- RENKEI held a four-day workshop for early-career researchers from Japan and the UK, focusing on climate change, health, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with Kyushu University actively participating.
- The event, organized by Newcastle University and Durham University, aimed to foster new research communities and long-term collaborations between British and Japanese researchers, culminating in group research proposals and a simulated grant review session.
- Kyushu University continues to strengthen its global research networks, building on prior workshops like the RENKEI Climate Change/Energy Workshop in December 2024, to promote international academic cooperation, especially in sustainability and decarbonization.
RENKEI, the Japan-UK Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives, is a network of 11 Japanese and British universities, committed to the promotion of academic exchange and internationalization. Kyushu University has been a member since the network's establishment in 2012. Since April 2025, RENKEI has moved into its third phase, maintaining its focus on major themes like climate change and health, with an added emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration between British and Japanese researchers.
A four-day face-to-face workshop was conducted for early-career researchers from member institutions of RENKEI. Organized by Newcastle University and Durham University both of which have university-wide collaborations with Kyushu University the workshop was attended by around 70 participants. Four participants represented Kyushu University. They were Associate Professor Motonori Watanabe of WPI-I²CNER, doctoral student Ryusei Kunisaki of Graduate School of Engineering, Vice President Natalie Konomi, and a member of staff from the Stockholm Liaison Office of the university.
The workshop opened at Newcastle University with icebreaking exercises to build relationships among participants. From the next day, the venue was at Durham University, where the core sessions were conducted. Durham is home to 'JusTN0W, Just Transitions to a Net Zero World', an eminent interdisciplinary forum that drives sustainable and just solutions to fast-forward global decarbonization. Researchers from Durham's Law School, Computer Science, Economics, and Biosciences departments are actively engaged in this effort.
Taking advantage of this platform, the workshop promoted members from various disciplines to form new research communities and consider the possibilities for long-term collaboration. In groups, the researchers collaborated with each other to construct collaborative research proposals. During the last day, all the groups presented their concepts in a simulated grant review session. Vice President Konomi (Kyushu University) was among the reviewers, providing constructive criticism and suggestions for future cross-disciplinary collaboration. The workshop was concluded with a presentation of Durham University's pioneering decarbonization research, offering useful insights and inspiration to all participants.
Before the workshop mentioned above, Kyushu University organized 'RENKEI Climate Change/Energy Workshop Net Zero by 2050' in December 2024. With cooperation on themes and goals between the two events, the two workshops have set a foundation for more profound and longer-term academic collaboration between Japan and the UK.
Kyushu University is dedicated to establishing long-term global research and education networks through programs such as RENKEI, and will continue to provide opportunities for international cooperation throughout the university.
