The 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre Symposium
For Smart and Healthy Society

Institute of Promoting International Exchange Programs

Kobe University

1-1,Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan
E-mail: intl-relations@office.kobe-u.ac.jp

Date:20 October 2015

Edited and published by

The 6th Kobe University
Brussels European Centre Symposium

For Smart and
Healthy Society— common challenges in research and education by Japan and EU collaboration —Date : 20 October 2015

The 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre Symposium

Preface

For Smart and Healthy Society- common challenges in research and education by Japan and EU collaboration -Date and Time : Tuesday 20 October 2015 9:30-18:00
Place : Thon Hotel EU Rue de la Loi 75, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium
Organiser : Kobe University

I am pleased to present this report on the 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre(KUBEC) Symposium “For Smart and Healthy Society - common challenges in researchand education by Japan and EU collaboration-”, which was held in Brussels on 20
October 2015. KUBEC has been holding an annual symposium in Brussels since its
establishment in 2011. Since then, we have been striving to expand our academic
network in Europe and to raise the profile of Kobe University and other Japanese
universities. In this regard, we place an emphasis on our “visibility” in Europe by holding
a number of academic workshops and seminars at KUBEC or at partner institutions as

Opening

well as the annual symposium in Brussels, which features guest speakers from both

MC : Prof. Matsuto Ogawa, Executive Vice President, Kobe University

European institutions and Japanese universities.

[9:30-10:00]

Opening addresses : Prof. Hiroshi Takeda, President, Kobe University
H.E. Mr. Keiichi Katakami, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union

The theme of the 6th symposium, “For Smart and Healthy Society - common challenges
in research and education by Japan and EU collaboration-” focused on the shared

Mr. Kostas Glinos, Head of Unit in the International Cooperation Directorate,
Directorate–General Research and Innovation, European Commission

challenges Japanese and EU societies face as they pursue future development. The
latest research results and applications of ICT, Nanoscience for Material Technology, andIn Vitro Modeling of the Human-Microbial Gastrointestinal Interface were introduced byboth Japanese and European researchers in the hope of establishing future collaboration

Session 1 [10:00-13:30]
ICT and Smarter Society

using advanced technology for each project. Furthermore, we also discussed perspectives
on interdisciplinary research and education in Economics and Law as taught in various
countries as an example of the globalisation of academic society, welcoming prominent

Session 2 [10:00-13:30]

researchers from around the world. As a result of this symposium, collaborative projects

Nanoscience for Material Technology and Energy Conversion

are under discussion or have already begun. I hope this event will enhance EU-Japan
research collaboration for the betterment of our societies.

Session 3 [14:30-18:00]

Hiroshi Takeda
President
Kobe University

Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Research and Education of Economics and Law

Session 4 [14:30-18:00]
Recent Advances in In Vitro Modeling of the Human-Microbial Gastrointestinal Interface

2

3

The 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre Symposium

For Smart and Healthy Society- common challenges in research and education by Japan and EU collaboration -Date and Time : Tuesday 20 October 2015 9:30-18:00
Place : Thon Hotel EU Rue de la Loi 75, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium
Organiser : Kobe University

Opening[9:30-10:00]

MC : Prof. Matsuto Ogawa, Executive Vice President, Kobe University

Opening addresses : Prof. Hiroshi Takeda, President, Kobe University
H.E. Mr. Keiichi Katakami, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union
Mr. Kostas Glinos, Head of Unit in the International Cooperation Directorate,
Directorate–General Research and Innovation, European Commission

Session 1 [10:00-13:30]
ICT and Smarter Society

Session 2 [10:00-13:30]
Nanoscience for Material Technology and Energy Conversion

Session 3 [14:30-18:00]
Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Research and Education of Economics and Law

Session 4 [14:30-18:00]
Recent Advances in In Vitro Modeling of the Human-Microbial Gastrointestinal Interface

3

Opening SpeechProf. Hiroshi Takeda
President of Kobe University

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to welcome allof you to the 6th Symposium of Kobe University Brussels European Centre.
Today we are fortunate to have many distinguished guests in attendance, and I would
like to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude in particular to our honourable guests,
His Excellency Ambassador Keiichi Katakami, Mission of Japan to the European
Union, and Mr. Kostas Glinos, Head of Unit, International Cooperation Directorate,
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission. I am
deeply grateful for everyone’s participation today.
Since its inception in 2011, Kobe University’s annual symposium in Brussels has been
an important occasion for members of Japanese and European institutions to discuss collaboration in research and education.
As the president of Kobe University newly appointed from the 1st of April this year, I sincerely hope that our symposium
continues to provide valuable opportunities for international dialogue.
The 6th Symposium today promises to follow this trend. As the title of this symposium suggests, the building of smart andhealthy societies is a pressing issue both for the EU and for Japan. In our time, Japan and the EU member states share manysocietal problems, ranging from aging population to increasing demand for energy supply in urbanized areas. Smartness andhealthiness become highly relevant to our communities precisely because such qualities can effectively address the new
demands of our communities, be they in the ﬁelds of technology, health care, or market economy.
To make their social infrastructures smarter and their communities healthier, both the EU and Japan have been implementing
various initiatives respectively under Europe 2020 and the revised Growth Strategy. In this effort, however, institutions of higher
education have no small part to play. As the very initiatives such as the EU’s Horizon 2020 and Japan’s Innovation 2020 make it
clear, universities–on their own or together with the private sectors–have the resources to produce inﬂuential innovations for the
betterment of society. It is my hope that today we see researchers from Europe and Japan present their cutting-edge researchin a variety of ﬁelds and pave the way for future collaboration.
I thank you all again for participating in today’s Symposium.

H.E. Mr. Keiichi Katakami
Ambassador of Japan to the European Union

Prof. Hiroshi Takeda,
Mr. Kostas Glinos from European Commission,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentleman,Good morning to every one of you.
It’s a great honour to be here at the 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre
Symposium.
I would ﬁrst like to extend my appreciation and thank those who have organised this event.
Technology and science have the power to open doors and open our eyes. They canhave a profound effect on how we live our lives or how we understand the world around us.
Earlier this month, two Japanese scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in recognition of their ground-breaking work in theﬁelds of basic science and medicine.
Takaaki Kajita’s experiments in quantum physics tapped cosmic rays to solve the enigma of the neutrino, showing that it
oscillates and has mass. Indeed, now we know that the collective weight of neutrinos is equal to the collective weight of the stars.
And, thanks to Satoshi Omura’s life-long study of the bacteria that attack parasitic worms, drugs have been developed against
devastating diseases that have plagued a third of the world’s population, depriving countless children and adults from enjoying
good health and participating fully in their communities and economies.
Creating a climate that encourages discovery and innovation in science and technology is central to economic growth andwellbeing.

4Opening Speech
In Japan, there have been some interesting developments recently that show our commitment to creating an optimal
environment for this to happen.
PM Abe has recently announced the second stage of his “Abenomics” reform plan to boost the Japanese economy, in whichinvestment in science and technology will play an important role.
In next year, Japan will unveil its Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan, covering the next 5-year period. It will consist of
three pillars :The ﬁrst pillar is dedicated to “systemizing technologies for the future”.
The second pillar aims at removing various barriers including intergenerational barriers, barriers between industry, academia
and government, and across national borders in order to respond effectively to all future changes.
The third pillar aims to encourage the development of a sort of ecosystem for human resources, technologies and capital inorder to generate new businesses and thus revitalize Japan’s regions.
Thus, today's topic of a “Smart and Healthy Society” is a timely and important one for Japan, and I am fully conﬁdent that the
combined contributions from academics, students and industry at this symposium will give new momentum to Japan-EU
collaboration in the ﬁelds being covered today.
In May of this year, I attended the 23rd Japan-EU summit in Tokyo. During this summit, Japanese and EU leaders reafﬁrmed
their commitment to advancing further cooperation in the science and technology ﬁelds, and endorsed the Joint Vision towards
a new strategic partnership.
The Japan-EU strategic partnership is based on the fact that our two regions face similar challenges in a wide range of areas,
including healthcare, energy, and environmental policy to name a few. Greater cooperation between Japan and the EU inresearch and innovation will allow us to promote the excellence of our research, boost the competitiveness of our industries,
and address common and global challenges together.
The Joint Vision endorsed by our governments is underpinned by three aspects:
First, it acknowledges to substantially increase Japan-EU cooperation in research and innovation in ICT, aeronautics, andmaterials – including critical raw materials. In the future we hope to expand this cooperation to encompass health, medical
research, the environment, energy and high-energy physics in recognition of the strategic signiﬁcance of boosting cooperationin these ﬁelds.
Second, the Joint Vision recognizes the importance of constantly seeking to promote opportunities to increase mobility of
researchers between Japan and the EU.
Finally, in order to fully exploit our cooperation potential, this Joint Vision highlights the importance of creating more simpliﬁed,

mutually acceptable mechanisms for the joint funding of research and innovation projects.
In the Japan-EU Summit this spring, cooperation through the EU’s Horizon 2020 and also the seven joint projects by the twopartners was conﬁrmed, but greater efforts are needed to enhance our cooperation in all areas, and we must endeavour tomake the Japan-EU relation stronger than before.
In our collaboration for technological innovation and to further scientiﬁc knowledge, we must act with a sense of responsibility.
Japan and the EU have the ability to realise a vibrant new society that is full of economic and social opportunity, not just for us,
but for the whole world.
Today’s symposium offers an excellent opportunity for the academics, researchers and innovators gathered here from Japanand all over the EU to come together to discuss how to enhance cooperation, and to work towards smarter and healthiersocieties.
From this perspective I wish you every success for a fruitful exchange of views today, and I look forward to hearing the resultsof this symposium.
Thank you.

Mr. Kostas Glinos

Head of Unit International Cooperation Directorate Directorate-Generalfor Research and Innovation
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,First of all, I would like to thank the organiser of the conference, Kobe University, for givingme the opportunity to present Horizon 2020 and the opportunities for Japanese
researchers, research organisations and companies to participate. This symposium comesvery timely as we have just published the Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2016-2017
with new open calls for proposals.
I would also like to congratulate the Japanese research community for the two 2015 Nobel
Prizes that have just been awarded to Japanese scientists–in Physics to Professor Takaaki
Kajita (University of Tokyo) and in Physiology or Medicine to Professor emeritus Satoshi Ōmura (Kitasato University).

EU-Japan relations have developed steadily over the past two decades. The EU and Japan share the same values, we face many of
the same societal challenges (energy security, access to critical raw materials, ageing populations) and defend a similar approach to
key international objectives such as security, development cooperation and combating climate change. Japan is in many ways one of5Europe’s closest partners on the international arena.
This is why we believe there is a strong potential for strengthened cooperation with Japan in research and innovation.
In May this year a new Strategic Partnership in Research and Innovation (R&I) was adopted and endorsed by the EU-Japan Summitin Tokyo. This Strategic Partnership is based on actions in various areas:• to deepen strategic cooperation by frequent consultation at multiple levels;• to consolidate framework conditions that facilitate collaboration: the establishment of mechanisms for the joint funding of researchand innovation projects such as with Japan Science and Technology Agency (initially in the areas of materials and powerelectronics), and measures to enhance the mobility of researchers, such as the recently signed cooperation arrangement between
the European Research Council (ERC) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and opportunities offered by the
Horizon 2020 Marie-Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA);• to deepen cooperation in thematic areas of strategic importance: ICT, Aeronautics, and Materials including Critical Raw Materials and to strengthen cooperation in areas such as Health, Energy, Environment and High-energy physics;• to extend our partnership to close consultation and possible coordination on Science, Technology and Innovation policies such asOpen Science; and• to promote the role of support activities and public engagement.
Both sides are committed to delivering on the new Strategic Partnership in R&I. From our side we strongly encourage an increased
level of participation of Japanese researchers and research organisations in the EU's Horizon 2020 programme in view of the recently
published new open calls.
Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) is the largest and most open research and innovation funding programme in the world with a budget ofnearly 80 billion euros. Horizon 2020 is open to the participation of researchers and research institutions from anywhere in the world,
to extend the frontiers of scientiﬁc knowledge, tackle challenges that affect us all and make industries more competitive.
The focus of this symposium is on "smart and health society", where topics such as ICT, applied nanoscience, interdisciplinary
research and education of economic and law, and In Vitro modelling of the human-microbial gastrointestinal interface are addressed.
These are all important themes in Horizon 2020 and areas where Japanese researchers already cooperate substantially with
European teams, in particular in the ﬁeld of ICT and Materials research.
Technically, there are two ways to cooperate with industrialised countries such as Japan in Horizon 2020:
The "General Opening" means that any organisation from any country can join a consortium and submit a proposal. We call this also
the ‘bottom up’ approach. The evaluation is based solely on the quality of the proposal submitted by the consortium. In the previous
framework programme - FP7, there have been 116 Japanese participations in 101 projects, 358 MSCA grantees and 14 ERC
grantees. There have further been around 160 participations of 70 different Japanese companies based in Europe. In Horizon 2020,
there have so far been 24 Japanese participations in 18 projects, and an additional 15 MSCA grantees.
In the "Targeted Opening" approach, international cooperation with speciﬁc countries is either encouraged or required in the
proposal. We call this the ‘top down’ approach. There are 23 call topics in Work Programme 2016-17 that speciﬁcally encourage
cooperation with Japan in areas such as ICT, transport, research infrastructures, digital security, and nanotech and advanced
materials to mention but a few.
One way of implementing this targeted opening is through "coordinated calls". The "coordinated calls" are organised jointly withfunding organisations from third countries. This has worked well with Japan for ﬁve calls in FP7 in the ﬁelds of ICT, aeronautics,
energy and materials/critical raw materials. In addition, during the ﬁrst year of Horizon 2020, two additional coordinated calls werelaunched– one in ICT and one in Aeronautics– and there will be another two coordinated calls launched this coming year in the ﬁelds
of ICT and Health. These calls have been launched together with Japanese ministries and agencies: the Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry (METI) in aeronautics; the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC) in ICT; the New and Industrial
Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) in new energy technologies; and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) in
new materials and critical raw materials.
In conclusion, Horizon 2020 is ‘Open to the World’ – and we would be pleased if more Japanese researchers and research
institutions will take the opportunity to join the cooperation for the beneﬁt of us all.
I am delighted to see that the organiser of this conference - Kobe University - already has participated in projects in the EU's
framework programme, for instance in the area of "Systemic seismic vulnerability and risk analysis for buildings, lifeline networks andinfrastructures safety gain".
I would also suggest that researchers and research organisations present at the symposium take a closer look at the various calls for
proposals that have just been opened in Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2016-17. Most of the calls are open to Japaneseparticipation, and as already mentioned many call topics speciﬁcally target Japanese participation.
I would again like to thank the organisers for providing me this opportunity to present our strategic cooperation with Japan in researchand innovation, and the participation opportunities provided by Horizon 2020.
Thank you for your attention.

6

Session 1 [10:00-13:30]

ICT and Smarter Society
ChairProf. Masahiko Yoshimoto

Graduate School of System Informatics, Kobe University, Japan

Speakers
Prof. Seiichi Ozawa

Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan

Dr. Noriyuki Murakami

NARO Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, Japan

Prof. Cesare Alippi

Information processing systems, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Prof. Philippe Lalanda

Grenoble University, France

7

The utilization of ICT (Information Technology) in various fields

Following his introduction, four researchers introduced

and the integration of technologies are crucial areas for the

innovative technologies.

promotion of science, technology and innovation. ICT
contributes to the realization of a reliable, safe, secure,

Professor Seiichi Ozawa presented an image-sensing method

comfortable, and highly efficient social system (Smarterfor smart agriculture to develop more reliable systems forSociety) through the following three methods:

earning high-yield and high-quality products. The growth statusand yields of soybeans in outdoor environments were acquired

・Accurately collecting information about humans, environmental
information, and information embodied in objects and phenomenausing this method and used for agricultural big data mining.

in the real world

Doctor Noriyuki Murakami proposed a robotic cabbage

・Processing (accumulation, search, conversion, analysis,

harvester to mechanize selective harvesting operations. A

recognition, and planning) the collected big data in the cyberneural network technique was utilized to classify the cabbage

world

head and leaves and template matching was applied to・Producing appropriate physicochemical effects (control andestimate the cabbage position and size.

actuation) on the real world

Professor Cesare Alippi focused on intelligence and fault

The above scheme is called Cyber-Physical Systems technology.

diagnosis in cyber-physical systems. He demonstrated how theIt provides actual solutions for social issues such as traffic

use of intelligence can boost the next generation of embedded

control, environment problems, energy management, city area

and cyber-physical-based applications, including environmental

infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare. This session wasmonitoring.

dedicated to sharing our knowledge, current topics of researchand developments in Cyber-Physical Systems in Japan and

Finally, Professor Philippe Lalanda presented iCasa, aEurope.

software framework for the development and execution ofProfessor Masahiko Yoshimoto introduced the core researchteam for Cyber-Physical Systems which is part of “The

multiple home applications. The use of this framework was
illustrated on a health application for the home, called
actimetrics.

Organization of Advanced Science and Technology” in Kobe

8

University. He also presented on “A low-power ECG–SoC

After the presentations, all participants discussed these novel(System-on-a-Chip) with normally-off computing for wearable

technologies and their applications, and explored the possibility

healthcare systems”, one of the team’s recent research topics.

for collaboration among those projects.

Session 1

Prof. Masahiko Yoshimoto

chair

Graduate School of System Informatics, Kobe University, Japan

Masahiko Yoshimoto is a Professor and Dean of the Graduate School of System
Informatics, Kobe University.
Prof. Yoshimoto worked over 20 years in the industry (Mitsubishi Electric Co.) where hehas held the positions of circuit designer, architect, and R&D project leader in thedomains of advanced SRAM, video compression VLSI and multimedia communication
system-on-a-chip. He now conducts research in the ﬁelds of ubiquitous media VLSI
systems for IoT sensor node, including an ultra low power application speciﬁc
processor and a low power dependable SRAM circuit. He has authored some 200
papers in international journals and conferences. He also holds about 80 registeredpatents. He has served on the program committee of the IEEE International Solid State
Circuit Conference from 1991 to 1993. From 2009 to 2010, he was Chair of IEEE SSCS

（Solid State Circuits Society）Kansai Chapter.

“A Low Power, Normally-Off ECG-SoC (System-on-a-Chip)with Noise Tolerant Heart Rate Extractor for Wearable Healthcare Systems”
Abstract: To prevent lifestyle diseases, wearable bio-signal
monitoring systems for daily life monitoring have attracted
attention. Wearable systems have strict size and weight
constraints, which impose signiﬁcant limitations of the battery
capacity and the signal-to-noise ratio of bio-signals.
This paper describes an electrocardiograph (ECG) monitoring

SoC using a non-volatile MCU (NVMCU) and a noise tolerant
instantaneous heart rate (IHR) monitor. The novelty of thiswork is the combination of the non-volatile MCU for normallyoff computing and a noise-tolerant-QRS (heart beat) detection
algorithm to achieve both low-power and noise tolerance.

To minimize the stand-by current of MCU, a non-volatileﬂip-ﬂop and a 6T-4C NVRAM are employed. The proposed
accurate heart beat detector employs a coarse-ﬁne autocorrelation and a template matching technique. Accurate heart beatdetection also contributes to system level power reduction
because the active ratio of ADC and digital block can be
reduced using a heart beat prediction. Then, at least 25%
active time can be reduced. Measurement results show the

fully integrated ECG-SoC consumes 6.14μA including 1.28μA
non-volatile MCU and 0.7μA heart rate extractor.

Prof. Seiichi Ozawa

Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan
Seiichi Ozawa is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
at the Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan. He received his Doctor
of Engineering from Kobe University. He is an associate editor of three international
journals including IEEE Trans. on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, a member of
Neural Networks Technical Committee of IEEE CIS, a governing board member of the
Asia Paciﬁc Neural Network Assembly, and the vice-president of the Japanese Neural
Network Society. His current research interests include machine learning, big data
analytics, online learning, pattern recognition, cybersecurity, social networks, andsmart agriculture.

“Image Sensing Method for Smart Agriculture”
Abstract: Smart Agriculture is a new concept to promote
high-productivity in agriculture using ICT technologies. The
ﬁnal goal of Smart Agriculture is to produce high-yield andhigh-quality agricultural products that are robust and efﬁcientunder various environments. In Smart Agricuture, not only
environmental information of ﬁelds but also growth informationof agricultural plants should be ﬁrst sensed to understandplant status. Then, the captured information is stored in a
database and used for mining useful knowledge to control
temperature, soil moisture, quantities of fertilizer and agriculturalchemical, and so on. In this talk, we present an image sensing

approach to acquiring growth status and yields of soybeans
under outdoor environments. Obviously, sensing informationin outdoor environments is quite challenging compared withindoor environments. However, if such image sensing systems
are deployed with low costs in many ﬁrms, it would result incollecting a large amount of information on growth status andyields; that is, it would lead to “Agricultural Big Data.” Mining
from such big data allows us to develop more reliable
systems for earning high-yield and high-quality products
under various environments. We report our ﬁrst results for thisultimate goal.

9Dr. Noriyuki Murakami
NARO Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, Japan

Senior Researcher at NARO Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center engaging in High
Efﬁcient Paddy Rotation System and IT Farming, Japan. Awarded Master ofAgricultural Engineering of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan and
PhD from Kyoto University, Japan in 1991 and 2000, respectively. After working for the
National Agricultural Research Center as researcher, Japan, he moved to Hokkaido
Agricultural Experiment Station (reorganized as the Hokkaido Agricultural ResearchCenter in 2006) in 1998. The research focused on highly efﬁcient agricultural
production systems and IT farming.

“Robotic cabbage harvester”
Abstract: Harvesting heavy vegetables such as cabbages isa labor intensive, tedious operation. Moreover, mechanicalharvesting is expected to be automated due to a decrease in
the number of farmers in Japan.
A robotic cabbage harvester was developed to mechanize
selective harvesting operations. A gripper for picking
cabbages which is mounted on the 4 DOF polar coordinate
hydraulic drive manipulator has four ﬁngers, two ﬁngers forholding the cabbages, and the others for cutting the stemwith blade which is attached to the ﬁnger tips. The operation
is done by dual actions by those ﬁngers: holding the cabbage
head and cutting the stem.

A detection technique of harvest targets is an essential element
for the harvesting robot. A image processing algorithm wasdeveloped to detect the head of cabbage in the ﬁeld undernatural lighting conditions. Neural Network was effective toclassify the cabbage head and leaves and Template Matching
was applied to estimate the cabbage position and size.
As a result of ﬁeld experiments, it was discovered that thesuccess rate for picking mature cabbages was 40 to 71% andthat 60 to 71% of their stems and leaves were successfullycut.

Dr. Cesare Alippi

Information processing systems, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
CESARE ALIPPI received a degree in electronic engineering cum laude in 1990 and a
PhD in 1995 from Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Currently, he is a Full Professor of
information processing systems with Politecnico di Milano. He is an IEEE Fellow,
Distinguished lecturer of the IEEE CIS, Board Member of INNS, Vice-President for
education of IEEE CIS, Associate editor (AE) of the IEEE Computational Intelligence
Magazine, past AE of the IEEE-Trans. Instrumentation and Measurements, IEEE-Trans.
Neural Networks, and member and chair of other IEEE committees. His current
research activity addresses adaptation and learning in non-stationary environments
and Intelligence for embedded systems.

“Intelligence for cyber-physical and embedded systems”
Abstract: The emergence of non-trivial embedded sensor
units and cyber-physical systems has made possible thedesign and implementation of sophisticated applications
where large amounts of real-time data are collected, possibly
to constitute a big data picture as time passes. Acquired data
are then processed at local, cluster-of-units or server level totake the appropriate actions or make the most suitable
decision. Within this framework, intelligence mechanisms playa key role to provide systems with advanced functionalities.
Intelligent mechanisms are needed to optimally harvest andmanage the residual energy, identify possible faults affecting some
sensors within a model-free framework, solve the compromise

10

between accuracy and computational complexity, andguarantee appropriate performances within an evolving, timeinvariant environment.
The talk will mainly focus on Intelligence and Fault diagnosis
in cyber-physical systems and show how the use of
intelligence can boost the next generation of embedded andcyber-physical-based applications, a generation whose
footprint is already around us. Sophisticated environmental
monitoring scenarios deployed on the Alps for landslides androck toppling will constitute the leitmotiv of the presentation.

Session 1

Prof. Philippe Lalanda
Grenoble University, France

Philippe Lalanda is a Professor in computer science at Grenoble University.
He completed his PhD in Artiﬁcial Intelligence at INRIA under the direction of Jean-Paul
Haton. He then turned to the links between AI and robotics at Stanford University.
Prof. Lalanda worked ten years in the industry (Dassault, Thales, Schneider) where heheld the positions of programmer, architect, and R&D project leader in the domains ofsoftware architecture, software product line and pervasive computing.
Prof. Lalanda now conducts research in the ﬁelds of autonomic and pervasive
computing. He has authored some 100 papers in international journals andconferences and supervised 17 PhDs. He also served as a reviewer in a number ofconferences (Percom, icac, icse, ieee software, etc.).

“iCasa, a software framework for the development
and execution of multiple home applications”
Abstract: Providing services enhancing the potential of theelderly and patients to live and cope at home is today a major
challenge, both in economic and societal terms. Healthcare
costs are booming and the aging of the population only
reinforces this trend. Also, people usually want to stay in theirown homes and be independent for as long as they can. It isthereby urgent to develop a range of accommodation andsupport that are appropriate to individuals remaining athome.
In this context, advances in pervasive computing are very
encouraging and exciting. The proliferation of smart,communication-enabled devices is indeed opening up many
new opportunities in the home care domain. Pervasive
Computing is a vision for next-generation computer systems
that infuse into real world environments. It is fundamentally
characterized by the connection of things in the world withcomputation.
However, developing pervasive user-centric applications
continues to be quite a challenge. Such applications have tohandle devices characterized by considerable heterogeneityand volatility. Applications do not control devices lifecycle,
which means that devices can come and go their own way.
Also, pervasive data present different formats, relevance, andpreciseness.
We believe that systematic software engineering tools areneeded to effectively develop and maintain pervasive
applications in the homes. This is the challenge taken up in
this presentation. Speciﬁcally, we propose iCasa, a framework
to develop pervasive applications. The use of this framework
is illustrated on a heath application for the home, called
actimetrics.

11

12

Session 2 [10:00-13:30]

Nanoscience for Material
Technology andEnergy Conversion
Chair

Prof. Minoru Mizuhata

Department of Chemical Science and Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan

Speakers

Prof. Franz Faupel

Institute for Materials Science, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany

Dr. Andrey Shukurov

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague, the Czech Republic

Mr. Arturo Melendez-Ceballos

Institute de Recherche de Chimie Paris, France

Mr. Kyohei Kanki

Department of Chemical Science and Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan

13

This session consisted of 5 lectures relating to nanoscience inmaterials of lithium-ion battery which demonstrated a large energy

materials science and energy conversion from Germany, Czech

density with alloying reaction of Si. TiO2 was deposited into the

Republic, France, and Japan.

porous structure. For CeO2 / PSi, he found the epitaxial growth ofProfessor Franz Faupel of the Faculty of Engineering, Christianincreased. For ZnS / PSi, the PL spectra due to the ZnS / PSi

Albrechts University of Kiel talked about his research on advanced

composites had two peaks at 430 (blue) and 530 nm (green). The

nanomaterials for functional applications in his laboratory and

PL intensity decreased with an increase of current density, hence

University. His research is part of the research focus of KiNSIS

PL intensity decreased in the case of high current density.

CeO 2 in the PSi of which luminescence intensity sharply(Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science, http://www.kinsis.
uni-kiel.de), which includes particulate nanocomposites withapplications ranging from plasmonics to photoswitchable devices,
smart materials and multiferroics such as ultrasensitive magneto–

Mr. Arturo Meléndez-Ceballos, graduate student at Institut deelectric sensors for biomagnetic interfaces and highly fatigue

Recherche de Chemie Paris presented on activities in the field ofresistant superelastic shape memory films for stents and energy

high temperature fuel cells, in particular MCFCs. High temperature

harvesting, materials with extreme porosity and hosts of uniquefuel cells (HTFC) as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and molten

properties based on tetrapodal zinc oxide, ultrahigh capacity

carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) are electrochemical devices that cananodes for Li-ion batteries made of porous silicon, and various

produce electricity from a fuel (hydrogen, methane, bio-gas,nanomaterials for controlling cell behavior.

syngas among others) and oxygen from air by means of anDoctor Andrei Shukurov, Associate Professor of Charles University

electrochemical reaction that takes place at the cell. The working
temperature of this type of cells is in the range of 500 to 1000 °C

in Prague presented his research on plasma-based methods forwhich enables the use of less expensive catalyzers than thosenano-structuring of surfaces. Low-temperature plasma is wellused in low temperature fuel cells such as proton exchange

known as a powerful tool for surface modification. His lecture

membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) or direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).

reviewed the research activities at the Department of Macromolecular

In addition, HTFC have a high efficiency (≈ 50 %) and they can

Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University

reach up to 80 % when used in cogeneration with a turbine or for

in Prague in the field of plasma-based surface modification. Basics

water heating. These fuel cells constitute a promising technologyof the plasma polymerization processes and magnetron sputtering

for clean generation of electricity in the MW scale. He also

were considered with the main focus on fabrication of functionalpresented recent research about the viability of carbon dioxide

nanostructured materials. He also presented on growth of polymericcapture and storage using MCFC type cells with importantnano-islands and plasma-tailoring of their structure. Utilization of

implications in environmental remediation of air and reduction of

nano-structured surfaces in the field of optically active materials,

CO2 emissions.

super-hydrophobic surfaces or in biomedical applications was also
discussed.

Mr. Kyohei Kanki, a graduate student at the Kobe University

After the coffee break, Professor Minoru Mizuhata of the

behavior of ceramics / molten salts composites at high temperatures.

Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University talked about

His research related to CO2 absorption behaviors of Li4SiO4 at

fabrication of nanocomposites using electrochemistry and solution

lower temperatures. It was found that samples whose surface waschemistry. Porous silicon (PSi) is fabricated by anodic oxidation ofmodified with ball milling method under an Ar atmosphere showed

Si wafer in HF/organic solvent solution. Pore size is controlled bya tendency to increase the surface area and increase of Si

resistivity of Si wafer and reaction condition. He fabricated various

dangling bond. It was found that there are two different absorptionoxide and sulphide composites with porous silicon such asprocesses: a chemisorption at the surface (T<773 K) and a bulk

CeO2 / PSi, TiO2 / PSi, and ZnS / PSi. In this lecture, Professor

diffusion (T>773 K). Furthermore, it was found that carbonate

Mizuhata introduced the fabrication of these thin films deposited on

coexistence and grinding by ball milling made the activation freethe surface of pores in porous silicon without the plugging of poresenergy decrease.

by electrodeposition. For TiO2 / PSi, he tried to apply on the anode14

The final two presentations were from graduate students.

Graduate School of Engineering, presented on CO2 absorption

Session 2

Prof. Franz Faupel

Institute for Materials Science, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany
Franz Faupel received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Göttingen in 1985.
From 1987 to 1988, he was postdoctoral fellow at the IBM Th. J. Watson ResearchCenter in Yorktown Heights, and he got his habilitation from the University of Göttingen
in 1992. Since 1994, he holds the Chair for Multicomponent Materials within the Facultyof Engineering at Christian Albrechts University. Faupel published more than 300 peer
reviewed publications and is listed in the Web of Science with an h-index of 38. His
research interests include functional nanocomposites, diffusion, metallic glasses,
metal-polymer interfaces, and plasma deposition.

“Research on advanced nanomaterials for functional applications at Kiel University”
Abstract: The research groups at the Institute for Materials
Science in Kiel (http://www.tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis) focus onadvanced nanomaterials for functional applications and arepart of the research focus KiNSIS (Kiel Nano, surface andinterface science, http://www.kinsis.uni-kiel.de). Examples ofcurrent research include particulate nanocomposites withapplications ranging from plasmonics to photoswitchable
devices, smart materials and multiferroics, such as ultrasensitive
magnetoelectric sensors for biomagnetic interfaces and highly
fatigue resistant superelastic shape memory ﬁlms for stents
and energy harvesting, materials with extreme porosity andhosts of unique properties based on tetrapodal zinc oxide,
ultrahigh capacity anodes for Li-ion batteries made of porous
silicon, and various nanomaterials for controlling cell behavior.
Synthesis methods span from physical vapor deposition to novel
wet chemical approaches like a Leidenfrost reactor. Tailoring of
the functional properties beneﬁts largely from clean room facilities
and advanced analytical techniques, in particular, high resolution
transmission electron microscopy, magnetic domain imaging, andmeasurement of the magnetization dynamics. The Institutecooperates closely with the Fraunhofer Institute for SiliconTechnology and the Helmholtz Center Geesthacht.

Dr. Andrey Shukurov

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, the Czech Republic
Associate professor at the Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty ofMathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague. Awarded Ing from the State
University of Chemistry and Technology in Ivanovo, Russia in 1995, PhD and Doc fromthe Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic in 2003 and 2011, respectively. In
2002-2003, joined University of Illinois at Chicago, USA as a research assistant and in
2005-2007 worked at Nagoya University, Japan as an assistant professor. His research
focuses on fabrication of novel materials with nanoscale structure by low-temperatureplasma based methods.

“Plasma -based methods for nano -structuring of surfaces”
Abstract: Low-temperature plasma is very well known as a
powerful tool for surface modiﬁcation. It may (and often itdoes) offer signiﬁcant advantages over conventional
technologies. This lecture reviews the research activities
performed at the Department of Macromolecular Physics,
Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in
Prague in the ﬁeld of plasma-based surface modiﬁcation.
Basics of plasma polymerization processes and magnetron
sputtering will be considered with the main attention focused on
fabrication of functional nanostructured materials. Application ofmagnetron-based Gas Aggregation Sources to production ofbeams of nanoparticles will be discussed. Examples will begiven including deposition of metal nanoparticles as well as
particles of hydrocarbon, nitrogen-containing and ﬂuorocarbon
plasma polymers. Methods of preparation of metal / plasma
polymer nanocomposites will be presented including fabricationof sandwich-type and dual-scale roughness coatings. Growth ofpolymeric nano-islands and plasma-tailoring of their structure
will be also presented. Utilization of nano-structured surfaces inthe ﬁeld of optically active materials, super-hydrophobic
surfaces or in biomedical applications will be discussed.

15

Prof. Minoru Mizuhata

chair

Department of Chemical Science and Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan

Professor Minoru MIZUHATA was born in 1964 in Hyogo, Japan. He graduated from the
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Kobe University in 1987, andentered the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University. He earned his
Master’s Degree (Engineering) in 1989, and Doctoral Degree (Science) in 1992. He was
employed by the Government Industrial Research Institute, Osaka (currently National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) in 1992, and moved to Kobe
University in 1996 as a Research Associate. His research area has been in Inorganic
Chemistry, Electrochemistry, and Interface Science, and experience in R&D on fuel cell,electrolyte solution, and active materials, and nanomaterials. He was promoted to
Associate Professor in 2005, and Professor in 2011. He is a member of the American
Chemical Society, The Royal Society of Chemistry (Chartered Chemist), Chemical Societyof Japan, and The Electrochemical Society, Inc.

“Fabrication of Nanocomposite using Electrochemistry and Solution Chemistry”
Abstract: Porous silicon (PSi) is fabricated by anodic
oxidation of Si wafer in HF / organic solvent solution. Poresize is controlled by resistivity of Si wafer and reaction
condition. We have fabricated various oxide and sulphidecomposite with porous silicon; such as CeO2 / PSi, TiO2 / PSi,
and ZnS / PSi. In general, the chemical reaction in an
aqueous solution is suitable to deposit thin ﬁlm among
complex structured substrate because of its short mean freepath of reactive species. In this lecture, we introduce thefabrication of these thin ﬁlms deposited on the surface ofpores in porous silicon without the plugging of pores byelectrodeposition. For TiO2 / PSi, we tried to apply on the anodematerials of lithium-ion battery which demonstrated large energy
density with alloying reaction of Si. TiO2 was deposited into

porous structural For CeO2 / PSi, we have found the epitaxial
growth of CeO2 in the PSi of which luminescence intensity was
extremely increased. For ZnS / PSi, the PL spectra due to the
ZnS/PSi composites had two peaks at 430 (blue) and 530 nm(green). The PL intensity was decreased with an increase ofcurrent density, hence PL intensity was decreased in the case ofhigh current density. We will introduce the experimental analysis
for this research and our laboratory work in general.
Also I would like to introduce the activity of English classes
for graduate school education.

Mr. Arturo Meléndez-Ceballos
Institute de Recherche de Chimie Paris, France

Ph.D. Student at University Pierre et Marie Curie of Paris, and the Institute deRecherche de of Chimie Paris. Graduated with honors from the Master in Environmental
Science program of the Mexico State University. Electromechanical engineering title
from the Institute of Technology of Toluca. Actually working in research on molten
carbonate fuel cells for energy generation and carbon capture and storage, also
working on Atomic Layer Deposition of metal oxides in form of thin layers applied tohigh temperature fuel cells.

“Activities in the field of high temperature fuel cells, in particular MCFCs”
Abstract: High temperature fuel cells (HTFC) as solid oxide
fuel cells (SOFC) and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) areelectrochemical devices that can produce electricity from afuel (hydrogen, methane, bio-gas, syngas among others) andoxygen from air by means of an electrochemical reaction thattakes place at the cell. The working temperature of this typeof cells is in the range of 500 to 1000 °C which allows use ofless expensive catalyzers than those used in low temperature
fuel cells as proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) or

16

direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), besides that, HTFC have ahigh efﬁciency (≈ 50%) and they can reach up to 80% whenused in cogeneration with a turbine or for water heating. For
all that, these fuel cells constitute a promising technology forclean generation of electricity in the MW scale. Additionally,
recent research has shown the viability of carbon dioxide
capture and storage using MCFC type cells with important
implications in environmental remediation of air and reductionof CO2 emissions.

Session 2

Mr. Kyohei Kanki

Department of Chemical Science and Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Japan
Mr. Kyohei KANKI was born in 1992 in Japan. He graduated from the Department ofChemical Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kobe University andearned a B. Eng. in March 2014. He entered the Graduate School of Engineering(Master’s Course) and carried out his research on carbon capture and storage (CCS)and High Temperature Fuel Cells (HTFCs) for energy generation.He has been awarded
a Young Electrochemistry Presentation Award (Kansai branch, The Electrochemical
Society of Japan). His research interests are in molten salt, interfacial chemistry, andelectrochemistry. His hobbies include baseball and snowboarding.

“CO2 absorption behavior of ceramics/molten salts composite in high temperature”
Abstract: Lithium Orthosilicate (Li4SiO4), a type of ceramic
CO2 absorbent, has a large absorptive capacity (36.7 wt. %)and also has heat resistance. This material has some useful
application as a separator in Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell andas a direct CO2 absorbent in large-scale emission sources,
for example, thermal power stations; because the absorption
and desorption reaction equilibrium temperature is around993 K. In this study, we focused on CO2 absorption behaviorsof Li4SiO4 at lower temperatures. It was found that samples
whose surface was modiﬁed with ball milling method under

Ar atmosphere showed a tendency to increase the surface
area estimated by BET method measured by N2-isotherm andincrease of Si dangling bond measured by ESR. Also, it was
found that there are two different absorption processes, one
is a chemisorption at the surface (T<773 K) the other is a bulk
diffusion (T>773 K) by the result of TG-DTA. Furthermore, it
was found that carbonate coexistence and grinding by ball
milling made the activation free energy decrease as seen in
the isothermal analysis.

17

18

Session 3 [14:30-18:00]

Perspectives on Interdisciplinary
Research and Education of
Economics and Law
ChairProf. Takashi Yanagawa

Interfaculty Initiative in the Social Sciences, Kobe University, Japan

Speakers

Prof. Narufumi Kadomatsu

Graduate School of Law, Kobe University, Japan

Dr. Axel Marx

Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Prof. Hiroshi Takahashi

Graduate School of Law, Kobe University, Japan

Prof. Janina Satzer

Institute of Law and Economics, University of Hamburg, Germany

19

Kobe University proposes an “Econo-Legal Studies” that combats

Following this, Axel Marx from KU Leuven gave a talk on “Interdis-

problems in our society through the dual lenses of economics andciplinary Research in the Social Sciences: the Case of the Leuvenlaw. Collaboration between economics and law is a necessary andCentre for Global Governance Studies.” He showed how to organize

effective approach to solving complex social problems. Fiveinterdisciplinary projects for not only economics and law but also

panelists discussed the prospects of interdisciplinary research andpolitical science, history and philosophy. We learned the importanceeducation in economics and law based on the experience ofof “openness” and that we can achieve this through joint projects.

Econo-Legal Studies at Kobe University, Leuven Centre for Global
Governance Studies at KU Leuven, and the Institute of Law and

Education: the Experience of Kobe University.” And finally, JaninaFirst, Takashi Yanagawa from Kobe University discussed

European Master in Law & Economics-25 Years of Experience in“Prospects of Interdisciplinary Research of Economics and Law: A
View from Economics.” Narufumi Kadomatsu from Kobe

Satzer from the University of Hamburg presented on “TheInterdisciplinary Education and Research.” They explainedinterdisciplinary education in economics and law for undergraduate

University presented on “Prospects of Interdisciplinary Research of

students at Kobe University and for graduate students at the

Economics and Law: A View from Law.” They explained econo-legal

University of Hamburg. The University of Hamburg has a very

studies from the perspectives of an economist and a legal scholar.

interesting and sophisticated program of law and economics that is

Economists and legal scholars at Kobe University previously

helpful to refer to when considering the future of the program at

encountered difficulties in developing joint research, but now they

Kobe University.

work together effectively in many fields. These speakers analyzed
resale-price maintenance and landscape, respectively, as examplesof econo-legal studies.

20

Hiroshi Takahashi from Kobe University discussed “Econo-Legal

Economics at the University of Hamburg.

Session 3

Prof. Takashi Yanagawa

chairInterfaculty Initiative in the Social Sciences, Kobe University, JapanYANAGAWA Takashi has been a professor in the Graduate School of Economics at Kobe
University since 2004 and the Director of Interfaculty Initiative in the Social Sciences at
Kobe University since 2014. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill in 1993. He worked at Nagoya Gakuin University from 1992-99, and has beena faculty member at Kobe University since 1999. He was a visiting researcher at the
London School of Economics from 1996-97, the University of California at Berkeley from2004-05, and the Japan Fair Trade Commission from 2008-11. He has been a managing
director of the Japan Economic Policy Association since 2010.

“Prospects of Interdisciplinary Research of Economics and Law: A View from Economics”
Abstract: We often ﬁnd that economists and lawyers do not work
together though the economic and social problems are common.
We sometimes even ﬁnd the disagreement between economists
and lawyers about the solution to the problems. We need to ﬁnd
the reason of the unconcern and disagreement about cooperating
among economists and lawyers. The unconcer n anddisagreement occur because of the difference in topics of interest,
analytical tools, and a way of thinking and evaluating.
Law and economics is the “economic analysis of law”
. It focuseson the economic efﬁciency of the law, and one-way approachfrom economics to law. In contrast to law and economics,“Econo-Legal Studies” is the legal studies incorporating theaccumulated heritage of economics for legal scholars, and at
the same time, economics incorporating the accumulated
heritage of legal studies for economists. We consider that thisapproach enables both economists and lawyers to solve
economic and social problems together, collaboratively, andin a practical and effective way.
We deal with resale price maintenance and show the disputein major countries. Then, I introduce the recent revision of“Guideline concerning distribution systems and businesspractices”. Finally, we evaluate it from the viewpoint of
Econo-Legal studies.

Prof. Narufumi Kadomatsu
Graduate School of Law, Kobe University, Japan

Narufumi Kadomatsu is a Professor of Administrative Law at the Graduate School ofLaw, Kobe University. After graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1986, he studied at
Master’s and Doctoral Program at its Graduate School. He also worked as a Research
Associate at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Social Science. He was appointed
Associate Professor at Kyushu University in 1996 and transferred to Kobe University as a
Professor in 2005. He also studied one year at the University of Hamburg (1998-1999)
and taught Japanese Law at the University of Munich (2003-2004).
His research mainly focuses on city planning law and land use regulations as well asother ﬁelds of administrative law. His English publications are available at http://ssrn.
com/author=2238632 and at his website http://www2.kobe-u.ac.jp/~kado/.

“Prospects of Interdisciplinary Research of Economics and Law: A View from Law”
Abstract: “Econo-Legal Studies” is an academic approachthat uses dual lenses of legal studies and economics in orderto solve economic and social issues by an effective cooperationof lawyers and economists.
In this presentation, I pick up a problem of landscape protectionin Japan and how the interdisciplinary dialogue between legal

studies and economics can help us in understanding a social
problem. I will show that the key concepts in legal studies andeconomics such as “property”, “externality” and “commons”
can be more deeply analyzed if we use the dual lenses of legal
studies and economics.

21

Dr. Axel Marx

Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium
Axel Marx is deputy-director of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU
Leuven. He studied in Leuven, Hull and Cambridge and holds a PhD from the KU Leuven.
His research mainly focuses on global governance, certiﬁcation, sustainability standards,
non-state market regulation, human rights, trade governance, good governance,international cooperation, international development, research methodology, comparative
case methods and qualitative comparative analysis. His international academic
publications (over 30) have appeared inter alia in European Political Science Review,
Regulation and Governance, Political Research Quarterly, Journal of Socio-Economics,
Globalizations and Sociological Methodology. He co-edited (with Miet Maertens, Jo
Swinnen and Jan Wouters) a book on Private Standards and Global Governance (Edward
Elgar). Two books are forthcoming with Edward Elgar (November 2015) on Global
Governance Through Trade and Global Governance of Labour Rights.

“Interdisciplinary Research in the Social Sciences: the caseof the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies (KU Leuven)”
Abstract: The presentation will introduce the Leuven Centre
for Global Governance Studies (‘The Centre’) of KU Leuven asa case study of an interdisciplinary research centre. The
Centre was founded in 2007 and was set up to promote,support and carry out high-quality international, innovativeand interdisciplinary research on global governance. In addition

to its fundamental research activities the Centre carries out
independent applied research and offers innovative policy
advice and solutions to policy-makers on multilateralgovernance and global public policy issues. Since 2010, theCentre has been recognized as a KU Leuven Centre of
Excellence. The Centre promotes pioneering projects on theintersection between law, economics, political science,
histor y and/or philosophy and actively initiates andencourages interdisciplinary, cross-cutting research initiatives
in pursuit of solutions to real world problems. In addition to its

fundamental research, GGS carries out independent appliedresearch and advises policy-makers on multilateralgovernance and global public policy issues. It regularlyorganizes conferences, seminars and debates on theseissues, including a summer school. It works with academic
and policy partners from all over the world, including theEuropean Parliament, the European Commission, theEuropean External Action Service, the Committee of theRegions, the OECD, ILO, UNIDO, UNCTAD, the World Bankand the WTO. The Centre currently employs more than 30 fulltime in-house staff and researchers. The presentation will
introduce the genesis of the Centre, its development and its
experiences with conducting interdisciplinary research. It will
also discuss its overall philosophy towards interdisciplinary
research and the challenges involved in conducting
interdisciplinary research.

Prof. Hiroshi Takahashi
Graduate School of Law, Kobe University, Japan

Hiroshi TAKAHASHI studied the sociology of law and received a Master’s degree in Law fromthe University of Tokyo. He lectured at Kwansei Gakuin University, and is now a professor at
Kobe University Graduate School of Law. His research interests include the sociologicalanalysis of ADR, legal profession and judicial statistics. His publications include: “Career
Patterns of Japanese Judges,” Choi & Rokumoto (eds.) Judicial System Transformation in the
Globalizing World (Seoul National University Press, 2007) and “Toward an Understanding of
the “Japanese” Way of Dispute Resolution,” D. Vanoverbeke / J. Maesschalck / St. Parmentier /D. Nelken (eds.) The Changing Role of Law in Japan (Edward Elger, 2014).

“Econo-Legal Education: the Experience of Kobe University”
Abstract: This presentation aims to describe our project,‘Econo-Legal Studies’ (ELS), from an educational point of view.
‘Econo-legal Studies’ is an interdisciplinary attempt to ﬁll the gap
between legal perspective and economic perspective so that
we can effectively analyze and tackle complex social problems
occurring in contemporary world. It is obviously difﬁcult to makeundergraduate students acquire such an interdisciplinary way of

22

analysis. To this end, Kobe University offers a unique two-year
curriculum taught cooperatively and intensively by lawyers andeconomists. The presenter will explain some outstanding
features of Econo-Legal Education at Kobe as well as the
background of the program, and try to discuss the challenges ofthe future for the ELS program.

Session 3

Ms. Janina Satzer

Institute of Law and Economics, University of Hamburg, Germany
Head of Programme Coordination of the Institute of Law & Economics (ILE) at University of
Hamburg, Germany.
Awarded MSc in Economics from Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany in 2001. Afterprevious research fellow positions with several European universities (Universities ofSouthern Denmark Esbjerg, Denmark; Marburg and Kassel, Germany) joined the ILE as
General Manager in 2011. Responsible for the management of several masters anddoctoral programmes (including the “European Master in Law and Economics” ), all ofthem co-funded by national and / or European research funding organisations like EC,
DFG, and DAAD). Her research focuses on the law & economics of sports.

“The European Master in Law & Economics−25 Years of Experience in Interdisciplinary Education and Research”
Abstract: This presentation aims to describe the uniqueeducational programme “European Master in Law & Economics(EMLE)” offered by the University of Hamburg as one ofpartner of the EMLE consortium.
The EMLE is designed to provide students with advanced
knowledge in the Economic Analysis of Law. This ﬁeld ofstudy uses economic methods to explain and assess theeffects of law. The EMLE uses a comparative approach toevaluate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative legal
rules from an economic perspective. For lawyers, a familiarity
with the economic effects of legal rules has become indispensable

for law making and for understanding the needs of commercial
clients (e.g., law/counselling ﬁrms that are active internationally).
Similarly, economists will proﬁt from an accurate understandingof the institutional legal framework of market economies. For
both, knowledge of the other discipline and international contacts
are crucial for a successful career. The EMLE programme is theinstitutional response to these challenges. After discussing theimportance, origin and standing of the discipline “law andeconomics”, the presenter will introduce the programme

structure and courses in the EMLE and its signiﬁcance inpreparing students for a professional career.

23

24

Session 4 [14:30-18:00]

Recent Advances in In Vitro
Modeling of the Human-Microbial
Gastrointestinal Interface
Chair

Prof. Ken-ichi Yoshida

Department of Agrobioscience,
Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Japan

Speakers

Prof. Tom Van de Wiele

Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology,
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium

Dr. Joëlle Fritz

The Eco-Systems Biology Research Group Luxembourg Centre
for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Prof. Christophe Lacroix

Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Prof. Ro Osawa

Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Japan25

In vitro modeling of the human-microbial gastrointestinal interface

conditions and supports investigations of host-microbe molecular

is increasingly recognized as a useful biological tool to help us

interactions.

understand an array of compound and elaborate interactions
among the host, its microbiota, and its ingested food ingredients. In

Professor Dr. Ing. Christophe Lacroix from the Institute of Food,

this session, four speakers, each representing a distinct study

Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich continued the session with agroup of four different nationalities, addressed recent advances inpresentation about his group’s development of a novel process of

their own unique modeling.

immobilization of fecal microbiota in gel beads mimicking cellIn the first talk, Professor Dr. ir Tom Van de Wiele from the

PolyFermS and can be expanded to various configurations,

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering of Ghent University highlighted

allowing the comparison of different treatment effects and a control

the current in vitro technological advances in simulating the gut

inoculated with the same microbiota.

microbiome composition and functionality. These advances wereachieved by simulating microbiome of different colon regions,Finally, Professor Ro Osawa from the Research Center for Foodluminal and mucus-associated microbial communities, and the

Safety and Security of Kobe University discussed his group’ s

host-microbes interaction near the gut epithelial surface.

novel human intestinal simulation system, called “Kobe University

Following this, Doctor Joëlle Fritz from Luxembourg Centre for26

density and competition of in vivo gut microbiota. This is known as

Human Intestinal Model”.

Systems Biomedicine of the University of Luxembourg presented

After these presentations, all attendees discussed the technologies

her group’s microfluidics-based device, HuMiX, which allows

and applications of their human-microbial gastrointestinal

co-culture of human and microbial cells under biomimetic

interfaces.

Session 4

Prof. Ken-ichi Yoshida

chair

Department of Agrobioscience,
Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Japan
After a Master obtained at Kyoto University in 1989, he got the position of Assistantprofessor at Fukuyama University in 1990 and obtained a PhD at Kyoto University in 1993.
After a Post-Doc experience at INRA, France, from 1996 to 97, he moved to Kobe
University in 2004 as an Associate Professor, and was promoted to Professor of Applied
Microbiology in 2009.
He has specialized in functional genomics of bacteria including Bacillus subtilis and its
relatives since the very beginning of his career to date.
He was once awarded the prize for "Encouragement of Young Scientists" (2002) and twice
the prize for "Excellent papers" from the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, andAgrochemistry (2008 and 2014).
He served in the Research Promotion Bureau in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT), as a Program Ofﬁcer (Scientiﬁc Research Senior
Specialist) (2005-2007).
Currently he also serves in Kobe University Brussels European Centre as Executive
Director since April 2014.

Prof. Dr. ir Tom Van de Wiele
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology,
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium

Professor at the Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology at Ghent University in
Belgium. Following his M.Sc. studies in Bioscience Engineering with a major in Environmental
Technology, he obtained his PhD in Applied Biological Sciences in 2004, working on the oral
bioavailability and gastrointestinal speciation changes of ingested xenobiotics. He was avisiting scholar in 2007 at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, USA. His primaryresearch interest is the host-associated microbiome with a primary focus on gastrointestinal
microbial ecology and technology.

“In vitro models to study the mucosal microenvironment of the human gut”
Abstract: This talk will highlight our current in vitro technologicaladvances in simulating the gut microbiome composition andfunctionality. While our in vitro models offer the standard
advantages over in vivo studies (low costs, no ethical constraints,
multi-parametric testing), their core value lies in their ability tosimulate regional and micro-environmental
differences that occur along the longitudinal and radial axis of
the gut. We will evidence how these models can be used (1)to simulate microbiome differences between proximal anddistal colon regions, (2) to establish distinct luminal andmucus-associated microbial communities, and (3) to enableintimate host-microbe interactions near the gut epithelial
surface. More speciﬁcally, we will present published andunpublished data obtained with the Mucosal Simulator of the
Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (M-SHIME), theHost-Microbe Interaction (HMI-) module and the 3-D model ofthe colon epithelium obtained in the Rotating Wall Vessel(RWV) bioreactor. Finally, our insights into the speciﬁc
micro-environmental behaviour of gut microbes will be used
to propose 4 future perspectives for (in vitro) gut microbiome
research.

27

Dr. Joëlle Fritz

The Eco-Systems Biology Research Group, Luxembourg Centre
for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Sep. 2012- until now : Senior research associate at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems
Biomedicine, Luxembourg in the group headed by Prof. Paul Wilmes. Topic: humanhost-microbes interaction, special focus on human gut microbiome and host responses.
Nov. 2009- July 2012 : Post-doc fellow at the University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany;
Working group headed by Prof. Oliver Fackler; Topic: Interplay between HIV-1 Vpu protein
and the human host response during HIV-1 infection.
Oct. 2005- Aug. 2009 : PhD student at the University of Strasbourg, France; Working
group headed by Prof. Yves Mély; Topic: The role of HIV-1 Vpr protein in viral assembly andfunctionality.

“A microfluidics-based in vitro model of the gastrointestinal human-microbe interface”
Abstract: Changes in the human gastrointestinal microbiome
are associated with several idiopathic diseases. To infer
causality, experiments in representative models are essential.
Widely used animal models exhibit limitations and thedevelopment of new experimental systems presents achallenge. Here we present a microﬂuidics-based device,
HuMiX, which allows co-culture of human and microbial cells
under biomimetic conditions. We demonstrate the ability ofthe model to recapitulate transcriptional, metabolic andimmunological responses of human intestinal epithelial cells
following their co-culture with commensal Lactobacillus

rhamnosus GG. More speciﬁcally, we show that human cells
exhibit a concordant expression of genes involved in immune
responses and epithelial barrier function when compared withmammalian mucosal in vivo data. We identify uncharacterized
human small RNAs which are differentially expressed following
co-culture as well as changes in metabolic transformations linked
to the urea cycle and GABA. HuMiX supports investigations ofhost-microbe molecular interactions and awaits its application toa range of fundamental research questions linking thegastrointestinal microbiome to human health and disease.

Prof. Dr. Ing. Christophe Lacroix
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Christophe Lacroix is Professor for Food Biotechnology, Department of Health Scienceand Technology, ETH Zürich, after being Professor of Dairy Biotechnology for 18 years
at the Université Laval, Quebec, Canada. His main research interests include thefundamental and technological characterization of functional microbes and their roles
in food and intestinal ecosystems, with multidisciplinary system-oriented aspects. This
includes ecosystem study and microbe screening and characterization, functional
studies and mechanisms, microbial technology, and intestinal research (from in vitro
modeling to in vivo human studies). He has published more than 260 articles inscientiﬁc peer-reviewed journals, and supervised 48 doctoral students.

“PolyFermS, a flexible intestinal
fermentation platform to investigate monogastric gut microbiota”
Abstract: A complex relationship occurs in the intestine between
the gut microbiota, diet, and host. Different in vitro and in vivo
strategies have been applied to elucidate mechanisms orfunctions of dietary compounds on the gut microbiota, health, andphysiology of human. Recent research has shown the potential of
combining in vitro models and in vivo investigations within acoherent strategy. In most models it is difﬁcult to reproduce boththe planktonic (free-cell) and sessile (bioﬁlm-associated) bacterial
populations in the colon. A rapid washout of less competitive or
slow growing bacteria occurs during continuous fermentation,
decreasing the experimental time. We developed a process ofimmobilization of fecal microbiota in gel beads mimicking celldensity and competition of in vivo gut microbiota. Novel models,

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based on the new PolyFermS platform, using immobilized fecal
microbiota, were recently validated with immobilized human andswine gut microbiota. These models are composed of aﬁrst-stage inoculum reactor seeded with immobilized fecal
microbiota and used to constantly inoculate (5 –10%) parallel
operated systems, set to mimic different colon sections.
PolyFermS models can be expanded to various conﬁgurations,allowing the comparison of different treatment effects and acontrol inoculated with the same microbiota. This model has beentested for periods up to 100 days, and is suited for parallel
screening and mechanistic investigations of gut microbiota
factors.

Session 4

Prof. Ro Osawa

Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Japan
Professor in the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University. He graduated fromthe Veterinary School of Hokkaido University, Japan, and obtained a Ph.D degree in the ﬁeld ofveterinary medicine from the University of Queensland, Australia as well as another Ph.D degreein the ﬁeld of agricultural science from Tohoku University, Japan. His current research interests
include development of technologies to ensure “traceability” of pathogenic bacteria
endangering safety of foods and agricultural products in the course of “from stable to table” anddevelopment of safe and effective probiotics to promote health of both human and animals.

“An introduction to Kobe University Human Intestinal Model (KUHIM)”
Abstract: The conventional approach to testing the efﬁcacy andsafety of functional food components is to start with tissue-culture
based in vitro studies. This is then followed by experimental
animal based in vivo studies, and ﬁnally human intervention trials.
However, many food components are difﬁcult to assess,
especially in the human intervention studies for the following
reasons:
1) Some components are too big in molecular size to passthrough the human intestinal wall to reach their target organs orcells.
2) Transition time of the digesta and microbiota in the intestine of
the experimental animals is quite different from that of humans.

In order to overcome these problems, we have developed a novel
human intestinal simulation system, called “Kobe University
Human Intestinal Model”, which consists of 1) bi-phasic tissue
culture system that simulates human intestinal immune systemand 2) continual anaerobic culturing system that simulates anobligate anaerobe dominant microbiota of human large intestine
together with its diversity (inclusive of “unculturable” bacteria) andits short chain fatty acid production pattern. KUHIM is now
successfully being used to evaluate functionality and safety ofboth conventional and potential prebiotics, probiotics, andbiogenics. Some examples of the research being carried out inJapan, using this model system, will be presented.

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The 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre Symposium

Preface

For Smart and Healthy Society- common challenges in research and education by Japan and EU collaboration -Date and Time : Tuesday 20 October 2015 9:30-18:00
Place : Thon Hotel EU Rue de la Loi 75, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium
Organiser : Kobe University

I am pleased to present this report on the 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre(KUBEC) Symposium “For Smart and Healthy Society - common challenges in researchand education by Japan and EU collaboration-”, which was held in Brussels on 20
October 2015. KUBEC has been holding an annual symposium in Brussels since its
establishment in 2011. Since then, we have been striving to expand our academic
network in Europe and to raise the profile of Kobe University and other Japanese
universities. In this regard, we place an emphasis on our “visibility” in Europe by holding
a number of academic workshops and seminars at KUBEC or at partner institutions as

Opening

well as the annual symposium in Brussels, which features guest speakers from both

MC : Prof. Matsuto Ogawa, Executive Vice President, Kobe University

European institutions and Japanese universities.

[9:30-10:00]

Opening addresses : Prof. Hiroshi Takeda, President, Kobe University
H.E. Mr. Keiichi Katakami, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union

The theme of the 6th symposium, “For Smart and Healthy Society - common challenges
in research and education by Japan and EU collaboration-” focused on the shared

Mr. Kostas Glinos, Head of Unit in the International Cooperation Directorate,
Directorate–General Research and Innovation, European Commission

challenges Japanese and EU societies face as they pursue future development. The
latest research results and applications of ICT, Nanoscience for Material Technology, andIn Vitro Modeling of the Human-Microbial Gastrointestinal Interface were introduced byboth Japanese and European researchers in the hope of establishing future collaboration

Session 1 [10:00-13:30]
ICT and Smarter Society

using advanced technology for each project. Furthermore, we also discussed perspectives
on interdisciplinary research and education in Economics and Law as taught in various
countries as an example of the globalisation of academic society, welcoming prominent

Session 2 [10:00-13:30]

researchers from around the world. As a result of this symposium, collaborative projects

Nanoscience for Material Technology and Energy Conversion

are under discussion or have already begun. I hope this event will enhance EU-Japan
research collaboration for the betterment of our societies.

Session 3 [14:30-18:00]

Hiroshi Takeda
President
Kobe University

Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Research and Education of Economics and Law

Session 4 [14:30-18:00]
Recent Advances in In Vitro Modeling of the Human-Microbial Gastrointestinal Interface

2

3

The 6th Kobe University Brussels European Centre Symposium
For Smart and Healthy Society

Institute of Promoting International Exchange Programs

Kobe University

1-1,Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan
E-mail: intl-relations@office.kobe-u.ac.jp

Date:20 October 2015

Edited and published by

The 6th Kobe University
Brussels European Centre Symposium

For Smart and
Healthy Society— common challenges in research and education by Japan and EU collaboration —Date : 20 October 2015