MIRAI Seminar 2018 held

On Wednesday, October 10 the Second MIRAI Seminar “Sustainable social System and Technology for Ageing Society” was held at Yasuda Auditorium. President Seiichi Matsuo of Nagoya University, Vice Chancellor Torbjörn von Schantz of Lund University, Deputy Minister Yoshio Yamawaki of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Swedish Ambassador to Japan Magnus Robach and President Makoto Gonokami delivered welcome speeches during the Opening Ceremony.

The MIRAI Project is a joint-initiative between 7 Swedish universities and 8 Japanese universities with the goal to increase Swedish-Japan academic exchange and collaboration. Seminars where all the universities gather together are held annually as part of the Project.

As this year marks the 150th Diplomatic Anniversary between Sweden and Japan, Swedish Ambassador to Japan Magnus Robach and Deputy Minister Yoshio Yamawaki of MEXT signed a Joint Statement by MEXT, Swedish Ministry of Education and Research (MER) and Swedish Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation (MEI), promising to commit to the strengthening of science and technology cooperation between Sweden and Japan after the welcome speeches. Professor Anders Ynnerman of Linköping University and Professor Hiroshi Amano of Nagoya University delivered keynote speeches.

Afterwards, young researchers and representatives of each university and funding agencies of both countries shared their insights into the Seminar’s theme through Panel Discussions. Roughly 250 participants, including Presidents, vice presidents and directors, professors, researchers, students, and regular participants from each university attended the Seminar.

President Gonokami’s Opening Speech


Ambassador Robach, MEXT Deputy Minister Yamawaki, and Representatives of MIRAI Project Universities and Funding Agencies


MIRAI Seminar 2018