Japan-Russia academic cooperationon the Arctic and North-related issues:
Participatory observations
International conference “Cross-borderinterregional cooperation in the AsiaPacific Region as a driver for thedevelopment of the Russian Far Eastand the Asian Arctic”

Juha Saunavaara, Assistant Professor of the Arctic ResearchCenter, Hokkaido University
Marina Lomaeva, ArCS II international & HR exchange
coordinator, Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University

18 October 2021

HaRP Platform
1. 1.HaRPPlatform
The 2017 Inter-University Exchange Project (Japan-Russia projects)

Type B Program:1) A program to build a platform for accumulating information and experience gained by the universities
participating in this program that would be useful to other Japanese universities carrying out joint projects withRussian universities.
2) Contribution to the activities of the Association of Japanese and Russian Universities.

• Successful joint application by
Hokkaido University (HU) and Niigata University (NU)
• Project title: Human Resource Development Platform
for Japan-Russia Economic Cooperation and Personnel Exchange
12. Specialized sections : structure

Organizations composed of representatives from• academia• industry• governmentin Japan and Russia that aim to train specialists capable of contributing to the promotion of economic cooperation anddevelopment of both countries.
1. Health and medicine
2. City development
3. Exchanges between small andmedium-sized companies
4. Energy development Environment, Resource Development,
Multicultural Education
5. Promotion of industrial diversification
6. Industrial promotion in the Far East

• Correspond to the 8-point Japan-Russia
Economic Cooperation Plan (2016).
• Should involve more than one university oneach side.
• Encourage cooperation with local authorities,
private companies and other entities.

7. Cooperation in advanced technologies
8. Language, Culture, Tourism
New sections may be established in future.

2

3. Japanese participants of the specialized sections

SectionNumber ofUniv.

Russian universities (as of September 2020)

7

Niigata U. (leader: Shihoko YAMAKAWA), U. of Tsukuba, Kanazawa U., Nagasaki U., Tokai U.,
Fukushima Medical U., Hokkaido University

2. City Development

5

Hokkaido U. (leader: Tsuyoshi SETOGUCHI), Tokyo U., Niigata U., Nagaoka Institute ofTechnology, Sapporo City U.

3. Exchanges between small andmedium-sized companies

5

Hokkaido U. (leader), Kanazawa U., Soka U., Osaka U., Sapporo Otani U.

5Hokkaido U. (leader), Kanazawa U., Tokai U., Kobe City U. of Foreign Studies, Muroran Instituteof Technology, Tohoku U.

3Hokkaido U. (leader), Otaru U. of Commerce, Sapporo Otani U.

7

Niigata U. (leader: Hideo HASEGAWA), Hokkaido U., Chiba U., Kanazawa U., Otaru U. ofCommerce, Osaka U., Tokyo U. of Agriculture

7

Kanazawa U. (leader: Shigeo TANAKA), Hokkaido U., Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokai U.,
Kindai U., Muroran Institute of Technology, Osaka U.

14

Hokkaido U. (leader), Tohoku U., Tokyo U. of Foreign Studies, Niigata U., Kobe City U. ofForeign Studies, Tokai U., Sophia U., Soka U., Kobe Gakuin U., Otaru U. of Commerce, OsakaU., Sapporo City U., Sapporo U., Future University Hakodate
3

1. Health and Medicine

4. SDGs : Environment, resource
development, multiculturaleducation

5. Promotion of industrial
diversification
6. Industrial promotion in theFar East

7. Cooperation in developing
advanced technologies

8. Language, culture, tourism

4. Russian partner universities of the specialized sections
SectionRussian universities (as of September 2020)

Number ofUniv.

17MSU, KrasSMU, SPbU, NEFU, FEFU, KFU, FESMU, PSMU, KSMU, Sechenov University, RSMU,NSMU, NWSMU, SakhSU, HSE, NSU

2. City Development

16MSU, SPbU, FEFU, NEFU, UrFU, PNU, SPbGASU, INRTU, SakhSU, UNECON, KSUEL, FESTU,NSUADA, Sibstrin, NSII

3. Exchanges between small andmedium-sized companies

3MSU, FEFU, KFU

12FEFU, NEFU, KFU, ASU, ASU, ISU, NArFU, NSII, SakhSU, NSTU, USPU, MSU, SPbU

3MSU, SPbU, FEFU

16

FEFU, FESAU, FEGI FEB RAS, PSAA (Perm), SakhSU, NSAU, PSAA (Ussuriysk)

12MSU, SPbU, FEFU, KFU, ASU, TSU, Dubna, ITMO, UTMN, MEPhI, MCU

35MSU, SPbU, NEFU, FEFU, UrFU, SibFU, SPUFT, SakhSU, SakhSTI, NSTU, NSUADA, MGIMO, RSUH,HSE, RUDN, NSU, TSU, MSLU, SPbGIK, Herzen University, RSU named after S. A. Esenin, PetrSU,LUNN, Pushkin Institute, KubSU, PSMU, RUDN University, MIU, TSPU, PRUE, RSUH, BSU, ISU,USPU
41. Health and Medicine

4. SDGs : Environment,Resource Development,Multicultural Education
5. Promotion of industrial
diversification

6. Industrial promotion in theFar East
7. Cooperation in developing
advanced technologies

8. Language, culture, tourism

5. Key Japanese and Russian partners (public & private organizations)
••

•

•
•

•

Japanese public organizations: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ofJapan, JETRO, Japan Centers, Hokkaido Government, Sapporo City Office
Russian public organizations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Rossotrudnichestvo,
Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in Japan, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation,Government of Khabarovsk Territory, Far Eastern Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Investment
Promotion Agency of Novosibirsk Region, JSC Special Economic Zone “Innopolis”, Norilsk Development
Agency, Government of the Sakha Republic
Japanese private organizations: Japan Association for Trade with Russia & NIS (ROTOBO), CAREERBANK Co.,Ltd., HOKKAIDO CORPORATION Co., LTD., Sojitz Tourist Corporation, Man to Man Co., Ltd.,
G.I.PLAN, T.T.T. ABROAD ACADEMY, North Plan Corporation
Russian private organizations: Robowizard Co. Ltd., LLC Euro-Asian Trading House Innovation, Rosatom
Japanese think tanks & NGOs: Institute for Russian & NIS Economic Studies, Economic ResearchInstitute for Northeast Asia (ERINA), Hokkaido international Exchange and Cooperation Center (HIECC),
Hokkaido Intellect Tank (HIT), World Winter Cities Association for Mayors (WWCAM)
Russian think tanks & NGOs: Yakut Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, Arctic and Antarctic
Research Institute, Center for Agrobiotechnology of the Far East, Ekaterinburg & Sverdlovsk Branches ofRussia-Japan Society, Tatarstan-Japan Culture and Information Center “Sakura”, Northern Forum,
5
Foundation “Ulyanovsk – the Capital of Culture”

6. Hokkaido Universityand education related to the Arctic and Far East: RJE3 Program
Background- RJE3 Program
Japan’s MEXT: FY 2014 Inter-University Exchange ProjectType A: Projects that promote international exchange (focus: bilateral; FY 2014 – 19)● Implement quality-assured collaborative educational programs with universities in Russia or India● Support programs that involve dispatching Japanese students abroad and inviting foreign students to Japan withthe aim of○ training specialists who will engage in global-scale activities, and○ strengthening the capacity of the global development of university education.

Hokkaido University:
East Russia Japan Expert Education Program (RJE3 Program)
1. Hokkaido University
2. Sakhalin State University
3. North-Eastern Federal University
4. Far-Eastern Federal University
5. Pacific National University
6. Irkutsk State University

1. environmental assessment
2. cultural diversity
3. soil and productivity
4. regional resource development
5. disaster prevention management67. Establishment of the SDGs-related specialized section• Specialized section (4) “Energy development” was re-organized into “SDGs: Environment,Resource Development, Multicultural Education” / SDGs: 環境・資源開発・多文化教育 /SDGs: Экология, природопользование, мультикультурное образование.
• Sustainable development (SD) – one of the key concepts underpinning the values of the modern
global society. SD is an issue area where Japan-Russia collaboration may contribute to global society
in general.
• Sustainable development goals (SDGs), or Global Goals: adopted by all United Nations Member
States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all
people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
• The new section will cover the following areas of education and research:
 Environmental monitoring in the Russian Far East and North Regional development including resource development (education reflecting the regional
needs and the SDGs, infrastructure development, projects aimed at drawing on history
and local culture as recreational resources etc.)
 Social issues of local communities including indigenous peoples (preservation of theirtraditional culture and traditional lifestyles)

78. Hokkaido University’s ties with the Russian Arctic, Northern and Far East regions
Hokkaido
Prefecture

Hokkaido-Russia Interregional
Cooperation Team & Platform

WWCAM member

Sapporosister city

Norilsk

NF
memberMagadan

NF
member

WWCAM member

SaintPetersburg

sister region•••

Irkutsk

Novosibirsk
SakhaRepublic

NF member

WWCAM memberWWCAM
member

NF business
partner

RJE3 Program regional network
Hokkaido / Sapporo sister region andcity ties
•Interregional and intercity organizations

Yakutsk
Sakhalin
NF member

Sakhalin
Oblastsister region

Khabarovsk
Krai
cooperationagreement(Northern Forum, World Winter City
Association of Mayors)
Hokkaido-Russia Interregional Team &Platform

Khabarovsk
Vladivostok

Primorsky
Kraicooperationagreement

NF member

89. Arctic, North, and Far-East related network of contacts (HaRP&ArCS (II))
Universities:• North-Eastern Federal University• Northern (Arctic) Federal University• Far Eastern Federal University• Moscow State University• Higher School of Economics• Khabarovsk State University of Economics and Law• Sakhalin State University• Saint Petersburg State University• Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture andCivil Engineering (SPbGASU)• Irkutsk State University• Pacific National University• Norilsk State Industrial Institute
Other organizations:• Far East and Arctic Development Corporation• Far East regions’ governments (Sakha Republic,Krasnoyarsk Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Sakhalin Oblast

•••••
•

etc.)
Norilsk Development Agency
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Yakut Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture
Northern ForumRosatom
NPO Kamchatka Tourism AssociationJapan / Hokkaido-based organizations:• Institute for Russian & NIS Economic Studies• Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia(ERINA)• Hokkaido international Exchange and Cooperation
Center (HIECC)• Hokkaido Intellect Tank (HIT)• World Winter Cities Association for Mayors (WWCAM)

910. Collaboration forms with Russian organizations•

In-person, online and hybrid events•

Short-term lecture courses•

Discussion of the collaboration prospects (mid-to-long-term projects
involving business and government circles)1011. Activities shaping the new section – 1

September 2019: Cold Lands Seminar “The Arctic and Asia” & Round table discussions co-hosted with NorthEastern Federal University (NEFU) (held as part of the First North Sustainable Development Forum@Yakutsk,September 23–27)

See https://russiaplatform.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/en/report/3573● NSDF Plenary session. The Arctic and Asia: Opportunities and Areasof Cooperation.
● Cold Lands Seminar. Arctic and Asia. Section 1: “Connectivity,communication infrastructure and regional development of theNorth”.
● Section 2. “Socio-Economic Development of the Arctic and theNorth”.
● Section 3: “Environmental Monitoring”.
● Section 4: “Humanities”.
● Round table discussion “Carbon Budget of Ecosystems, Cities andVillages on Permafrost (COPERA Project) Arctic and Asia”.
● Round table discussion “Winter cities of the world: opportunities for11cooperation”

12. Activities shaping the new section – 2
November 2019: Lectures and Workshops, Panel discussions and Talk show “North for Work and Life” co-hosted
with Norilsk State Industrial Institute (held as part of the World Winter Cities Association for Mayors Working
Meeting (WWCAM–2019)@Norilsk, November 14–18)

Panel topics:● Information systems and technologies. Big Data
● Construction in regions with a cold climate, in permafrost. Smart City
● Socio-economic problems of the North development. Logistics,maintenance and development of infrastructure. Indigenous peoples● Environmental monitoring. Sustainable natural resource development

See
https://russiaplatform.oia.hok
udai.ac.jp/en/rep
ort/34241213. Activities shaping the new section – 3November 2019: Visit to St. Petersburg for Japan-Russia industry-academia-government collaboration (on the occasion ofthe 3rd Working group meeting on cooperation and development between Hokkaido and St. Petersburg, November 18–20)
Dr.Mori(Hokkaido Univ.)

Talk Show on TV● Co-hosting workshop with members from the Faculty of International Relations at St. Petersburg State University (SPbU–Hokkaido University)● Participation in a discussion session on architecture in cold climate regions held jointly by St. Petersburg State University ofArchitecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU) and Hokkaido Intellect Tank (HIT).
● Visits to the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), Japan Center in St. Petersburg, Peter the Great St. Petersburg
Polytechnic University (SPbPU).

See https://russia-platform.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/en/report/3410

13

14. Activities shaping the new section – 4
September 2020: Cold Land Seminar “Japanese-Russian collaboration in the North” co-hosted with Ministry ofEducation and Science for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) / North-Eastern Federal University (September 29-30, held
online as part of the Second North Sustainable Development Forum).

••

The launch meeting of the specialized section (4) “SDGs: Environment, Resource Development, MulticulturalEducation”, presentation of ArCS II Project and the Russian North Research and Education Center at theplenary session.
See https://russiaDiscussion in 5 sections:platform.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/en/rep 1) The Northern environmentort/4027
 2) The Northern community 3) Socio-economic development of the North and the Arctic 4) Construction technologies and design for cold regions 5) Indigenous Media Development Strategies

1415. Cross-section activities of the new section
September 2021: Online seminar “Sustainable Regional Development, International Cooperation and the Protectionof the Arctic Environment” (September 14, held online as part of the Japan-Russia Scientific Forum / General
Meeting of the Association of Japanese and Russian Universities).
environmental monitoringindigenoustraditional
lifestyle & rights

regional economy models
city development
See https://russiaplatform.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/en/report/6866

global decarbonization
sustainable development
Arctic governance15

Cooperation in the field of multilevel governanceand interregional cooperation (1/2)
Background: cooperation with the North-Eastern Federal University during the 2019 and2020 Cold Land Seminars/Northern Sustainable Development Forums.

•“Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol. 1 – The Pacific Arctic” heldon 12 January 2021•

“Japan-Russia Interregional Cooperation in the Arctic and North – Theory and Practice”
held on 3 March 2021•

“Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol. 2 – The Barents Region”
held on 9 June 2021.

•“Sustainable Regional Development, International Cooperation and the Protection of theArctic Environment” held on September 14, 2021

16

Cooperation in the field of multilevel governanceand interregional cooperation (2/2)- Different types of settlements/cities/companies/industrial projects and theirrelations with the sustainable development of the Arctic and north- The past, present and future of different forums and organizations supportinginternational and interregional cooperation in the Arctic and North- The role and added value of cross-border interregional cooperation- Challenges bound to the international and interregional cooperation in the Arcticand north17

Cooperation between Japan and Russia in the Arcticand North related activities
1) There is a will to cooperate (individual researchers/universities/Industry-AcademiaGovernment cooperation.
2) There are issues that both Japanese and Russian researchers find interesting andimportant.
3) Project building: From events (networking, identifying the issues) to co-authored papers,applications for external project funding etc.
4) Education: The Russian-Japanese academic cooperation in the Arctic and North should not
only focus on research. (Field courses, student and teacher mobility but also online teaching)18

Concluding remarks - 1•••

Versatility among those involved and interested in learning more
Possibilities related to the online platform
Questions concerning the language

Japanese-Russian academic cooperation in the study of the Arctic and North – reasons for
optimism:• A long-term cooperation between individual researchers and research groups representing different
disciplines•

Institutional ties between Japanese and Russian universities and other relevant stakeholders•

Increasing interest in the Arctic-related matters in Japan (the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability 2project)

Issues that need to be taken into consideration:• The role of key persons and need to build connections between young scholars• How to ensure continuation after and between different projects

19

Concluding remarks - 2
Japanese-Russian academic collaboration: differences and challenges
1. Greater interest in cooperation with Japanese partners on the Russian side than the otherway round.
2. Russian students are generally keener on participating in various events in different
capacities, including volunteers, and searching for opportunities of studying abroad.
3. The widespread use of messengers for communication in Russia greatly facilitatescommunication with the stakeholders including the top administration.
4. Different time frames in planning: Russia – more short-term, Japan – more mid-to-long term.
5. Difference in a degree of individual’s leeway in making new contacts and initiating discussionsof prospective collaborations: higher in Russia. On the other hand, risk management and backup
planning are more advanced in Japan.
6. Easier to start a new project within the framework or as an offshoot of the currently runningone.
20