18 October 2022, Brussels, Belgium

Ocean research is a highly topical issue, of crucial importance for both the EU and Japan. It is also an area where the EU and Japan are playing a leading role in the unprecedented mobilization of the international scientific community, in particular in the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences, the UN Ocean Conferences, the G7 Ocean Deal, to ensure ‘Healthy, Sustainable Seas and Oceans’.
Most importantly, ocean research is one of the key priorities of Horizon Europe, including through the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 and the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 work programmes, as well as in Japan’s Moonshot and other research programmes. 
Within this frame, Kobe University and the VUB are organizing their 12th Annual Kobe University-VUB Symposium focusing on EU-Japan Research on Oceans.

The event will include:

• An opening policy session with Signe Ratso, Acting Director-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission; Japanese Ambassador to the EU Yasushi Masaki; Kobe University President Masato Fujisawa; and VUB Rector Jan Danckaert.
• Three parallel scientific sessions addressing key aspects of ocean research in Japan and Europe from the interrelated perspectives of economics and governance, science and technology, and SSH
• Three workshops and brokerage events on the same themes, involving experts and PhD students, with the objective of developing joint projects between EU and Japanese researchers.
• Two high-level keynotes by Pascal Lamy, Chairman of the Board, Mission Starfish 2030 – Restore our Seas and Waters; Coordinator, Jacques Delors Think Tanks; former WTO Director-General, former EU Trade Commissioner; and Michael Pitiot, award-winning filmmaker, author and director of Planète Ocean.
• Opportunities to meet and interact with speakers and participants over a Japanese-themed lunch, and at the closing reception and saké tasting.

In addition to senior European Commission and Japanese government officials, and the two keynoters, speakers will include representatives of Japanese Universities (Kobe and Ochanomizu), and key experts from universities and research organisations, industry, think tanks and the media from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 

Some of the key issues addressed:

• What is the ‘Blue Economy’? 
• How to ensure sustainable global green shipping? 
• How to protect the critical trade and energy infrastructures of underseas cables? 
• Can Japan and the EU help deliver a rule-based governance of the seas? 
• What is, exactly, the ‘Ocean Digital Twin’? 
• Why is the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 so important? 
• Which are the latest breakthroughs in marine robotics? 
• How can ocean research help deliver green hydrogen energy? 
• Limiting plastics in our oceans: a job for scientists or for societies? 
• How best to build resilience and empower coastal communities? 
• Which role for scientists in the political debate on oceans? 
• How can media help build ocean awareness and ocean literacy? 
• Which solutions can EU-Japan research cooperation deliver to help save our seas and oceans?

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Published: April 2023