The 59th SOI Asia Meeting took place from March 6th to 8th, 2025, at Pacifico Yokohama in Kanagawa and Haneda Innovation City (HICity) in Tokyo. Held back-to-back with APAN 59, this three-day event brought together educators, researchers, students and colleagues from across the Asia Pacific region to discuss and collaborate on key initiatives in education, research, and digital identity.
This year, the SOI Asia community celebrates 30 years of collaboration, growth, and innovation. As the community reflects on its past achievements, it is also looking ahead, preparing for the next five years.
Day 1 Highlights: SOI Asia Showcase and Inxignia Key Signing
The first day of the meeting focused on project presentations and demonstrations, showcasing innovative projects and research conducted by students from SOI Asia partner institutions. The Inxignia Key Signing Ceremony marked a significant milestone, emphasizing the importance of trust and security in digital credentials.
In addition to the presentations, the SOI Asia Showcase “Resilient Society” provided a dynamic and engaging opportunity for participants to explore the core concepts, latest updates, and outcomes of SOI Asia’s main activities: APIE, EBA, CBR, Inxignia, and the collaboration with ARENA-PAC. The exhibition featured a stamp rally, where participants visited booths, collected stamps, and received a special physical badge crafted by the students. The event concluded with encouraging remarks from Prof. Jun Murai, who emphasized the inspiring presence of a new generation of SOI Asia members, highlighting the importance of building a resilient and lasting future through collaboration and innovation.
Day 2 Highlights: Meeting Opening and Panel Sessions on Collaboration in Asia Pacific
The second day of the meeting began with an opening ceremony featuring welcoming remarks by Professor Jun Murai (SOI Asia, Keio University), Shinji Shimojo (APAN59 Japan Organizing Committee Chair), and Rajnesh Singh (Chief Executive Officer, APNIC Foundation). Professor Murai shared updates on the collaboration with APAN, which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions during the APAN 59. Shimojo emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration, while Singh celebrated the progress and achievements of SOI Asia.
Following the opening, the day featured a series of panel sessions exploring collaboration opportunities in the Asia Pacific region:
- Trust & Identity Collaboration: The panel, chaired by Achmad Husni Thamrin (Keio University), featured insights from Shigeya Suzuki, Alwin Melkie Sambul, and Erik Kikkenborg. Shigeya emphasized the need for incremental deployment of digital identity solutions and the importance of policy validation. Alwin introduced the MicroCASA project, highlighting the role of AI and digital credentials in education. Erik shared insights from the Digital Credentials 4 Europe initiative, stressing the need for standardized approaches to build inter-organizational trust.
- Network Research Collaboration: Chaired by Franz A. de Leon (DOST-ASTI, Philippines), this session included Bayani Benjamin Racadio Lara, Achmad Basuki, and Lee Bu Sung. Bayani discussed the potential of Open RANs for network expansion, while Achmad shared developments in the Indonesian research network (IDREN). Lee highlighted Singapore’s experience with satellite-based internet and the hybrid approach needed for underserved regions.
- Internet Engineer Education: Led by Keiko Okawa (Keio University), the discussion focused on the future of internet engineering education. Katsuhiro Horiba (AWS) and Peter Blee (APNIC) discussed AI’s impact on training programs. Kotaro Kataoka (IIT Hyderabad) shared insights on the challenges of making internet engineering an aspirational career, noting the shift in perception toward AI and its integration into the profession.
Day 3 Highlights: SOI Asia Haneda Campus Opening and Strategic Planning
The third day of the meeting began with the grand opening ceremony of the new SOI Asia Haneda Campus, which will serve as the organization’s headquarters in Tokyo. The event celebrated a new milestone for SOI Asia, reinforcing its commitment to fostering collaboration, education, and research across the Asia Pacific region. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by distinguished guests, symbolized the start of this exciting new chapter for SOI Asia.
Following the opening ceremony, the Directors’ Meeting focused on strategic planning for the next five years. Key discussions included expanding education initiatives to high school students, enhancing shared curricula and micro-credentialing through platforms like INXIGNIA, and leveraging data for research.
The meeting also hosted the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between Keio University and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). AIT will host the 60th SOI Asia Meeting in Bangkok in late October 2025.
The discussions held during the 59th meeting have set a strong foundation for future collaborations, particularly in education, research, and digital identity, as the community continues to contribute to a resilient and inclusive Asia Pacific region.
The event concluded with a dinner at Haneda, celebrating the collaborative spirit of the SOI Asia community. Professor Jun Murai reflected on how this meeting, likely the largest in the community’s history, was driven by a new and younger generation of SOI Asia members. He noted that in the past, young members were often quiet and passive, but now they are leading the way, especially through the impressive showcase on day one. This shift is a testament to the community’s efforts in nurturing new talent and ensuring a sustainable and resilient society. “This is what a resilient society really is!” Murai concluded.
