Prof. Naohiro Shichijo is a distinguished academic and policy expert specializing in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy and Data Science. Since April 2023, he has served as a Professor at the Graduate School of Social Data Science, Hitotsubashi University, where he also holds the position of Councilor. He concurrently serves as a Processor at Hitotsubashi Business School.

Prof. Shichijo's academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Mathematics (1994), followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo. His expertise spans university–industry collaboration, research funding strategies, and technology foresight, with technical expertise in composite and high-temperature structural materials.

With a rich career, he has held pivotal roles in academia and government, including at the University of Tokyo, Waseda University, and Japan’s Cabinet Office. He has directed research efforts at institutions like the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy and led foresight units contributing to national and technological strategy.

Prof. Shichijo has an extensive publication record in peer-reviewed journals, covering topics like advanced composite materials, digitalization in material development, and scientometric analyses of emerging technologies such as cybersecurity. He has contributed to methodologies for STI foresight and policy-driven societal transformation, including Japan’s Society 5.0 initiative.

His global recognition is reflected in his roles as a reviewer for leading journals and as a committee member of Japan’s STI Society. Beyond academia, his contributions have shaped strategies for sustainable innovation and advanced industrial applications, combining theoretical rigor with practical impact.