Hirofumi Katase is currently Executive Vice Chairman and Director General Science & Technology, and a member of the Board of I-Pulse, a US based global technology company promoting innovation in various industries such as mining, oil and gas and manufacturing, using its high pulse power technology. He is also President and CEO of G-Pulse, a high pulse power based drilling technology company, a subsidiary of I-Pulse. He also serves as an independent director at Minebea Mitsumi.

Before joining I-Pulse, he most recently served as Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

He held numerous senior positions in trade, energy and industrial policy at METI since joining in 1982, including multiple Director General positions, such as for the Science and Technology Policy and Environment Policy Bureau and Trade Policy Bureau, where he contributed to the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Japan EU Economic Partnership Agreement among other international agreements.

He previously was Deputy Secretary-General for Space Policy at the Cabinet Office, where he led development of national space policy as well as establishment of the Office of National Space Policy – the permanent headquarters responsible for Japan’s development of space policy and deployment of space infrastructure. He also was Director of the Oil and Natural Gas at METI, where he led Japan’s upstream hydrocarbon policy for four years. Also he was Director of the Aerospace and Defense Industry where he worked on launching the regional Jet program and advanced international partnerships for the development of aircraft and aircraft engines.

Mr. Katase earned a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Tokyo and a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Michigan