Successful bilateral cooperation with the Japanese prefectures of Kyoto and Oita
As part of the IURC project, whose main purpose is to establish bilateral collaborations between European countries and other global powers, with the aim of knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices in innovation, organized by RRA LUR, were visited by representatives of the Kansai Science City of the Kyoto prefecture, the Department of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, the Office for the Promotion of New Industries, and the Office for the Promotion of the Oita prefecture, as well as a representative from the technology-oriented company Denken.
During their visit to the City Hall, they were introduced to the challenges and opportunities in the Ljubljana Urban Region, as well as the measures implemented by both Ljubljana and the entire region in the fields of sustainable mobility, spatial planning, tourism, and other development areas. This was followed by visits to two key technology development organizations in Slovenia.
At the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the delegation was welcomed by the Dean, prof. Mihael Sekavčnik, who presented the history of the faculty, its development, and its future outlook. The construction of a new facility with key laboratories for Industry 5.0 solutions is planned, ranging from digital twins with artificial intelligence to robotics. prof. Niko Herakovič introduced the participants to the Smart Factory Demonstration Centre, the only operational center of its kind in Slovenia, and presented the successful collaboration between the faculty and the business sector, including Yaskawa, a Japanese robot factory in Kočevje.
At the Jožef Stefan Institute, they visited the Department of Automation, Biocybernetics, and Robotics, which primarily focuses on research in robotics (including intelligent control, robot learning, humanoid and cognitive robotics, exoskeletons, and industrial robotics), factories of the future, biomechanics, kinesiology, ergonomics, and environmental medicine. They also visited the Department of Systems and Control, which is dedicated to the analysis, control, and optimization of various systems and processes.
The study visit concluded at the Ljubljana Technology Park, where presentations and B2B meetings were held with successful technology companies such as XLAB, UBIQUITY ROBOTICS, MULTIVERSUM in TOVARNA.TECH.
Bilateral cooperation with Japan through the EU-Japan Region-to-Region Innovation Cooperation program brings numerous advantages to the Ljubljana Urban Region. It allows the region to benefit from Japan’s expertise, technological advancements, and best practices in sustainable urban development and innovation. The collaboration opens doors for business opportunities, investment, and economic growth while enhancing the region’s international visibility and networking capabilities. Overall, this cooperation contributes to the region’s long-term sustainable development and positions it as a leader in urban and regional innovation on a global scale.
