On March 16, Kobe University hosted a round-table meeting with the delegation of the EU Delegation to Japan and NCP Japan. This event was held to promote EU-Japan joint research through HORIZON Europe, which started in 2021 as the European Union’s key funding programme for research and innovation.

The meeting began with opening remarks from Executive Vice President KAWABATA Toshinori (in charge of Research, Social Co-creation and Innovation), and Dr. Gediminas Ramanauskas (First Counsellor and Head, the Department of the Science, Innovation, Digital and Other EU Policy, Delegation of the European Union to Japan). Afterwards, presentations were given by Dr. Tom Kuczynski (Science and Technology Advisor, Department of the Science, Innovation, Digital and Other EU Policy, Delegation of the European Union to Japan) and Mr. YAMADA Naomichi (National Contact Point, Horizon Europe, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation) to explain Horizon Europe’s framework and the benefits of Japanese researchers participating in the programme. A lively exchange of perspectives on international joint research between Japan, Europe and Horizon Europe was held with Kobe University researchers who are involved in or considering joint research with European counterparts.

After the round-table meeting, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to Executive Vice President KAWABATA and Executive Vice President NAKAMURA Tamotsu (in charge of University Reform, Digitalization and Evaluation). The Executive Vice Presidents gave an overview of Kobe University and introduced the university's international exchange activities with Europe.

Vice-President KITA Takashi (in charge of Research, Co-creation and Innovation), Advisor to the President MATSUYAMA Hideto (in charge of Internationalization) and Professor YOSHIDA Ken-ichi (Executive Director, Centre for EU Academic Collaboration) also attended the meeting.

From left: Professor YOSHIDA, President MATSUYAMA, Vice-President KITA, Executive Vice President KAWABATA,
Dr. Ramanauskas, Executive Vice President NAKAMURA, Mr. YAMADA and Dr. Kuczynski

The delegation then visited the Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology and HoLM (Holographic Live Imaging & Manipulation) at the Organization for Advanced and Integrated Research, which are both actively carrying out joint research with European research institutions. Representatives gave the visitors a laboratory tour at each site. They also introduced the research projects and offered their perspectives on EU-Japan collaboration. This was a valuable opportunity to showcase Kobe University's cutting-edge research to the delegation members.

    Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology      The HoLM Project at the Organization for Advanced and Integrated Research

Kobe University will continue to promote joint research between Europe and Japan through dissemination events like this.

(Office of Research Management)