Director, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, New Zealan
Speakers:
- Andrew Zachary Fire, Professor of Pathology and Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, U.S.A.; Nobel Laureate (Physiology or Medicine, 2006)
- Doug Hilton, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
- Philippe Mauguin, Président and CEO, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), France
- Phoebe Koundouri, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business & University of Cambridge; Chair, World Council of Environmental and Resource Economists Associations, Greece
- Adam Falk, President and CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society, U.S.A.
- Nick Campbell, Vice-President, Academic Affairs, Springer Nature, U.K.
CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING STATEMENT
“Regional conflicts continue to recur with no clear resolution in sight, while the international order that has been built over decades is beginning to face strong headwinds. In this context, the need for global cooperation - both in the pursuit of peace and in addressing environmental and social challenges on a planetary scale - has become ever more urgent. Science and technology hold great power to support human health and secure lives, and to guide humanity onto a path of sustainable development.”