Kobe UniversityBrussels European Centre
KUBEC
Activity Report
November 2017-May 2018
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Missions

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Informationcollection anddissemination

Network andpartnershipsbuilding

Eventorganisation

ProjectsupportCommunicationand outreach
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Activities

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

MISSION 1
PERMANENT REPRESENTATION
OF KOBE UNIVERSITY

Kobe University Brussels European CentreRepresentation
 A permanent ‘bricks and mortar’ Representation of KU,
strategically placed on VUB campus – a strategic
investment in an increasingly competitive environment A useful information point for students, researchersinterested in KU activities (documentation, responseto queries, meeting w/ students, university reps, etc)
 A welcoming, well-appointed support centre for KU
visiting Professors (meeting room, videoconferences) A perfect base to prepare, organise, manage
workshops and big events (Symposium, Board meeting)
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

MISSION 2

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND
DISSEMINATION

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Information collection,dissemination
EU Research Policy/Projects Watch - Objectives
 Provide timely, first-hand information on EU researchpolicy and programmes, in particular on international
cooperation activities with Japan
 Assess emerging priorities, cooperation opportunities
for Kobe University, through latest information onH2020 projects (e.g. ‘top down’ coordinated calls,‘bottom up’ projects)
 Follow policy developments on future directions of EUresearch, internat. cooperation (e.g. FP9, etc)

Information collection,dissemination
EU Research Policy/Projects watch: Activities
 Regular meetings with key EC Officials (in particular
DG RTD, DG EAC, DG HOME, DG ENER)
 Maintain regular contacts with EU Universityorganisations, research networks, associations
 Attend EC conferences, Open Days, brokerage events
Ex: Securing early drafts of the new WPs, FP9
 Regular reporting (Meeting reports, skype teleconfs)

Key meetings…

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Key meetings with EC
 DG RTD: several meetings with
 Philippe Vialatte, Acting HoU, International Coop.
 Anne Haglund, Japan Desk
 Cristina Russo, Director International Coop.
 DG HOME
 Christof Castex, Secure Societies Call Coordinator Andrea di Candido, HoU, Innovation for Securuty
 DG ENER
 Michel Claessens, International Cooperation
 DG EAC
 Claire Morel, HoU, International Cooperation
 Gianpaolo Suriano, Coordinator, EU-Japan Dialoguein Higher Education
 Marlène Bartès, Japan Desk

Issues Discussed
 Presentations of Kobe University and KUBEC activities
 Policy updates on
 Discussions at EU-Japan Joint S&T Committee
meeting and follow up decisions (new priority areas
for cooperation – Arctic, Health, Climate) New instruments of EU-Japan cooperation (e.g.
direct involvement of MEXT for Arctic Research;joint Masters Programme EAC-MEXT) Role of S&T issues in forthcoming EU-Japan
Summit, FTA/SPA agreements Reorganization of DG RTD
 Preparation of FP9/Horizon Europe
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Issues Discussed
 Follow-up of 2017 Symposium and preparation of the2018 Symposium (programme, invitations) Updates on 2018-2020 Work Programme and on current
and forthcoming calls (RTD, HOME, EAC, CONNECT)
and ongoing joint calls Updates on newly launched EU-Japan Dialogue inHigher Education
 Process Dates, format (political dialogue, launch of new
programme/Call, follow-up events
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Other Key Meetings
 Mission of Japan: Several meetings convened byCounselor (bilateral, and with other universities)

 Japanese Partner universities: Waseda at ULB, Kansai at
KU Leuven, ‘Sixes’ (Leiden University NL)
 European universities Missions (Kiel, Milano) Unilion
 VUB, ULB, Ghent
 Other organisations
 EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation
 Belgium-Japan Association (esp. Cultural Committee)
 Think Tanks (Brussels Diplo Academy, EIAS, etc)

Important events…

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

EC Conferences, Brokerage Events
 EC Info Day and Brokerage Events
 e.g. Launch event Work Programme 2018-2020
 E.g. Info Day and Brokerage event on Research forSecure Societies
 Meetings and discussions with potential consortium
partners (Copenhagen, Tubitak, Trinity College Dublin,Politecnico di Milano, etc)
 Securing early drafts of documents (Work Programmes,FP9) and PPT presentations (e.g. How to Write
Successful Application for Secure Societies Calls)
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Other Key Events

Kobe University Brussels European CentreReporting

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Regular Reporting,Skype, Mails, Notes

Kobe University Brussels European CentreSharing Early Drafts,Key Documents

e.g. Newly published ‘Bilateral Flagships’• ICT: Bilateral Flagship through "Coordinated Call on 5G communication
networks, security, cloud, IoT, Big Data". Targeted in flagship on"Unconventional Nanoelectronics".

• Transport: Targeted in Flagships on "Greener and safer aviation","Automated road transport", "Integrated multimodal freight transportsystems and logistics", and "Reduction of transport impact on air quality".

• Energy: Bilateral Flagship on "Advanced biofuels". Targeted in Flagship on"Mission Innovation" on clean energy in general.

• Health: Cooperation through several multilateral initiatives. Targeted inFlagship on "Technologies for global health care".

• Disaster Risk Reduction: Targeted in Flagship on "Operational forecastingof earthquakes and early warning capacity for more resilient cities".

• Security: Targeted in Flagship on "Technologies for first responders".
• Nanotechnologies: Targeted in Flagship on "Nanosafety".
• Climate Action: Targeted in Flagship on "Changing cryosphere/Arcticresearch".

• Research Infrastructures: Targeted in Flagship "Integrating and Openingactivities".

… and new WP Calls ‘targeting’ Japan
Year Call identifier
DT-ART-01-2018

2018

Call topics

DT-ART-02-2018
EUJ-01-2018

Testing, validation and certification procedures for highly automated driving functions under various traffic scenarios
based on pilot test data
Support for networking activities and impact assessment for road automation
Advanced technologies (Security/Cloud/IoT/BigData) for a hyper-connected society in the context of Smart City

EUJ-02-2018
INFRAIA-01-2018-2019
MG-2-5-2018

5G and beyond
Integrating Activities for Advanced Communities
Innovative technologies for improving aviation safety and certification in icing conditions

NMBP-13-2018

Risk Governance of nanotechnology (RIA)

NMBP-14-2018

Nanoinformatics: from materials models to predictive toxicology and ecotoxicology (RIA)

SC1-HCC-03-2018

Support to further development of international cooperation in digital transformation of health and care

SC5-17-2018

Towards operational forecasting of earthquakes and early warning capacity for more resilient societies

SU-DRS01-2018-2019-2020 Human factors, and social, societal, and organisational aspects for disaster-resilient societies
SU-DRS02-2018-2019-2020 Technologies for first responders
DT-ART-03-2019
Human centred design for the new driver role in highly automated vehicles

20192020DT-ART-04-2019
ICT-06-2019
LC-CLA-07-2019
LC-MG-1-7-2019
MG-2-9-2019

Developing and testing shared, connected and cooperative automated vehicle fleets in urban areas for the mobility of all
Unconventional Nanoelectronics
The changing cryosphere: uncertainties, risks and opportunities
Future propulsion and integration: towards a hybrid/electric aircraft
Integrated multimodal, low-emission freight transport systems and logistics (Inco Flagship)

NMBP-15-2019

Safe by design, from science to regulation: metrics and main sectors (RIA)

SU-SPACE-22-SEC-2019
NMBP-16-2020

Space Weather

NMBP-17-2020

Regulatory science for medical technology products (RIA)

Safe by design, from science to regulation: behaviour of multi-component nanomaterials (RIA)MISSION 3

NETWORKS BUILDING

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Build and strengthen networks
Network building – Objectives
 To enhance KU recognition/profile with universities
and research institutions in Brussels and beyond, tofoster cooperation, exchanges
 To maximise the use of existing networks ofuniversities and industry organisations in Brussels, inparticular those with a EU-Japan connection
 To be involved with other stakeholders in discussionson future EU research policy, in particular its
international cooperation dimension
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Build on Brussels contacts

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Building on Brussels contacts

Key Asset: Participation in Unilion
 Regular meetings (every 6 weeks) + Commitees
 Particularly useful for sharing information in meetings
and through mailing list Key policy developments
 EC and stakeholder meetings
 Early access to documents Key to develop/follow up partnerships w/ Universities
 e.g. Copenhagen e.g. Spanish Universities
 Sub-group Japanese Universities: to develop further?
Explore interest of Unilion Mbs in working with Japan?
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Universities Informal Liaison Offices

Title titleParticipants
titleUnILiON• More text

28.05.2018

32

Excellent goodwill
from meeting @Kubec
21 September 2017

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Leverage ‘critical mass’ of Japanese
Universities in Belgium/NL?
 4 Universities in BE + 6 in NL; RIKEN to open office Options to be discussed?
 ‘Consortium’ - push by Japanese Mission: visibility,
showcase strength of Japanese research in Europe ‘Contact group’ - share info, avoid duplication,
cross-participation, maximise speakers travel?
 Useful in the perspective of the launch of the new EUJapan Dialogue on Higher Education?
 Contribute to ‘political event’ w/ jointcommuniqué? (‘very useful’ – DG EAC) Host ‘satellite event’ in October // Symposium?
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Deliverables?
 Joint EU-Japan Call in the framework of Erasmus+
Joint Masters Programme (specific subset of activities
targeted to EU-Japan universities)

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Deliverables, H2020-Horizon EU?

 Call opens end October 2018, closes February 2019
 Modalities organizational and financial still underdiscussions; EC Proposal for Open Day/Brokerage event

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Participate in EU-wide
activities, events

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Missions from KUBEC
 Objective: to support planned meetings, visits bydelegations, events and conferences organised by Kobe
University in Europe
 e.g. Mission to Kiel
 e.g. Mission to Milan

Missions from KUBEC
 Extremely useful for KUBEC:
 to follow up projects, agreements (MoUs) discussed
at these meetings
 to identify new projects/consortium-building
opportunities in response to H2020 calls to support KU’s participation in developing
consortia, including providing strategic advice anddrafting support
 e.g. planned mission to Copenhagen to support
KU participation in Secure Societies DSR-01 call
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Future Activities?
 Participation in EU events?
 ESOF Meeting in Toulouse (July 2018)
 Science Communication events
 EC Brokerage events in MS Closer links with other KU Offices?
 Build synergies
 Maximise KU speakers’ travel
 Relaunch exploratory visits to universities?
 Holland France
 Netherlands
Kobe University Brussels European CentreSupport development ofbilateral links, MoUs

Kobe University Brussels European CentreSupport development ofbilateral links
 Objective: To assess, country by country, state of play ofbilateral agreements
 To identify new opportunities
 To reinforce existing links

 An ongoing activity
 Regular Skype meetings
 Missions (e.g. Politecnico Milan)
 Explore opportunities, Initiate discussions and ensure
follow up with Brussels offices, at EC events
 e.g. Spanish Universities
 e.g. Technical University Munich e.g. Discussions with Centro Nazionale Ricerca (IT)

Nurture StrategicPartnership with VUBKobe University Brussels European Centre

Strategic Partnership with VUB
 Regular meetings with International Department andwith EU Research Management Department
 Attending VUB events (e.g. VUB Brussels Diplo
Academy, Opening of Academic Year, etc.)
 Establish contact with other VUB departments
 Transport and Mobility; Medical School; Robotics
 Vesalius College
 Institute for European Studies

 Good cooperation: but could be improved Decisions of Presidents’ meeting still to be applied?
 Comparison w/ULB-Waseda?
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

MISSION 4PROJECT SUPPORTKobe University Brussels European CentreProject support
Support to bilateral, multilateral projects
 Mission to Kobe in December 2016: 3 days ofpresentations on H2020, rules of participations, etc
 Scanning for opportunities in new Work Programme
 new joint call ‘Technologies for first responders’ proposed call Arctic Research Partner search (e.g. Copenhagen U for joint call) Information and advice on strategy (open days reports)
 Proposed support in drafting, clarifying rules, etc
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Key Outstanding Issues
 Financing issues: JST; organizational issues: ERC
 Information of potentially interested KU Departments:
ongoing awareness efforts
 Missions PVP
 KU workshops/visits by NCP, Euraxess, EU Delegation
 Further awareness efforts needed Look at other opportunities (ERC? MCSA? Higher
Education Dialogue/Programme Call) New opportunities on Japanese side (directinvolvement of MEXT in project financing?) New opportunities/rules for international coop. inHorizon Europe (‘Association’)MISSION 5

EVENT ORGANISATION

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Academic event organisation
Event organisation – Objectives
 Provide ongoing support and venue for visiting Kobescholars to network and collaborate with EUcounterparts
 Organise regular workshops between Kobe and EU
researchers in key areas of common interest
 Organise a yearly high-level international
symposium, to ensure maximum visibility to EUinstitutions and research community

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Workshops

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Workshops

Symposium

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

The 2017 Symposium: a Success Joint year-long preparation (headquarters + KUBEC)

 Key input/support by KUBEC, particularly for securing
EC speakers, outreach, programme, liaising VUB
 Good cooperation with VUB – to be formalised for next
events (sharing of responsibilities and costs)
 Focused communication effort with key partners
 Strong participation (85 overall attendance Broadening out of audience (students, industry,Missions and Delegations, civil society)
Kobe University Brussels European CentreLessons learned for 2018 event
 Content and structures?
 Content decision by President/Rector meeting
 How to keep balance KU/VUB; ‘hard sciences/SSH;
EU/Japanese speakers
 Structure: Lessons learned from previous events
 How to maximise positive aspects, adapt Input from VUB?
 always more complex to organise ‘joint’ event difficulty in setting up meetings and telecons
 Content input? Financial input? Organisational input?
 Board Meeting?
Kobe University Brussels European Centre

KUBEC’s Input
 Liaise with various VUB departments (Internationalcooperation; other VUB Depts –identify themes,speakers
 Liaise with other organisations - EC; other universities(avoid clash of dates, early info)
 Start early communication activities, ‘sensitizeinterlocutors, ‘populate’ invitation lists (Unilion; EU-JPassociations; EC); press)
 Draft ‘pre-pre programme’ as basis for discussions, input

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

MISSION 6

COMMUNICATIONAND OUTREACH

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Communication activities
Communication and outreach A key priority for KU – and for KUBEC
 Raise the profile and visibility of Kobe University,
maximising KUBEC’s strategic position Brussels
 Cooperation/complementarity between KU and local
Brussels communication resources Participation at key events (EC, Universities, European
Parliament, etc) ‘Hands on approach’ to ensure maximum visibility,
dissemination of info to key audiences, at key events
Kobe University Brussels European CentreMaximising Avaliable Tools…
 KU Publications
 Symposium Papers
 Web Social media – to explore?
 Mailing lists?

…Information relays…

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

…Publications, Web…

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

… Communication at Events…

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

… and Training
Opportunities

Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Thank You
どうもありがとうございました

Kobe University Brussels European Centre