On January 31, the Japan-Brazil University Rectors' Summit was held at the University of S?o Paulo (USP), co-organized by USP and University of Tsukuba. This special event marked the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Japan and brought together university leaders, government officials, and funding agencies to discuss future academic collaborations.

This Summit was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Embassy of Japan in Brazil, the Consulate-General of Japan in S?o Paulo, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and the Ministry of Education of Brazil. The Summit aimed at sharing ideas and discussing how universities, as members of the international community, can engage with society and contribute to sustainable development, and how universities in both countries can deepen collaboration and work together in human resource development to solve complex and diverse global issues across disciplines. It brought together about 60 participants, including presidents and vice presidents of 10 universities each in Japan and Brazil as well as representatives from related organizations in both countries.

The event opened with celebratory remarks from His Excellency, Ambassador HAYASHI Teiji, Japanese Ambassador to Brazil, and Dr. Rodrigo de Carvalho Dias Papa, First Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. Mr. FUJIWARA Akio, Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and His Excellency Mr. Camilo Santana, Minister of Education of Brazil delivered video messages.

University of Tsukuba President NAGATA Kyosuke and USP Rector Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior officially opened the conference, followed by a keynote lecture by Professor NINOMIYA Masato of USP titled "Japanese Immigrants and their Education in Brazil."

The Summit featured group discussion sessions on "Research Collaboration" and "Student Exchange." The session on research collaboration focused on (1) Cyber Security and AI, (2) Ocean and Disaster Management, and (3) Climate Change and Clean Energy. The session on student exchange highlighted (1) Student Exchange and Online Education, and (2) Student Exchange and Learning Languages. Participants actively exchanged opinions, highlighted their ongoing initiatives, shared insights, and identified areas for potential collaborations.

In addition, representatives from CAPES, CNPq and FAPESP (Brazil) and JSPS and JST (Japan) introduced funding programs to support research collaborations and student exchange between the two countries.

The Summit concluded with a "Joint Declaration," reinforcing the commitment to further academic collaboration and global problem-solving through bilateral cooperation.

A day prior to the Summit, Mr. SHIMIZU Toru, Consul-General of Japan in S?o Paulo hosted a reception attended by around 70 people, including Ambassador HAYASHI, the Japanese and Brazilian University participants of the Summit, local representatives of Japanese organizations and representatives of related Brazilian institutions.

On February 1, participants from Japanese universities toured the Fazenda Alian?a coffee farm, owned by Mr. Renato Ishikawa, President of the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture and Social Assistance. They gained valuable insights into the coffee production process.

During the Summit, University of Tsukuba signed a new academic exchange and cooperation agreement with the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). This agreement was based on discussions initiated during UFMG Rector Sandra Goulart Almeida's visit to President NAGATA in November 2024.

The Japan-Brazil University Rectors' Summit marked a significant step toward expanding academic and research cooperation between the two nations. The discussions and agreements formed during the event are expected to pave the way for future joint initiatives, student exchanges, and research projects, fostering deeper engagement and global impact.