Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2019

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
Newsletter10th Anniversary KUBEC Symposium:
Huge Success.

 NEWSINDEX-News
Research at Kobe University(2nd half of 2019)
Past Events in 2019In-house seminars and workshop
at KUBEC
Social MediaLet us know what you think
about our English website

T

he 10th Anniversary Kobe
University Brussels
European Centre
Symposium was held

On October 22 the 10th Anniversary
Kobe University Brussels EuropeanCentre Symposium was held in Brussels,Belgium, under the title “Open Science,Evolving Societies: New Horizons for
EU-Japan Research”. The symposium
was attended by about 140 people
including Japanese and EU government
officials, researchers, students andbusiness people.

Chaired by Professor Kazunari
Sakai (Executive Director ofKUBEC), the symposium openedwith greetings from Professor
Hiroshi Takeda (Kobe UniversityPresident), Professor Dr. Romain
Meeusen (Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vice-Rector forInternationalisation), H.E. Mr.
Kazuo Kodama (Ambassador ofJapan to the EU), and Mr. Jean-Eric
Paquet (Director-General, DG
Research and Innovation, European
Commission). All highlighted theimportance of and their hopes for
the SPA (Strategic Partnership
Agreement).

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2019academic dialogue between participantsfrom the EU and Japan.
In addition, KUBEC was presented
with the Kobe University President’saward on October 17 in recognition of
its international collaboration efforts inEurope, including the annual Brussels
symposium.

with Kobe’s Graduate School of
Economics and Graduate School ofIntercultural Studies.
The aim of this visit was to renew
the existing agreement in addition
to implementing a new student andfaculty exchange scheme between
each university’s Faculty andGraduate School of Law.
At the pre-signing luncheon, bothuniversities discussed how they
could continue to work together.

Parallel sessions were organised under
the themes of 1. The EU-Japan SPA andEPA (Economic PartnershipAgreement), 2. Food technology, and 3.
Cultural heritage. Researchers andpolicy makers presented the latest
results of cutting-edge research andpolicy initiatives.

The afternoon was devoted to threeopen interactive workshops under thethemes of each session to discuss plans
for future joint research projects
between EU and Japanese partners.

This symposium illustrated Kobe
University’s active presence in Brussels,in partnership with the VUB andprovided a meaningful opportunity for

We are looking forward to yourparticipation in the 11th anniversary
symposium in autumn 2020.
https://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2019_11_07_02.
html

https://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2019_11_07_05.html

PKresident Takeda visited
KU Leuven

On October 21, Kobe
University President Hiroshi
Takeda led a delegation to KU Leuvenin Belgium. The delegation comprised
Kobe University members Professor
Matsuto Ogawa (Executive Vice
President in Charge of Research andInformation Management), Professor
Masahiko Yoshii (Executive Vice
President in charge of International
Exchange and Evaluation), Professor
Hiroko Masumoto (Vice President incharge of International Education andInternational Collaboration), Professor
Ken-ichi Yoshida (Executive Director ofthe Centre for EU AcademicCollaboration) and Professor Kazunari
Sakai (Executive Director of KUBEC).
Kobe University and KU Leaven haveformed strong ties through student
exchange since 2010. KU Leuven also
conducts double degree programmes

obe University
Overseas Advisory
Board meeting heldin Brussels

On October 23 Kobe University
held an Overseas Advisory Board
meeting at KUBEC. The meeting
was attended by Board members
His Excellency Mr. Herman VanRompuy (former President of theEuropean Council) and Dr. HansGert Pöttering (former President ofEuropean Parliament).

The meeting was chaired byProfessor Kazunari Sakai (ExecutiveKobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2019

Director of KUBEC). Professor Matsuto
Ogawa (Executive Vice President in
Charge of Research and Information
Management) made a presentation on
the various research and industry
collaboration activities carried out thispast academic year. This was followedby Professor Masahiko Yoshii(Executive Vice President in Charge ofInternational Exchange and Evaluation)
reporting on the internationalization ofeducation. Kobe University Brussels
European Centre Advisor Patrick
Vittet-Philippe then reported on theactivities of the Brussels office this year.
The two Board members offered theiropinions on the importance ofstrengthening connections and boosting
cooperation with European
governmental organisations. Theirthoughtful evaluations included
comparisons with their own
institutions.

https://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2019_11_07_01.html

Visit from the European
Commission’s
Directorate-General for
Research andInnovation

On October 29, Mr. Pierrick FillonAshida (senior policy officer in charge ofScience, Technology and Innovationcooperation with Japan at the European
Commission’s Directorate-General for

Research and Innovation) visited Kobe
University to have meetings withProfessor Hiroshi Takeda (KobeUniversity President) and Professor
Hisashi Tamaki (Dean of the Graduate
School of System Informatics), and tosee several of Kobe University’s researchfacilities.
Mr. Fillon-Ashida exchanged opinions
about how Japan can increase its
participation in European research andinnovation funding initiatives such as
Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe withPresident Takeda.
Professor Tamaki introduced Kobe
University’s latest “Smart City” research
initiatives and discussed Kobe
University’s low energy technologicaldevelopments to reduce CO2 emissions.
After the meetings, Mr. Fillon-Ashidavisited KUHIMM (Kobe University
Human Intestinal Microbiota Model)
and the Innovative BioProduction Kobe
project.

(KUBEC) on the theme of “The ruleof Law, Democracy andConstitutionalism: Dialogue
between Japan and Europe”.
Constitutionalism in Japan andEurope, including the principles ofthe rule of law and democracy, hasbegun to waver in recent years. The
proposed amendment of theConstitution in Japan and a surge ofpopulism due to the refugee andmigrant crisis in Europe are typicalexamples.
The workshop was organised byProfessor Noriyuki Inoue (Graduate
School of Law) with the aim ofreconsidering the normative
contents of the fundamental
principles of Constitutionalismincluding the rule of law, democracy
and the guarantee of basic humanrights.
Professor Masahiko Yoshii(Executive Vice President in chargeof International Exchange andEvaluation), in addition toresearchers from other universities
in Japan, Germany, Austria, Polandand Italy attended this workshop.

https://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2019_11_07_06.
html

W

orkshop on Rule of Law,
Democracy andConstitutionalism heldin Brussels

On October 31 and November 1 aworkshop was held at the Kobe
University Brussels European Centre

https://www.kobeu.ac.jp/en/NEWS/info/2019_11_18_04.html

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2019 Research at
Kobe University(2nd half of 2019)

Research team illuminates system by which plants have formed secondary buds since ancienttimes
Research News
Botany, Molecular Genetics

Impact crater data analysis of Ryugu asteroid illuminates complicated geological history
Research News
Cosmology, Space/Planetary ScienceSensory and chemical analyses of the odor of newborn babies’ heads suggests importance infacilitating bonding and care-giving behaviors
Research NewsBiology, Psychology

Breakthrough in clean energy production: efficient hydrogen conversion achieved through solar
water splitting using hematite mesocrystal-based photoanodes
Research News
Photoscience, Nuclear Physics

All you need to know about our research is now on thewebsite including news, spotlight, researchers, facilities andcollaboration.
If you have any questions about research news, please contact us atintl-relations (a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, December 2019 Past Events in 201929 Brussels Student Workshop 2019Nov.
31 Oct.- International workshop on the Rule of Law, Democracy and Constitutionalism: Dialogue between Japan and1 Nov. Europe
Programme
28-30 International Workshop on Dark Matter Searches 2019
Aug. Programme In-house seminars and workshop at KUBEC
Information on academic seminars and workshops at KUBEC can be found at:
http://www.office.kobe-u.ac.jp/ipiep/kubec/index_en.html

If you are interested in participating in these events, please contact us at

intl-kobe_u_bxl(a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp
for further information.

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