Kobe University visited Seattle, Washington, USA, from October 29 to 30, 2026, to advance research and innovation collaboration with the University of Washington (UW). During the visit, the two institutions exchanged views on concrete opportunities for cooperation and jointly hosted the Kobe University–UW Innovation Symposium.

The visit was undertaken as a follow-up to the academic exchange agreement and innovation partnership established between Kobe University and the University of Washington in March 2026. The symposium highlighted initiatives aimed at translating research outcomes into societal impact and strengthening industry-academia collaboration, with a particular focus on biomanufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, and AI-enabled innovation. Participants engaged in active discussions on opportunities for joint research projects and researcher exchanges.

The visit was organized with the support of the Kobe Seattle Business Office and provided opportunities to engage with universities, research institutions, companies, and innovation support organizations across the Seattle region. Through these interactions, new possibilities emerged for connecting the research and industrial ecosystems of Kobe and Seattle.

Engaging with Seattle’s Research and Innovation Ecosystem

During the visit, the delegation met with researchers and representatives from the University of Washington and other research and innovation organizations in the Seattle area. Discussions focused on advanced approaches to research commercialization, startup creation, and innovation support.

The delegation also gained insights into regional ecosystems that support the entire innovation pipeline, from research and development to commercialization, particularly in the fields of biomanufacturing and healthcare. Discussions further explored potential areas of collaboration with the Kobe region, including the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster.

 

Kobe University–UW Innovation Symposium

On October 30, the Kobe University–UW Innovation Symposium was held at the University of Washington.

The symposium opened with remarks from Consul General Hirota of the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, Dr. Takashi Kita, Executive Vice President of Kobe University, and Dr. François Baneyx, Vice Provost of the University of Washington.

The Biomanufacturing Session featured presentations from Kobe University on its J-PEAKS initiative and efforts to promote research commercialization and industry collaboration. Researchers from the University of Washington introduced cutting-edge research in biomanufacturing as well as advanced projects at the Institute for Protein Design (IPD).

In the Healthcare Session, researchers from both universities presented their latest research and initiatives aimed at societal implementation, followed by lively discussions among participants.

The networking session that followed brought together researchers from both universities, along with representatives from industry and innovation support organizations, fostering dialogue on future collaborative research and partnership opportunities.

 

Deepening Collaboration and Looking Ahead

The visit and symposium further strengthened connections between researchers at Kobe University and the University of Washington. Discussions advanced toward concrete collaborative activities in areas including biomanufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, and AI-enabled research and innovation.

The program also created new links between Seattle’s research and innovation ecosystem and Kobe’s industry-academia-government collaboration framework, including the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster. Participants shared a common vision for future cooperation aimed not only at advancing research but also at accelerating societal implementation and startup creation.

Building on the partnership established in March 2026, this visit marked an important step forward in the relationship between Kobe University and the University of Washington. Beyond university-to-university collaboration, it also contributed to the development of a broader international innovation network connecting Kobe and Seattle.

（Research Administration Division,Department of Academic Research and Co-Creative Innovation Administration）