Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, July 2021

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
Newsletter

NewPresident
AppointedContents-News-

Research at Kobe University(1st half of 2021)-Social Media-Let us know what you think
about our English website

 NEWSNew president andexecutive board members
appointed

In April 2021, Prof. FUJISAWA Masatoof the Graduate School of Medicine wasappointed president of Kobe University
for a period of 4 years. This makes him
the 15th president of Kobe University,
which is one of Japan’s oldest leading
universities. New executive board
members were also selected.
Prof. Fujisawa graduated with a PhD.
from the Department of Urology, Kobe
University Graduate School of Medicine
in 1989. Since then, his research has

been focused on urology (inparticular robotic surgery),andrology and renal transplantation.
In 2020, he successfully performed
the first surgery with “hinotori”, thefirst Japanese-made surgical robot,
which his team invented incollaboration with Kobe-based
medical robotics company
Medicaroid Corporation. He has
also served as Director of Kobe
University Hospital, Executive
Assistant to the President, and Deanof the School and Graduate Schoolof Medicine.
Located in an international port
city, Kobe University, working in a
spirit of integrity, freedom, andcooperation in keeping with its

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, July 2021

open and cosmopolitan culture andenvirons, aims to contribute to theglobal community through the creationof knowledge founded on universal
values and the fostering of richunderstanding and strong leadershipskills. Over the years, Kobe University
has developed multidisciplinary
research and education using its
strengths as a comprehensive research
university that strikes a balance acrossacademic disciplines, and has deepened
its international partnerships under theformer president’s leadership.

will become a regional center aiding thelocal revitalization of the economy,culture, life, the environment andhuman activity, while doing our utmost
to transmit information throughout
Japan and the world in order to benefit
global society”.
Next year 2022 marks the 120th
anniversary of Kobe University’sestablishment. Mirroring the slogan of‘multidisciplinary co-creation andcollaboration’, Kobe University willpool its strengths in order to bringabout creative improvements andinvigorate its core image as a globalknowledge hub that will enliven thebright societies of the future.
→Kobe University Webpage

The 11th Kobe University
Brussels European Centre
Symposium

Taking over these initiatives, the newpresident takes the lead in further
developing the university as a global
hub for the multidisciplinary cocreation of research and education. Hesays, “I would like to bolster Kobe
University’s prestige and increase its
contributions to society by promoting
the global dissemination of theuniversity’s advanced multidisciplinary
research and education, and by realizing
the 3 pillars of development; cultivating
the ‘knowledge’, efficient ‘humanresources’ and outstanding‘environment’ necessary for value
creation and its implementation”.
Although the coronavirus pandemic hasseriously impacted the international
exchange of researchers and students
among universities, according toPresident Fujisawa; “In a changing
society affected by the aftermath of thecoronavirus pandemic, Kobe University

On 20th October 2021, the 11th Kobe
University Brussels European Centre
Symposium will be held in Brussels
jointly with Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Under the title “Green Horizons,Sustainable Futures: EU and Japan
Research for Climate-Prepared,
Resilient Societies”, this symposium
will focus on priority issues related toglobal climate change, from threedifferent approaches; Economics,
Natural science, and Social science andHumanities.

At the symposium, speakers
representing leading universities inJapan, Belgium, UK, and EU
countries, as well as officials fromthe European Commission and theJapanese government, are expected
to share their experiences, present
their projects and discuss initiatives
to strengthen research cooperation.
Further details will be provided on
the website.
→Event NewsW

orkshop and Brokerage
event on EU-Japan
Research Collaboration

On 21st October 2021, Kobe
University will hold a workshop
and brokerage event in Brussels
jointly with Vrije Universiteit
Brussel, as a follow-up to the 11th
Kobe University Brussels European
Centre Symposium taking place on
the previous day. This ‘hands-on’
event is primarily aimed at
European researchers and research
managers from UnILiON member
universities interested incollaborating with Japaneseinstitutions and researchorganisations. Speakers fromdifferent sectors will share theirexperiences and the challenges they
have overcome in relation to EUJapan research collaboration, as wellas up-to-date information on
funding programmes such as
Horizon Europe, which will further
mutual understanding ofopportunities for joint research andapplications for funding between
EU and Japan.
Further details will be announced
on the Kobe University website.

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, July 2021

 Research at
Kobe University(1st half of 2021)- eDNA analysis could contribute towards more effective pest control

Research News

Environmental physiology, Ecology, Conservation biology-‘HoLM’- Towards an international hub for optical control and imaging
Research News

Optics, Medicine, Biology, Information science- Newly developed AI uses combination of ECG and X-ray results to diagnose arrhythmic disorders
Research Article

Cardiovascular medicine- Toxin in potatoes evolved from a bitter-tasting compound in tomatoes
Research NewsBiofunctional science- How do humpback whales rest? Omnidirectional cameras reveal the secret underwater lives ofmarine animals
Research News

Marine biology

Everything you need to know about our research is featured on
the Research at Kobe website, including the latest press
releases as well as articles on our researchers, facilities andcollaborations.
If you have any questions about research news, please contact us at:

intl-relations(a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp

Kobe University Brussels European Centre
E-newsletter, July 2021

2021 Kobe University Research Highlights‘Kobe University Research Highlights –enhancing collaboration with Europe’ is now
available to download here.
As the first Japanese university to open an office in Brussels in 2010, Kobe University has
been a pioneer in developing R&I cooperation between Japan and Europe, working withover 140 European partners.
This publication introduces our projects and research centers corresponding to the 6
research clusters of HORIZON Europe, the EU’s new research and innovation investment
programme, which has just been launched in 2021.
All our project leaders hope to initiate and expand collaboration with overseas institutions
including our European partners. If you are interested in any of the introduced projects,please contact the Office of Research Management. We look forward to hearing from you.

Office of Research Management: gksh-ura(a)research.kobe-u.ac.jp

 Social Media
Keep up with Kobe University on Social Media!

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 Let us know what you think about our English website
Feedback is always welcome. Please let us know your thoughts on our English-language website: Link to questionnaire

Thank you very much for reading this newsletter. We wish you all a wonderful and safe summer holiday!
Kobe University Brussels European Centre E-newsletter has been sent to you because you have shown an interest in ouractivities. If you prefer not to receive it, please send a message to us at intl-kobe_u_bxl(a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp. Thank you.

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Email: intl-kobe_u_bxl(a)office.kobe-u.ac.jp
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