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Sweden-Kyoto Symposium 2014

Sweden-Kyoto Symposium 2014

Date:

General Info

Objectives

This Sweden-Kyoto Symposium is a new example of international and inter-university cooperation, based on the initiative of five institutions: Stockholm University, Uppsala University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan), Karolinska Institutet, and Kyoto University. It is also a key element of Kyoto University’s “The 2x by 2020 Initiative”, aiming to promote the university’s international relations by further developing it as an institute of higher learning producing world-class knowledge.

This two-day symposium held in Stockholm and Uppsala seeks to foster an exchange of knowledge between the participating Swedish and Japanese institutions, with a program consisting of plenary introductions and keynote speeches, followed by 10 diverse parallel sessions on life and health sciences, ecology, technology, and engineering. Sweden is a world leader in research and education in these areas, and therefore the knowledge exchanged at these meetings should provide an intellectual basis for solving global problems confronting the world today, as well as representing a first step toward uniting leading researchers in these fields toward strengthening partnerships among these institutions.

Date

11-12 September, 2014

Venue

Stockholm University, Uppsala University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan), and Karolinska Institutet.

Sessions

1. Nuclear Fission and Fusion
2. Smart Energy Systems – Energy Storage (Battery, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Storage), Access Network, and Control System
3. Comprehensive Control of Cognitive Impairment – Aging Issues
4. Bio-informatics- Life Science and Information Science
5. Human-Centered Design of Sociotechnical Symbiotic Systems
6. Cutting-edge Organic Chemistry- Organic Synthesis, Element Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Chemical Biology
7. Micro-engineering- Microfluidics Devices and Advanced Surface Engineering
8. Ethics/Political Philosophy- Applied Ethics and Political Philosophy
9. Outstanding Young Researchers-  Academic Diversity, Academic Freedom
10. Ecology and Evolution – Indirect Interactive Web: Linking Evolution with Ecosystem

Acknowledgement

The organizers of the Sweden–Kyoto Symposium 2014 would like to express their profound gratitude to the faculty, staff, and students of the five participating institutions for their tremendous efforts and dedication towards making the symposium possible.

We would also like to thank the Embassy of Japan in Sweden, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Stockholm Office, City of Stockholm and the Sweden-Japan Foundation for their invaluable cooperation and support.

We hope that this symposium will be a significant step in advancing academic cooperation between Sweden and Japan, and we humbly ask for your continued support and collaboration in the future.

Stockholm University
Uppsala University
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Karolinska Institutet
Kyoto University

Program

Overall Program

Day 1: Thursday, September 11

@G-salen, Arrhenius Labolatories, Stockholm University

8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-9:30 Photo Session
9:30-10:15 Opening Addresses
(Stockholm University, Kyoto University, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University)
10:15-11:15 Introduction of Participating Universities
(Stockholm University, Kyoto University, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University)
11:15-11:30 JSPS Presentation
Fellowships and Funding Opportunities for Research Cooperation
Dr Sc Hideo Akutsu, Director, JSPS Stockholm Office
11:30-13:00 Lunch
13:00-13:45 Keynote Lecture 1: Demographic Challenges
Prof Gunnar Andersson and Asst Prof Livia Sz OIáh, Stockholm University Demography Unit
13:45-14:30 Lunch
11:30-13:00 Presentation of Collaborative Project: SciLifeLab.
Prof Mathias Uhlén, Director for Science for Life Laboratories (SciLifeLab)
14:30-14:50 Coffee Break
14:50-15:35 Keynote Lecture 2: “What Can We Do Using Nanospace Science?”
Prof Susumu Kitagawa, Director of Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University
15:35-15:50 Announcement: Information about Day 2

Day 2: Friday, September 12

@ Stockholm university, Uppsala University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , and Karolinska Institutet

9:00-17:00 Parallel sessions held at Uppsala University, Stockholm University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet.
Session 1: “Nuclear Fission and Fusion”
Session 2: “Smart Energy Systems – Energy Storage (Battery, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Storage), Access Network, and Control System”
Session 3: “Comprehensive Control of Cognitive Impairment – Aging Issues”
Session 4: “Bio-informatics- Life Science and Information Science”
Session 5: “Human-Centered Design of Sociotechnical Symbiotic Systems”
Session 6: “Cutting-edge Organic Chemistry”
Session 7: “Micro-engineering- Microfluidics Devices and Advanced Surface Engineering”
Session 8 “Ethics/Political Philosophy- Applied Ethics and Political Philosophy”
Session 9 “Outstanding Young Researchers- Academic Diversity, Academic Freedom”
Session 10 “Ecology and Evolution – Indirect Interactive Web: Linking Evolution with Ecosystem”
17:00-18:00 Closing Ceremony and Closing Reception/Drinks in Uppsala
(At Botanical Garden in Uppsala University)
Bus Transfer from Uppsala University to the Hotel after the ceremony
16:45-18:00 Bus Transfer from Karolinska Institutet (Huddinge) to “Piperska Muren”
17:15-18:00 Bus Transfer from Stockholm University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Central Campus) and Karolinska Institutet (central campus) to “Piperska Muren”
18:00–19:30 Closing Ceremony and Closing Reception/Drinks in Stockholm
(At “Spegelssalen,” Piperska Muren, Stockholm)

 

Report

Sweden–Kyoto Symposium held in Stockholm (11–12 September 2014)

The Sweden–Kyoto Symposium was held in Stockholm, Sweden on 11-12 September 2014 in collaboration between Kyoto University and four leading Swedish universities: Stockholm University, Uppsala University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Karolinska Institutet. The symposium aimed to provide a platform for researchers from the five institutions to meet, share knowledge and ideas, and develop networks for research collaboration.

The symposium was one of several such events held in accordance with Kyoto University’s international strategy, “The 2x by 2020 Initiative”, which was formulated in June 2013. Through holding such international symposia, Kyoto University aims to consolidate its position as a leading international academic institution and enhance its international presence by contributing to the global academic community. Over 150 researchers and other members from the participating institutions attended the symposium over the course of its two days.

His Excellency Mr Seiji Morimoto, Ambassador of Japan to Sweden, was the honored guest for the first day of the symposium, which began with addresses by Professor Astrid Söderbergh Widding, President of Stockholm University, Dr Michiaki Mishima, executive vice-president for international affairs and hospital administration of Kyoto University, Professor Kerstin Tham, Vice-President of Karolinska Institutet, Professor Peter Gudmundson, President of KTH, and Professor Eva Åkesson, Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University. The opening addresses were followed by presentations introducing each of the five institutions, after which Dr Hideo Akutsu, director of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Stockholm Office, gave a presentation on fellowships and funding opportunities for research cooperation between Swedish and Japanese scholars.

The afternoon of the first day featured keynote lectures by Professor Susumu Kitagawa, director of Kyoto University’s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Professor Gunnar Andersson and Assistant Professor Livia Sz OIáh of Stockholm University’s Demography Unit, and Professor Mathias Uhlén, Director of SciLifeLab, a collaborative project between the four participating Swedish institutions. In the evening, a reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Sweden and JSPS Stockholm was held at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan in Djursholm. At the reception, the guests were greeted by Dr Lars Vargö, the former ambassador of Sweden to Japan and a former student of Kyoto University. The reception gave the participating scholars a chance to relax, get to know each other, and prepare for the following day’s sessions.

The second day’s academic sessions were held at various locations on the campuses of the four Swedish universities. The ten sessions, covering diverse fields such as energy science, bio-informatics, aging, and philosophy, gave the participating scholars an opportunity to share their research findings, and explore possibilities for collaboration. Representatives from each session then reported their progress in the closing sessions, which were held at Stockholm University and Uppsala University. The scholars reported that the sessions had provided valuable opportunities to share new information and knowledge, and discuss concrete plans for potential research and education collaboration. In his closing speech, Professor Junichi Mori, director of Kyoto University’s Organization for the Promotion of International Relations, reflected that the symposium represented a major step forward in the development of collaboration between Swedish and Japanese scholars, and expressed his hopes that it would strengthen cooperation on the development of new knowledge, and enable scholars to cooperate on tackling common challenges and global issues. Plans are currently being made for a follow-up symposium to be held at Kyoto University, inviting members from the four Swedish institutions.

Dr Mishima introduces Kyoto University

Dr Mishima introduces Kyoto University

Academic session

Academic session

Prof Mori at the closing ceremony

Prof Mori at the closing ceremony

Prof Kitagawa delivers his keynote lecture

Prof Kitagawa delivers his keynote lecture

Group photo of lead delegates and special guests

Group photo of lead delegates and special guests

Reception at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan in Sweden

Reception at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan in Sweden

The symposium participants (Photo by Stockholm University)

The symposium participants (Photo by Stockholm University)