The 11th Kobe University Brussels European Centre Symposium

Green Horizons, Sustainable Futures:
EU and Japan Research for Climate-Prepared, Resilient Societies
Organised jointly with Vrije Universiteit Brussel
with the support of the University of Kent

20 October 2021
VENUE

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

8:15-9:00

REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE

9:15-10:00

OPENING ADDRESSES

Moderator

Introduction by the Moderator, Ken-ichi Yoshida, Kobe University

Speakers

Prof. Masato Fujisawa, President, Kobe University (by video link)
Prof. Caroline Pauwels, Rector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
H.E. Yasushi Masaki, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union
Ms. Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission

10:00-10:30

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Introduction

Tamotsu Nakamura, Executive Vice-President, Kobe University

KeynoteUnderstanding the Metabolism of the Economies – Towards a Green Economy
Prof. Paulo Ferrão, Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, Instituto Superior Técnico,
Lisbon University, President of the COST Association. Member of the Horizon Europe Mission Board
Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. Author of Sustainable Urban Metabolism (MIT Press, 2013) and Urban
Metabolism of Six Asian Cities (Asian Development Bank, 2014)

ResponseRomain Meeusen, Vice-Rector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

10:30-13:30

MORNING PARALLEL SESSIONS

10:30-13:30

PARALLEL SESSION 1: ‘TOWARDS A GLOBAL GREEN ECONOMY’ROOM FUJI

ROOM FUJI

ROOM NIKKO

Joint Producers Kenji Takeuchi, Kobe University
Bernard Siman, O.B.E., VUB and Egmont Institute
10:30-11:50

Theme 1: The Climate Conundrum: WTO Rules or UN Climate Commitments?

Moderator
Speakers

Kenji Takeuchi, Kobe University
Bernard Siman, O.B.E., Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Egmont InstituteConflict between World Trade and Climate Commitments: Top Policy Priority
Kenji Takeuchi, Kobe University
Resilience of the World Trade to Climate Disasters
Kevin Verbelen, AGORIA and Brussels Diplomatic Academy
Carbon Border Adjustment Measure: a Business Perspective

11:50-12:10

Coffee and networking break

12:10-13:30

Theme 2: The Perfect Storm: Building Economic Resilience in Overlapping Crises

Moderator
Speakers

Bernard Siman, O.B.E., Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Johan Eyckmans, KU Leuven
Distributional Effects of Different Climate Change Damage Channels and Mitigation Policies
Sebastian Oberthür, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Covid-19 Crisis: A Critical Juncture for EU Climate Policy Development?
Hiroaki Sakamoto, Kobe University
Pricing the Unpriced: An Interdisciplinary Effort to Make the Market Work for Climate

10:30-13:30

PARALLEL SESSION 2: ‘BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS’Joint Producers

Minoru Mizuhata, Kobe University
Yoshiyuki Kajikawa, Kobe University and RIKEN
Maitane Berecibar VUB

10:30-11:25

Theme 1: Advances in Climate Science

Moderator

Minoru Mizuhata, Kobe University

Speakers

Yoshiyuki Kajikawa, Kobe University and RIKEN
Challenge to the New Generation Computational Climate Science ResearchGiridharan Renganathan, University of Kent
Urban Climate – Field Experiment and Modelling Studies on Urban Heat Island to Urban Albedo
Miriam Pfeiffer, Kiel University
Climate Past and Present: Corals as Monitors of Past and Current Tropical Climate Variability

11:25-11:45

Coffee and networking break

11:45 -13:30

Theme 2: Key Technologies for a Carbon-neutral Environment

Moderator

Yoshiyuki Kajikawa, Kobe University and RIKEN

Speakers

Takashi Kita, Kobe University
Industry-Government-Academia Collaborations for SDGs
Michel Cassir, ParisTech, PSL-Research University
CO2 Capture and Valorisation in Molten Carbonate-based Electrolytes
Minoru Mizuhata, Kobe University
CO2 Separation and Absorption: Research Breakthroughs
Noriko Shisa, Director, Technology Research Planning, Toyota Motors Europe
Sustainable Mobility - Towards Carbon Neutrality
Maitane Berecibar, VUB
The Batteries of the Future

10:30-13:30

PARALLEL SESSION 3: ‘ENABLING RESILIENT, CLIMATE-PREPARED SOCIETIES’Joint Producers

Masayuki Sato, Kobe University
Leo Van Audenhove, VUB

10:30-11:50

Theme 1: Social Impact of Climate Change

Moderator

Masayuki Sato, Kobe University

Speakers

Karel Deneckere
Nuclear Power’s Trembling Foundations: A Case Study of the Belgian Public Debate in the Aftermath of theFukushima Nuclear Accident
Kazuhiro Ota, Kobe University
Climate Change’s Impact on Poverty and Migration
Ginga Tamura, NHK-Television, Japan
Informing Public, Mobilizing Public Opinion: The Role of Mass-Media
Michel Claessens, Université Libre de Bruxelles
How Should Scientists Tackle Global Crises: The Climate Test-Case

11:50-12:10

Coffee and networking break

12:10-13:30

Theme 2: Local Adaptation to Global Warming

Moderator

Leo Van Audenhove, VUB

Speakers

Koen Borghys, VUB
Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of the Local Level in Brussels
Carina Veeckman, VUB
Citizen Science for Environmental Monitoring and Policy: Best Practices
Mieko Kiyono, Kobe University
Adaptation to Climate Change: Community Resilience to Natural Disasters in Rural Area, JAPANMarialena Nikolopoulou, University of Kent
Outdoor Comfort as a Commodity; What does Thermal Resilience Mean under Climate Change?

13:30-14:30

JAPANESE NETWORKING LUNCHROOM FUJI

ROOM KOYA

FOYER

Video presentations by Toyota Motors Europe, Kobe University, VUB, Euraxess, University of Kent

14:30-14:45

POLICY KEYNOTEROOM FUJI

Introduction

Ken-ichi Yoshida, Kobe University

Speaker

Ms. Elina Bardram, Director ff, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission
The EU-Japan Green Alliance: Joining Forces to Deliver COP 26 Goals

14:45-16:15

AFTERNOON - 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.

14:45-16:15

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP/BROKERAGE EVENT A (ECONOMICS)‘VALUING CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY’

ROOM NIKKO

Joint Producers Kenji Takeuchi, Kobe University and Bernard Siman, O.B.E., VUB
ModeratorContributors

Kenji Takeuchi, Kobe University
Adelina Gschwandtner, University of Kent
Estimation of a Hedonic Price Equation for Chicken Meat in the UK: Does the Organic Attribute Matter?
Gunnar Gutsche, University of Kassel
Are Preferences for Sustainable Investments Universal? A Large Scale Experiment in Five European
Countries
Kayo Murakami, Kobe University
What Determines the Values of Environmental Benefits? Evidence from a Worldwide Survey
Miwa Nakai, Fukui Prefectural University
The Effect of Environmental Information on Preferences for Dynamic Electricity Tariffs: A case of GermanyJapan Comparison

14:45-16:15

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP/BROKERAGE EVENT B (NATURAL SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGY) ROOM FUJI

Joint Producers

Minoru Mizuhata, Kobe University and Maitane Berecibar, VUB

Session leader
Contributors

Minoru Mizuhata, Kobe University
Hiroshi Suzuki, Kobe University
Silica Hard-Shell Microcapsules Containing Phase Change Materials
Kentaro Kuratani, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and Kobe U.
Breakthrough Research in Material Technologies for Batteries
Marco Liserre, Kiel University
New Technologies and Materials as Driver of Tomorrow's Power Electronics

14:45-16:15

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP/BROKERAGE EVENT C (SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES) ROOM KOYA

Joint Producers

Masayuki Sato, Kobe University, and Leo Van Audenhove, VUB

Session leaders Leo Van Audenhove, VUB, and Patrick Vittet-Philippe, Kobe University Brussels European CentreContributors
Morning session speakers, Ph.D students, science communication experts, civil society representatives.

16:15-16:25

EURAXESS JAPAN PRESENTATIONROOM FUJI

Euraxess Japan and Kobe University: A Key Collaboration for EU-Japan Researcher’s Mobility
Judit Erika Magyar, Country Representative, EURAXESS Japan

16:25-16:40

CLOSING REMARKSROOM FUJI

Tamotsu Nakamura, Executive Vice-President, Kobe University
Jeremy Carrette, Dean for Europe, University of Kent (by video)
Hugo Thienpont, Vice-Rector for Innovation and Industry Relations, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

16:40-17:45

NETWORKING RECEPTION AND DRINKS (+ SAKE TASTING)

FOYER

In the presence of H.E. Hiroaki Fujiwara, Deputy Head of Mission, Mission of Japan to the EU

OCTOBER 21ST 8:45-13:00
FOLLOW UP WORKSHOP/BROKERAGE EVENT: ‘NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EU-JAPAN R&I COOPERATION’This Symposium will be followed by an online workshop and brokerage event the next day (21 October 2021) on‘New Opportunities for EU-Japan Research and Innovation Cooperation’.
Jointly organised by Kobe University and the VUB, and supported by Waseda & Kansaï Universities and the UniLiON Networkof University Offices in Brussels, this interactive virtual event will focus on new funding opportunities for R&I cooperation inEurope and Japan. It will include presentations of ongoing & future projects, and testimonials from EU and Japanese partners.