Sweden × Japan
MIRAI GCT3 × GCT4 Retreat · Day 0 of MIRAI R&I Week 2026
Across Borders
Materials for energy and resilient cities. How we work together across countries, cultures and disciplines.
A one-day retreat for the members and invited researchers of two MIRAI Global Challenge Teams. People from outside academia are welcome to join the discussion.
The retreat is by invitation, through the two GCTs. If you would like to take part, please let us know.
About
A joint GCT3 and GCT4 retreat
We work at very different scales, from materials to whole cities. The retreat looks for what we have in common, and how we can move forward together.
The retreat is a joint activity of two MIRAI Global Challenge Teams — GCT4, Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage, and GCT3, Resilient Cities and Communities. It opens MIRAI Research & Innovation Week 2026 (8–11 December, Kyushu University, Fukuoka) as a satellite “Day 0” event.
Main questions
What do research on energy materials and research on resilient cities have in common? And how do we work together across countries, cultures and disciplines, and between academia and industry?
Researchers from Sweden and Japan discuss these questions together.
Format
Short talks of up to 10 minutes, each followed by at least 10 minutes of questions and discussion. The group is small, about 30 people, so everyone can take part. People from outside academia are welcome to join, but the day is not built around them.
Objectives
- Stronger Sweden–Japan research collaboration across GCT3 and GCT4.
- Shared topics between energy materials and resilient cities.
- Experience and lessons on working across countries, cultures and disciplines, and with industry.
- Early-career researchers (ECRs) meet senior researchers from both teams.
- A foundation for a 2027 follow-up online workshop and ECR community.
Program
Agenda
The day has two parts, from 11:00 to 16:30, with lunch at the museum in between.
Our research
Opening, then short talks from both teams: what we have in common, from materials to whole cities.
How we work together
Short talks on working across countries, cultures and disciplines, and between academia and industry.
Discussion
Open discussion on how MIRAI can work in practice, and the next steps for GCT3 and GCT4.
Museum and dinner
A visit to the museum’s collection, then dinner together close to the venue.
Venue
Ajibi Hall, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
In the center of Fukuoka, in the Hakata Riverain building, with direct access from Nakasu-Kawabata subway station.
About the venue
Ajibi Hall is the event hall of the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, on the 8th floor. The museum collects and shows modern and contemporary art from Asia. After the program we visit its collection.
Lunch and coffee are on the 7th floor of the museum. No food is allowed in the hall.
- Address
-
福岡アジア美術館 あじびホール（8階）
〒812-0027 福岡市博多区下川端町3-1 リバレインセンタービル
Ajibi Hall (8F), Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Hakata Riverain Center Building, 3-1 Shimokawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-0027, Japan
Getting there
Take the subway to Nakasu-Kawabata Station (中洲川端). Exit 6 leads directly into the building.
- From Fukuoka Airport or Hakata Station — Airport Line (Kūkō Line), no change of trains.
- From Tenjin — one stop on the Airport Line, or a short walk.
- Hotels — anywhere in central Fukuoka (Hakata, Nakasu, Tenjin) is close to the venue.
Route map
- Fukuoka Airport domestic terminal
- Higashi-Hie
- Hakata JR and Shinkansen
- Gion
- Nakasu-Kawabata the venue · exit 6
- Tenjin city center
- Fukuoka City Subway, Airport Line (Kūkō Line). No change of trains between the airport and the venue.
Participants
Participants
Attendance is by invitation — about 30 people in total, nominated by the two GCTs. The group is small so that everyone can take part in the discussion.
Researchers
Academic participants
Experienced and early-career researchers from MIRAI universities. See profiles →
Outside academia
Companies and public bodies
People from companies, public bodies and other organizations are welcome to join the discussion. Please write to retreat@miraienergy.org.
Organizers
A joint MIRAI activity
Hosted by two MIRAI Global Challenge Teams and organized by Kyushu University.
Hosted by
GCT4 — Energy Materials
MIRAI Global Challenge Team on materials for energy conversion and storage. Researchers in energy materials.
GCT3 — Resilient Cities & Communities
MIRAI Global Challenge Team on resilient cities and communities. Researchers in urban resilience and governance.
Organized by
Kyushu University
Roman Selyanchyn, Platform of Inter-/Transdisciplinary Energy Research. Funding, invitations, the program and the venue.
Institutions involved
Contact
How to take part
If you have been invited, or would like to join from outside academia, please write to the organizers.
Practical details
- Cost
- Free of charge.
- Language
- English.
- Meals
- Lunch and coffee on the 7th floor of the museum. Dinner together after the program. Details will follow.
- Accommodation
- Not arranged centrally — participants book their own stay in Fukuoka.
Attendance is by invitation
The total is about 30 people, including the organizing team. Every place comes through a GCT nomination. Roman Selyanchyn coordinates the invitations. For questions about taking part, contact the organizers.
Confidentiality rule
Nothing said on the day is made public without the speaker's permission. Any write-up afterwards — including reports back to MIRAI — is checked with participants before it is finalized. The same applies to photographs.
Contact the organizers
For questions about the program or about taking part:
Email: retreat@miraienergy.org