Malmo: Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation, has announced the formation of a special $100m endowment fund, Nippon Foundation-WMU Ocean Fund, which will support the World Maritime University (WMU) to establish itself, at what it claims is “a critical point in human history,” as “an ocean and maritime research institution which engages in multidisciplinary scientific research in the marine field; and an educational institution that generates human resources who have the capacity to address ocean issues with a multidisciplinary approach.”
Speaking at the inauguration of WMU’s new academic complex in Malmo, Sweden, Sasakawa also pledged $3m in annual support for the next 10 years, for the existing fellowship program and enhancement of the Nippon Foundation Chair.
Sasakawa warned much more needed to be done by international shipping to protect the solutions. “I am afraid the levels of cross-sector collaborations have been insufficient to lead to any sustainable solutions,” he said.
