On May 29, the 1st Italian and Japanese Rectors’ Forum was held at the Italy Pavilion of Expo 2025. The forum was organized by the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) to strengthen international academic partnerships between Japan and Italy.

At the opening remarks, Professor FUJISAWA Masato, president of Kobe University and vice-president of the Japan Association of National Universities, delivered a welcome address. He highlighted that there are as many as 480 academic exchange agreements between national universities in Japan and universities in Italy, and these partnerships have fostered fruitful cooperation through joint research and symposiums in various fields.

He also introduced Kobe University’s active role in the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, which has signed a collaboration agreement with the international medical cluster MAGIA (Medtech Alliance for Global InternationAlisation), comprising four European countries including Italy. Through this collaboration, the university is advancing international research and development.

In the panel discussion of the forum, Professor NISHITANI Kimitaka, director of the Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, presented “Economic and financial sustainability of systems and territories”.

(Note: Further details about the forum can be found on the CRUI website. Read more about this here.)

President Fujisawa, delivering the opening remarks
A scene from the MoU exchange ceremony held during the forum 
Professor Nishitani, presenting at the panel discussion

(Global Engagement Division)