November 22, 2018
On November 15, a seminar titled “Technological change and its impact on the labor market” was held at Kobe University’s Takigawa Memorial Hall in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The seminar opened with a greeting from Professor Masahiko Yoshii (Vice President and Professor at the Graduate School of Economics). He introduced the exchange initiatives between the EESC and Kobe University, including jointly hosting the Kobe University Brussels European Centre Symposium, the EU Institute in Kansai seminar, and student internships.
Following this, moderated by Vice President Yoshii, researchers from Kobe University and committee members from the EESC reported on technological developments in AI and the effects on the labor market. From Kobe University, Professor Zhi-Wei Luo (Graduate School of System Informatics) and Associate Professor Kazufumi Yugami (Graduate School of Economics) spoke about robotics technology developments for an aging society and the impact of technological changes on labor markets in Japan and Europe.
The seminar was also attended by students and researchers from Kobe University. During the Q&A and debate sessions there were many perceptive questions about the effects of AI technological advances on the education system, and developments in European AI business in comparison with the United States. This event demonstrated the high levels of public interest in the social and economic influence of AI technology.

Following the seminar, participants from the EESC visited the Integrated Research Center, where Professor Mitsuo Yokokawa (Director of the Integrated Research Center) introduced the Center’s flagship research projects, and they experienced the π-CAVE.
In September 2010 Kobe University established the Kobe University Brussels European Center in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the heart of Europe, in order to enhance collaboration in research and education between Japan and Europe. With the cooperation of the EESC, we will continue to strengthen our exchange activities in Europe.

(International Affairs Planning Division)