Kyutech and UL Strengthen International Collaboration between Japan and France

Update:2026.05.27

Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) and Université de Lorraine (UL), one of Kyutech’s key global partner institutions in France, co-organized the “Kyutech–Université de Lorraine Joint Project Workshop” from May 12 to 14, 2026, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic international collaboration between 2 institutions.

Prof. Dr. Cécile Nouvel (Vice President for International Strategy), Ms. Nathalie Fick (Director of the International Relations Office), and Ms. Elise Antoine (Cooperation Officer of the International Relations Office), who visited Kyutech and as many as 36 staff from Kyutech and UL joined the workshop.

The three-day workshop served as the first major meeting under the newly appointed Kyutech-UL Joint Steering Committee between the two universities. The event aimed to further advance more than two decades of collaboration spanning joint research, student exchange, double-degree programs, non-academic staff development, and so forth.

During the workshop, the two institutions held the final report presentation meeting for the “Joint Project 2023–2025” program. In addition, a collaborative matching workshop was organized in preparation for the new call for proposals of “Joint Project 2027–2028.” Researchers from both universities introduced their latest activities and exchanged ideas across a broad range of fields, including materials science, information technology, space engineering, applied chemistry, human intelligence systems, robotics, and bioengineering. The discussions fostered active networking toward the creation of new international collaborative research projects.

The program also included visits by the delegates from UL to laboratories where the international students from UL are currently studying at Kyutech. The students presented their ongoing research projects and their supervisors explained their progress. Currently, Kyutech has received a total of 17 students from Université de Lorraine, including 12 double-degree students, one research internship student, and four exchange students.

Looking ahead to the 25th anniversary of international cooperation in 2028, Kyutech and UL have agreed to continue discussion on various future initiatives including the development of a broader multinational academic network involving common partner universities in other countries, new international collaborative research projects, IRO staff cooperation, and so forth to contribute to promote Japan–France scientific and academic partnerships.