On 27 October 2026, The Director of WBO, Eri Anno, participated in a meeting with Japanese government representatives and a networking event organized by Fika-JA (Fostering International Knowledge Alliance for Japanese Academia) at the Embassy of Japan in the Netherlands in The Hague.
The morning meeting brought together members of Fika-JA and representatives of the Japanese government, including H.E. Mr. Rokuichiro Michii, Ambassador of Japan to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura, Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.Discussions focused on challenges faced by Japanese researchers conducting research in Europe, opportunities and obstacles in promoting Japan–Europe research collaboration and researcher mobility, and expectations for future cooperation with the Japanese government and relevant institutions.
The subsequent Fika-JA networking event featured an online presentation by Ms. Emanuel Chauven, Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, followed by a presentation by Ms. Natsuko Deguchi, First Secretary of the Mission of Japan to the European Union. Participants also exchanged perspectives on how to encourage more active participation by Japanese researchers in Horizon Europe and strengthened connections with colleagues working to promote academic and research cooperation between Japan and Europe.
Through its participation in Fika-JA activities, WBO aims to strengthen connections among Japanese universities, European institutions, and government stakeholders. WBO will also continue to support Waseda University researchers in pursuing Horizon Europe funding opportunities and developing research collaborations with European partners.
