Rafael Rebolo, in his capacity as director of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) received from Masahiro Tajima, the president and CEO of Toyota Canarias, the vehicle donated to the IAC by the Japanese Motor manufacturer. Carlos Pinto Herrera, Managing Director of the Toyota Agency Nivaria Motor, was also present at the ceremony, which took place this morning at IAC Headquarters in La Laguna. The car, a Toyota Avensis, will be incorporated into the car fleet of the IAC, improving the logistics of the centre and of its workers.

This donation is in the framework of the cooperation between the IAC and Japan motivated by the installation in the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma of the Large Size Telescope (LST) of 23m diameter. Masahiro Tajima, who is a keen amateur astronomer, was very satisfied and impressed with the strong implication of the Japonese government in this project of collaboration with the Canaries.

“Our relations with the Japanese academic world, especially with the University of Tokyo, are growing” commented Rafael Rebolo, who added that this is not the only scientific experiment under way because other projects between Japan and the Islands are being negotiated.

The Director of the IAC expressed, is his address of thanks, his gratitude for the gesture of the major international company showing its social commitment, and expressed his wish that other Japanese firms would become involved with the Institute to improve collaboration in technology, a view fully shared by Masahiro Tajima.