Kyoto University, the University of Osaka, and Kobe University Joint Symposium: “Post-Expo Challenges: Exploring Well-being through University-Industry Collaboration"

On October 21, 2025, Kyoto University, the University of Osaka, and Kobe University Joint Symposium (sponsored by Nikkei Inc. and the Japan Center for Economic Research) was held in Osaka city as part of the annual "Kansai Economist Meetings."

This year’s theme was“Post-Expo Challenges: Exploring Well-being through University-Industry Collaboration," and the presidents of the 3 universities and industry representatives, including Yasuo Shimada (President/CEO: Group at Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc.) and Yuri Matsumoto (Representative Director of Halu, Kyoto City), had lively discussions about how universities and companies should pursue well-being through university-industry collaboration after the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

Following opening remarks by Katsumi Yagitani (Managing Executive Officer, Nikkei Inc. Osaka), Yasuo Shimada delivered a keynote speech titled “Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Group's Initiatives Toward Well-being.” He introduced the company's approach to healthcare and its preventive care initiatives aimed at extending the healthy life expectancy of residents living along its railway lines. President Shimada strongly appealed, stating, “As a company, we would like to work together with universities to realize a well-being society.”

Next, a panel discussion was held, moderated by Sachiko Murui (Editorial Director of the Osaka Headquarters of Nikkei Inc.,) featuring the university presidents Atsushi Kumanogoh (UOsaka), Minato Nagahiro (Kyoto University), Masato Fujisawa (Kobe University), as well as Yuri Matsumoto and Yasuo Shimada.

The panel discussion covered a wide range of themes, including “Preparations for the Post-Expo Era,” “The Current State of Companies and Universities and Their Path to Transformation,” and “The Forefront of Well-being for Universities.” President Kumanogoh introduced the three key areas of well-being research prioritized by UOsaka: “Life Resilience,” “Smart Sustainability,” and “Future Innovation Area.” In particular, he highlighted “Support for the Elderly” as a key concept within the “Life Resilience” domain, stating, “To address challenges in a super-aged society, we must work with local communities to pioneer future societies. We aspire to further strengthen university-industry collaboration and inter-university partnerships.”

Additionally, Nagahiro Minato (President of Kyoto University) and Masato Fujisawa (President of Kobe University) introduced their respective universities' initiatives and discussed how universities should engage with society and contribute to the well-being of the next generation. President Minato pointed out, "Amid the accelerating decline in birthrates and aging population, we have entered an era of slowdown where the total population is decreasing. Improving the quality of higher education and creating a new aging society are missions entrusted to universities.” President Fujisawa set forth the goal of “enhancing well-being through building health and medical care delivery systems utilizing ICT and ‘Interaction Signal Technology’ that visualizes information on human relationships."
Yuri Matsumoto, who develops products targeting children with disabilities and families raising children, shared her company's case studies and philosophy, stating, “Expanding the concept of barrier-free design to transform someone's challenges into everyone's enjoyment leads to the realization of a well-being society.”