Kobe University Brussels European Centre
Opening Symposium
A New Era of Japan – Europe Academic Cooperation
3 - 7 March 2011
Date : Friday March 4Venue : Square Brussels Meeting Centre, Mont des Arts-Kunstberg, 1000 Brussels
Opening : 10:00 - 12:00 (Reception starts at 9:30. Please be seated by 9:55.) [The Arc]

“Japan-EU Education Policy Seminar
Internationalisation of Higher Education in Japan and the European Union”
Opening Address:
Speech:Response Speech:
Lecture:Lecture:Dr Hideki Fukuda, President of Kobe University
HE Mr Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council
HE Mr Nobutake Odano, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union
Mr Xavier Prats Monne, Deputy Director General, Education and Culture DG, European Commission
Mr Laurent Bocherau, Acting Head of Unit, International Cooperation Policy, D/1
DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Lecture: Mr Kiyoshi Shimizu, Vice Minister, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
Lecture: Prof Dr Paul Van Cauwenberge, Rector of Ghent University
Lecture: Dr Hideki Fukuda, President of Kobe University

Research Sessions: 13:30 - 18:00 [The Arc, Room 311, Room 313, Room 314]

“Japan Europe University Networks”[The Arc]

13:30 - 15:00Representatives of universities in Japan and Europe will discuss issues and prospects for future collaboration.

“Protein Kinase C: A key molecule from Kobe University”
Protein kinase C was found in Kobe University in
1977. This is a key molecule in the various cellularresponses such as proliferation, differentiation andneuronal functions. We focus on the progress of PKC
research in this symposium and promote thecollaboration between Kobe University and various EUuniversities.

[Room 311] 13:30 - 18:00

Speakers:
Prof Godefridus Peters, VU Medical Center
Prof Isabel Merida, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Prof Matthijs Verhage, VU Medical Center
Assoc Prof Fabienne Willems, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof Naoaki Saito, Kobe University
Prof Yasuhito Shirai, Kobe University“Historical role of Belgium and the Netherlands in European Integration”
Today, Brussels is considered by many as a kind of
Capital of Europe and its centrality should beconsidered in historical context that Belgium andNetherlands or Low Countries have played in the longprocess of European Integration. So this symposium
focuses the function and structure of metropolitan
cities in Low Counties from 14th to 17th century.

[Room 313] 15:30 - 18:00

Speakers:
Prof Wim Blockmans, Universiteit Leiden
Prof Bruno Blonde, Universiteit Antwerpen
Prof Clé Lesger, Universiteit van Amsterdam
Prof Peter Spufford, University of Cambridge
Prof Takashi Okunishi, Kobe University“Bacillus biotechnology and its prospective future”
Bacillus research is one of the leading activities inbiotechnology developed in EU and Japan. Bacillus
biotechnology has been established and maintained
involving a number of successful projects such as theEU-funded BACELL. In this session, five speakers
present their expertise along with their cooperative
experiences and discuss about the future prospects.

[Room 314] 13:30 - 18:00

Speakers:
Prof Colin Harwood, University of Newcastle
Prof Jan Maarten van Dijl, University of Groningen
Dr Philippe Noirot, INRA, CRJ
Prof Bernard Joris, Université de Liège
Prof Ken-ichi Yoshida, Kobe University

“Between Survival and Sustainability- The Corporate Social Responsibility in The Times of Economic Crisis”
Thursday March 3 14:30 - 18:30
European Economic and Social Committee

Both European and Japanese businesses are
considering how to balance their profitability, social
considerations and environmental sustainability. In thissymposium, participants are expected to discussbehaviours of European and Japanese businesses, toshow best practices, and drawing lessons from eachother.

Speakers:
Ms Eve Päärendson, European Economic and Social Committee
Mr Sandy Boyle, European Economic and Social Committee
Prof Silke Bustamante, Berlin School of Economics and Law
Mr Pedro Ortun, Directorate General Enterprise and Industry (tbc)
Mr Richard Howitt, European Parliament (tbc)
Mrs Vladimira Drbalová, European Economic and Social Committee
Ms Yukako Kinoshita, Japan Business Council in Europe
Mrs Laure Batut, European Economic and Social Committee (tbc)
Mrs Evelyne Pichenot, European Economic and Social Committee
Prof Hiromasa Kubo, Kobe University
Prof Katsuhiko Kokubu, Kobe University
Assoc Prof Yuki Sekine, Kobe University“Roles of Culture on the Foundation of European Integration”
Saturday March 5 13:45 - 17:30
Université libre de Bruxelles
Which role does culture play in the construction
process of Europe? While we can suppose it plays apositive part as the pivot of integration, we can also
assume it plays a negative part as it produces a barrier
between the inside and the outside, prompting friction
and opposition. The symposium investigates thesedifferences in culture's functions in the development ofthe European Union.

Speakers:
Prof Helmut Eberhart, University of Graz
Assoc Prof Gilles Ferragu,Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Mr Salvatore Somma,University of Naples "L'Orientale"
Prof Paul Aron, Université libre de Bruxelles
Prof Isabelle Meuret, Université libre de Bruxelles
Prof Tomokazu Sakano, Kobe University
Prof Kazuko Iwamoto, Kobe University
Assoc Prof Kazunari Sakai, Kobe University
Assis Prof Satoshi Terao, Kobe University
Dr Shinnosuke Matsui, Kobe Uiversity“Europe-Japan Technology Exchange toward Contribution of IRT to Medical Careand Welfare - From Physical Assistance to Cognitive Assistance”
Monday March 7 10:00 - 18:00
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Information and Robotics Technology (IRT) is
expected to play a vital role in dealing with the aging
society, by assisting people not only physically but
also cognitively. European countries are very
advanced in the field of medical care and welfare, andmany research activities dealing with IRT are ongoing.
Also in Kobe University a healthcare engineeringresearch group was established. The group includes
not only engineers, but also health science
researchers. The aim of this group is to utilize IRT
effectively to progress healthcare and welfare. In thisworkshop, we will exchange ideas between Europeand Japan, aiming at the contribution of IRT to medicalcare and welfare. We will also discuss Europe-Japan
Collaboration funding opportunities.

Speakers:
Ms Marie-Elisha Lerouge, Verhaert Masters in Innovation
Dr Eric Demeester, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Dr Bernard Pauwels, In-Ham VZWProf Herman van der Kooij, University of Twente
Dr Thierry Janssens, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Assis Prof David A Abbink, Delft University of Technology
Prof Herman Bruyninkcx, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Dr Stephan Pascall, European Commission
Dr Greet Bilsen, Leuven Research & DevelopmentProf Yasuyoshi Yokokohji, Kobe University
Prof Zhiwei Luo, Kobe University
Assoc Prof Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Kobe University
Dr Stijn Delauré, DOC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Dr Sarthak Misra, University of Twente
Dr E Vander Poorten, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven* The contents of the symposium may change without prior notice. Please check for details in the programme, which will be distributed at the symposium.
Organizer: Kobe University
Under the auspices of: The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ofJapan; The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan; The European Commission; The European
Economic and Social Committee; The Japan Association of National Universities; The Federation of Japanese
Private Colleges and Universities Associations; JETRO Bruxelles
In cooperation with: Kyoto University, Osaka University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Kansai University,
Université libre de Bruxelles, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,
Université catholique de Louvain, Universiteit Gent, Universiteit Antwerpen
Registration: Please send the following information to Kobe University International Affairs Planning Division.
(E-mail: intl-relations@office.kobe-u.ac.jp)
Name, title, phone number, affiliation, and E-mail address