The 12th Kobe University Brussels European Centre SymposiumBlue Economy, Green Horizons:EU-Japan Research for Healthy, Sustainable Seas and Oceans
Organised jointly with Vrije Universiteit Brussel
with the support of the University of Kent

18 October 2022

VENUE

Vrije Universiteit Brussel Conference Centre, U-Residence, Bd. Général Jacques 271, 1050 Brussels

9:15-10:00

OPENINGModerator
Speakers

Introduction by the Moderator, Ken-ichi Yoshida, Kobe University
Prof. Masato Fujisawa, President, Kobe University*
Prof. Jan Danckaert, Rector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
H.E. Yasushi Masaki, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union
Ms. Signe Ratso, Director-General (Acting), DG Research and Innovation, European Commission

10:00-10:30

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Introduction

Tamotsu Nakamura, Executive Vice-President, Kobe University

KeynoteMichael Pitiot, Writer and filmmaker, producer of award-winning international TV documentaries Tara
Océans, Planète Océan, and Méditerranée, Notre Terre. Winner of the Ocean Awareness Award,
International Film Festival, Prague 2022
Building Ocean Awareness, Opening New Horizons: A Key Role for Creative Media

Response

Karin Vanderkerken, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

10:30-13:30

MORNING PARALLEL SESSIONS

10:30-13:30

PARALLEL SESSION 1: ‘BLUE ECONOMY’: GLOBAL TRADE FLOWS, ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES, AND GOVERNANCE OF THE SEAS.
ROOM FUJI

ROOM FUJI

ROOM FUJI

Joint Producers Mikio Takebayashi, Kobe University
Bernard Siman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Egmont Institute
10:30-11:50

Theme 1: Sustainable Blue Economy: New Resources, Innovative Solutions for Global Economic
Recovery

Moderator
Speakers

Bernard Siman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Egmont Institute
Masahiko Furuichi, International Association of Ports and Harbours*
Environmental Ship Index (ESI) Program initiated by the IAPH
Wouter Dewulf, University of Antwerp
Disruption, Innovation and Regulation: What Can the Maritime Industry Learn from the Aviation Industry Or is it Vice-Versa?
Kevin Verbelen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Agoria
Global Supply Lines: Sustainable Governance and Geostrategy

11:50-12:10

Coffee and networking break

12:10-13:30

Theme 2: Shaping International Ocean Governance for the Future

Moderator
Speakers

Mikio Takebayashi, Kobe University
Eva Pejsova, Japan Chair, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
A Rule-based Governance of the Seas: A Leading Role for EU and Japan?
Erik Franckx, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
International Law of the Sea: Meeting Today and Tomorrow’s Challenges
Bernard Siman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Egmont Institute“Lawfare” as a Hybrid Maritime Threat to Global Governance10:30-13:30

PARALLEL SESSION 2: OCEANS OF THE FUTURE: ADVANCES IN MARINE AND MARITIMESCIENCES: NEW TECHOLOGIES FOR NEW HORIZONSROOM NIKKO

Joint Producers Minoru Takeda, Kobe University, Yue Gao and Thierry Coosemans, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Robert Barker, University of Kent
10:30-11:50

Theme 1: Harnessing the Power of Oceans: Fostering Innovation for Energy Sustainability

ModeratorMinoru Takeda, Kobe University

Speakers

Martin Visbeck, Kiel University and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre
Digital Twins of the Ocean - Opportunities to future-proof sustainable development
Minoru Takeda, Kobe University
Applications of Superconductivity in the Field of Maritime Sciences
Makoto Aoki, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo*
Study of Electrode Surface Structure for the Improvement of Seawater Electrolysis Efficiency
Benedetto Allotta, University of Florence
Perspectives in Underwater Robotics

11:50-12:10

Coffee and networking break

12:10 -13:30

Theme 2: Addressing Marine Pollution, Restoring Marine Ecosystems:

Moderator

Thierry Coosemans, Vrije Universiteit BrusselSpeakers

Yue Gao, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Biogeochemical cycle of inorganic contaminants in the North Sea and Baltic Sea
Robert Barker, University of Kent (Unable to attend)
Safe Harbours: Industry-University Collaborations in Environmental Protection
Richard Sempéré, CNRS, Director of the Ocean Sciences Institute, Université d’Aix Marseille
Plastics and their organic additives in the marine environment: Proposals to limit the risks for theMediterranean Sea.
Simon Barnes, University of Kent
Decarbonising the maritime sector; complex, challenging and costly?

10:30-13:30

PARALLEL SESSION 3: SEAS, SCIENCE AND SOCIETIES: BUILDING AWARENESS,
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES.
ROOM KOYA

Joint Producers Ken-ichi Yoshida and Chiaki Ogino, Kobe University
Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel
10:30-11:50

Theme 1: Science and Society: A Holistic Approach for Healthy Oceans

Moderator

Patrick Vittet-Philippe, Kobe University Brussels European Centre

Speakers

Chiaki Ogino, Kobe University*
Fighting Plastic Pollution: Scientific or Societal Challenge?
Sigi Gruber, Senior Adviser for Ocean Research, European Commission
Fighting Plastic Pollution, Restoring our Oceans: From the Mediterranean to the World
Michel Claessens, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Oceans, Science and Society: Securing the Role of Science in the Political Debate
Siri Granum Carson, Director Ocean Strategic Area, Norwegian Technological National University
An Ocean of Knowledge – Towards a More Inclusive Ocean Science

11:50-12:10

Coffee and networking break

12:10-13:30

Theme 2: Oceans Bridges: Building Ocean Awareness and Literacy, Engaging Communities

Moderator

Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Speakers

Stefano Cannicci, Vice-President, University of Florence
Functional Mangrove Restoration Beyond Blue Carbon: Communities’ Roles and Impact
Laura Bocchi, University of Kent and Nobuko Yoshida*, Oxford University
Ocean Observatories Initiative: Applying typing theories of programming languages to ocean observation.
Margaret Chen, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Rising Sea Levels: Involving Coastal Stakeholders for Building Coast Resilience.

13:30-14:20

JAPANESE NETWORKING LUNCH

14:20-14:30

PRESENTATION BY EURAXESS-JAPAN AND EURAXESS-KOBE(WITH VIDEO PRESENTATIONS )Judit Erika Magyar, EURAXESS-Japan Country Representative

FOYER
FOYER

14:30-16:00

OPEN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS AND BROKERAGE EVENTS

Objective

The objective of these workshops and brokerage meeting, involving morning session speakers and young
scientists is to share mutual research interests, and to discuss funding possibilities for EU-Japan
collaborative projects, in the perspective of forthcoming Horizon Europe Calls focused on Japan.

14:30-16:00

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP/BROKERAGE EVENT A (ECONOMICS)SUSTAINABLE GREEN ECONOMY – ‘LAWFARE’ AND GOVERNANCE OF THE SEAS

ROOM FUJI

Joint Producers Mikio Takebayashi, Kobe University and Bernard Siman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Moderators
Contributors

Discussant

14:30-16:00

Bernard Siman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Egmont Institute and Mikio Takebayashi, Kobe University
Mikio Takebayashi, Kobe University
Net Zero and its Effect on the International Cargo Transport NetworkRamin Raeesi, University of Kent
The Port of Dover ‘Clean Ferries’ Project: An Example of University-Industry Cooperation
Ra Mason, University of East Anglia*
Claiming and calming greyzones in the East China Sea: Dangers of the drift from lawfare to warfare?
Eva Pejsova, Japan Chair, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP/BROKERAGE EVENT B (NATURAL SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGY)TOWARDS GREEN ENERGY AND GREEN HYDROGEN.
ROOM NIKKO

Joint Producers Minoru Takeda, Kobe University and Thierry Coosemans, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Moderator
Contributors

Thierry Coosemans, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Dominik Richter, Hydrogen EuropeTowards Green Energy and Green Hydrogen: A European Approach
Minoru Takeda, Kobe University
Marine Transportation of Hydrogen Energy: Challenges and Opportunities – the KaitaKu Project
Ivar Kruusenberg, CEO, PowerUP Energy Technologies, Estonia
Hydrogen as a Game Changer for the Maritime Sector
Isabel François, Waterstofnet (Belgium)
Hydrogen Status: Flanders Belgium
Ander Martinez Alonso, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Hydrogen as an energy vector, a Multi-Energy System Approach

14:30-16:00

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP/BROKERAGE EVENT C (SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES)OCEAN AWARENESS: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITIES AND THE MEDIA.
ROOM KOYA

Joint Producers Ken-ichi Yoshida, Kobe University, Patrick Vittet-Philippe, Kobe University Brussels European Centre
Moderator
Contributors

DiscussantKen-ichi Yoshida, Kobe University
Robin Takashi-Lewis, Mymizu, Japan*
The ‘Mymizu’ (My Water) Movement: Leveraging Community and Technology to Tackle Plastic Waste
Jonas Abs, DLR, Germany“Plastic Pirates – Go Europe!”: On a Mission to Fight Plastic Waste Together with Citizen Scientists
Tetsuji Ida, Science and Environment Editor, Kyodo News, Japan*
Facing a multidimensional crisis of the ocean environment
Michael Pitiot, Writer and award-winning filmmaker

16:00-16:15

CLOSING POLICY KEYNOTE (LIVE FROM SAN FRANCISCO)

Introduction

Tamotsu Nakamura, Executive Vice-President, Kobe University

KeynotePascal Lamy, Chair of the Mission Board, ‘Mission Restoring our Ocean and Waters by 2030’;
Coordinator of the Jacques Delors Think Tanks; former Director-General of the World Trade
Organisation; former EU Commissioner for Trade
A Digital Twin of the Ocean: Why and How?

Response

Jeremy Carette, Dean for Europe, University of Kent

16:15-16:30

CLOSING REMARKSROOM FUJI

ROOM FUJI

Tamotsu Nakamura, Executive Vice-President, Kobe University
Jeremy Carette, Dean for Europe, University of Kent
Hugo Thienpont, Vice-Rector for Innovation and Valorization, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

16:30-17:30

NETWORKING RECEPTION & DRINKS + SAKE TASTING BY Oh! My Saké!

* Video presentations, followed by live Q&A

FOYER