MIRAI stories

Curious to hear what others have to say about MIRAI? Researchers who’ve participated in MIRAI have reported that it led to new relationships with researchers as a base for collaboration, increased their cultural understanding and built their capacity as leaders of joint research activities.

The first phase of MIRAI (2017-2019) resulted in a number of joint project applications, joint publications and invitations to speak at conferences. So far the MIRAI2.0 project has resulted in 24 seed funded projects and a number of joint workshops and activities. We’ve talked to some of the researchers who’s been active in MIRAI and you can read their stories below.

Researchers about MIRAI

Hello Rong, what is your research about?
My area of expertise is Health Economics. Many of my studies look at whether healthcare schemes, such as reforms on healthcare and long-term care insurance, are being enforced correctly, accurately, and efficiently. My current research priorities are in the incentives behind healthcare provisions and health policies for ageing populations, such as long-term care programs.

What engages you most in your research area?
The most exciting aspect of my research is the possibility that our findings could lead to actual policy changes. In recent years, a growing number of health policy reforms in Japan have begun with discussions about research studies of whether and how the policies are successful, a practice known as “evidence-based policymaking.” Contributing to the society through the evidence-based policymaking process is the biggest inspiration for my research.

In what way has MIRAI contributed to your work?
MIRAI, like an alumni system, creates and maintains a close relationship between me and my Swedish colleagues. We have been attending MIRAI annual meetings on a regular basis since the 2017 Lund kickoff meeting, during which we were able to not only deepen our research collaboration but also gain a better understanding of each other’s culture backgrounds. Therefore, thanks to MIRAI, we were able to produce a good research article as well as form a great friendship.

What do you see as the main benefits of MIRAI?
MIRAI ​project provides opportunities for in-person communications for international collaborations. Such opportunities are invaluable. Technology advancements have resulted in a number of simple and effective remote communication methods. However, such convenience can come at the expense of good research ideas, particularly when collaborations are just getting started. In-person communication is often the source of good ideas. Good ideas also fade quickly if we do not share them with others. This is why MIRAI is advantageous to international collaborations. The majority of the participants had never met before being brought together by MIRAI, despite the fact that they share common interests and conduct similar types of research. Although individual research fields may not immediately match, MIRAI participants can easily discover a common denominator in their approaches.

Why is collaboration between Sweden and Japan important in your research area?
Collaborations across borders are especially important in research on aging societies. Specifically, because Japan has one of the world’s fastest aging populations and human ageing is a high priority in Japan, as well as Sweden is one of the world’s most innovative countries, interactions between the two countries would bring great opportunity and advantage to the societies.

Would you recommend more researchers to participate in MIRAI and, if yes, why?
Given the numerous benefits mentioned above, I strongly encourage young researchers to participate in MIRAI. Furthermore, beyond the project, the warm and cheerful team of MIRAI organizers would inspire young researchers throughout their early careers in various ways (e.g., funding opportunities).

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Hi there Masahiro, what is your research about?
Currently, we are studying electrolyte materials based on ionic liquids for rechargeable batteries. Commercially available Li-ion batteries use flammable organic solvents as electrolytes. To develop safe and high-performance batteries, we are developing nonvolatile and nonflammable electrolyte materials. Ionic liquids are organic salts that are liquid at room temperature and nonvolatile liquids even with heating under vacuum. Using ionic liquids, we are developing not only Li-ion batteries but also next-generation batteries.

What engages you most in your research area?
The most engaging research topic is the development of solid electrolytes for improving the performance including safety of rechargeable batteries. Ionic liquids are fascinating materials as electrolyte materials, but the leakage of ionic liquids is still being left as a problem. Recently, we focused on polymer materials to develop solid electrolytes instead of flammable organic electrolyte solutions. In general, polymer materials are light weight, thin, and flexible. If organic electrolyte solutions can be replaced by solid polymer electrolytes, it will allow us to develop light weight, thin, and flexible rechargeable batteries. Such rechargeable batteries are being considered to contribute the growth of electric vehicles etc.

How /In what way has MIRAI contributed to your work?
MIRAI gave me a chance to have collaborations to study the properties of novel solid polymer electrolytes based on polyketones. In 2018, we started the collaborations with Dr. Jonas Mindemark (Uppsala University) who is an expert on solid polymer electrolytes and Dr. Yasuhide Inokuma (Hokkaido University) who is an expert on organic synthesis. We revealed that polyketones functioned as solid polymer electrolytes for Li-ion batteries. Our successful collaborations already resulted in the publication of a paper in a high-profile journal in 2020. We are further continuing the collaborations in this research area.

What do you see as the main benefits of MIRAI?
I think, the main benefit of MIRAI is that you can meet some researchers in different research areas. We usually attend conferences related to our own research area to share and discuss the latest research results. In other words, we rarely meet researchers with different expertise. But innovations will be achieved by collaborations between researchers with different backgrounds. In fact, our successful collaborations could not be started without the MIRAI project.

Why is collaboration between Sweden and Japan important in your research area?
Many researchers especially in Uppsala University, Chalmers University of Technology, and Lund University are actively studying solid polymer electrolytes. They have substantial experience in a broad range of research and techniques from synthesis of polymer materials to computer simulation of ion conductive mechanism. The collaboration between Sweden and Japan will bring many benefits to develop solid polymer electrolytes for not only Li-ion batteries but also next generation rechargeable batteries. Such collaborations will lead to the development of solid polymer electrolytes that are practically used in rechargeable batteries.

Would you recommend more researchers to participate in MIRAI and, if yes, why?
Yes, I would like to recommend more researchers to participate in MIRAI because, as I mentioned, you can meet some researchers with different expertise. I believe such meeting will contribute to the enormous progress of your research. In addition, we can learn new things from the different cultures. For example, when I attended a MIRAI meeting which was held in Sweden, I learned an interesting culture, Fika. Deep understanding of different cultures is an important step to make a better world.

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Hi Carl-Johan, what is your research about?
My research is about how ageing is influencing brain structure, function, and chemistry, and how interventions (e.g., exercise or memory training) improves negative age-related trajectories.

What engages you most in your research area?
I find the multidisciplinary approach in my research area very stimulating and rewarding, but also challenging. Finding ways to improve brain health in ageing is an engaging research area from both a societal and personal perspective, after all we are all getting older.

How /In what way has MIRAI contributed to your work?
It has broadened my perspective on ageing research, and it has allowed me to find collaborators I wouldn’t have been in contact with otherwise. Also, with a focus on younger researchers, and helping them in their careers new areas of research sometimes emerge, which is fantastic.

What do you see as the main benefits of MIRAI?
To make contacts and collaborations between different research groups that have a common research goal but tackle it from different angles. It has been a wonderful opportunity to visit other labs, and to see how they are setting up their studies more in dept compared to only reading the final product in a research paper.

Why is collaboration between Sweden and Japan important in your research area?
We are two countries that are facing similar challenges with a growing ageing population, but we are also two very different countries. I believe that the differences between our countries can contribute to novel solutions, and it will make us think about our research area in a different way than we are used to.

Would you recommend more researchers to participate in MIRAI and, if yes, why?
Yes, it is a lot of fun, and having focus on younger researchers makes it very rewarding. I recommend anyone that has an interest in international collaborations to participate, you learn a lot from the experience of being part of something like MIRAI, and it also makes you realize that there are many solutions to similar questions.

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Hello Tomonori, what is your research about?
My research field is in Water and Wastewater Treatment in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

What engages you most in your research area?
Main research interests are (1) cost-effective wastewater treatment with focus on membrane technology and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process, (2) ecology and physiology of nitrogen-cycling microorganisms with focus on nitrifying bacteria and anammox bacteria, (3) microbiology of wastewater treatment, (4) discovery and enrichment of uncultured microorganisms.

How /In what way has MIRAI contributed to your work?
I was able to start an international collaborative research with a researcher at Gothenburg University that I met through the MIRAI project. We jointly applied for some grants and have obtained some funding for joint research from both the Japanese and Swedish governments, or from the Foundation.

What do you see as the main benefits of MIRAI?
The biggest merit is that I got to know Swedish researchers in other fields that I had never interacted with before.

Why is collaboration between Sweden and Japan important in your research area?
In my field of research, collaborations between Japanese and Swedish researchers have not been active so far. Therefore, I think new innovation will be induced with the collaboration.

Would you recommend more researchers to participate in MIRAI and, if yes, why?
Yes, especially for young researchers. I think it is very meaningful for the next-generation leader candidates who will lead their research field to know each other. Through the exchange of MIRAI projects, it will lead to international joint research and publication of co-authored papers.

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Hi Tomohiro, what is your research about?
My research field is involved in Nanocarbon Chemistry and Supramolecular/Polymer Chemistry. Especially, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of key materials in my research. I develop new types of near infrared (NIR) photoluminescent nanomaterials by chemical functionalization of single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs). Interestingly, the chemical functionalization can versatilely enhance and modulate their NIR emission properties with strong dependence on molecular functions and structures of the functionalized molecules on the nanotubes.

What engages you most in your research area?
I got my Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry and, at that time, recognized huge potentials and importance of molecules to create novel materials and functionality. CNTs are a kind of inorganic compounds but can be considered as an aromatic polymer (organics) composed of benzene rings, meaning highly compatible with organic chemistry. That aspect motivates me to conjugate CNTs and molecules chemically, which results in the creation of the novel NIR nanomaterials. In addition, CNT research involve tons of scientific fields including chemistry, physics, and biotechnology because of their outstanding properties in mechanical, electronic, thermal, and optical functions. That allows me to communicate and collaborate with many researchers regardless of own specialties, which also offers attractivity of this research filed.

How /In what way has MIRAI contributed to your work?
MIRAI has given us enormous opportunities to build substantial human network, which is the biggest contribution of MIRAI for me.  Because it has resulted in launching a collaboration work with Dr. Gábor Méhes (Linköping Univ.; currently, Yamagata Univ., Japan). In this collaboration, the integration of my functionalized CNTs and Gábor’s bacterial electronics has successfully built unique energy harvesting and bioelectronic systems/devices, which opens up a new direction for our research. Eventually, our paper will be published in the near future. I believe that the output of this study contributes to UN SDGs #7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.

What do you see as the main benefits of MIRAI?
As I pointed out, human networking is the greatest benefit of MIRAI. More specifically say, MIRAI has provided not only the place to meet together but also well-thought-out programs to encourage us for keeping continuous scientific discussion and making joint research proposals. Also, I cannot forget importance of “Fika” time, which is the essential catalyst for these successes. Furthermore, strong supports from management members and funding agencies in MIRAI are helpful. In fact, we got Sweden-Japan 150 Anniversary Grants from STINT, which remarkably promoted our collaboration.

Why is collaboration between Sweden and Japan important in your research area?
Owing to versatile functions of CNTs applicable to many areas, cross-disciplinary researchers have considerable potentials for scientific innovation. In particular, international collaborations could be its powerful driving force based on differences in major research targets and topics and in cultures and research styles of each country. These factors in Sweden and Japan would be suitable to be mixed up for establishment of innovative nanocarbon science and technologies. Actually, our successful collaboration is a good example.

Would you recommend more researchers to participate in MIRAI and, if yes, why?
My answer is definitely “yes”. Only participants can obtain the above-described benefits and, in MIRAI 2.0, I surely believe advanced programs and opportunities will be provided. Current COVID-19 pandemic disturbs in-person meeting. In terms of scientific communication, developing virtual communication tools help a lot. However, strong networking opportunities like MIRAI are essential to establish collaborations for research excellence based on trust relationships, which could be hard to be constructed only by personal efforts. Therefore, I highly recommend more researchers and students to join in MIRAI that will open up bright future for us.

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Hello Mikiko, what is your research about?
The academic interest of mine is in sustainable water resource development and management in the Asian monsoon region. The research begins with irrigation of wet rice fields using rivers as a water source in Japan. It expands to institutions and infrastructure related to sustainable water resources management, such as water rights systems, environmental flows, multipurpose dams, and long-distance water transfer. At the root of the interest is how the unique physical properties of water (which are immutable) are reflected in society and change over time as a constantly changing “value.”  I am also working on a commons theory that reflects the characteristics of river water intake (fluctuations and gravity flow).                                                                          

What engages you most in your research area?
The primary research area so far has been the Asian monsoon region, especially Japan. It is a region that generally relies more on rivers than groundwater as a water source for irrigation (because rice, an aquatic plant, needs much water, and rivers are the best efficient way to supply it in Japan). In other words, river intake institutions and infrastructures can be found wherever there is wet paddy field irrigation, and it means precisely where my research takes place. In contrast to monsoon Asia, areas with different climatic conditions have also been the research subjects.               

How /In what way has MIRAI contributed to your work?
MIRAI has given a more comprehensive range of research topics and research colleagues. While social sciences and agricultural engineering have been the basis of the research, I learned new insights into the humanities and natural sciences from the MIRAI colleagues. While respecting each other’s achievements in their fields of expertise, we were able to take a trans-disciplinary approach by sharing the common interest of water and the environment in Japan, which was very significant in addressing one of the major themes of the SDGs environment issue.    

What do you see as the main benefits of MIRAI?
We have a significant advantage in both research and education. In terms of research, the biggest benefit is that we can conduct joint research on water and the environment, our shared interests while respecting each other’s expertise. Specifically, we are planning to co-host an international symposium and work together on publications based on our research activities. Due to the pandemic, we had to postpone the international symposium that was to be held at Sophia University in 2020, but we eagerly continue preparation through frequent online meetings with our MIRAI colleagues. Next, on the educational side, we have made the most of ICT to enable exchanges that transcend national borders. While it was difficult to travel oversea, MIRAI research colleagues gave online lectures and workshops at Sophia University with COIL method, which was very well received.

Why is collaboration between Sweden and Japan important in your research area?
The topic of water, which is related to most of the goals of the SDGs, is an area that is difficult to tackle because it challenges the existing research fields of humanities and social sciences, and natural sciences. Although well-established in that discipline, approaches from only one discipline are often ineffective and not used in the real world. It is an excellent advantage in this field to have a multifaceted view of pressing global environmental issues while interacting with Swedish universities, which have mature social systems.                                                                     

Would you recommend more researchers to participate in MIRAI and, if yes, why?
I would especially like to encourage young researchers to participate. Applying for many research funds requires collaboration with researchers in other fields and social implementation as a prerequisite. While I assume that you should strive to deepen your field of expertise, I believe that you should actively use this opportunity to collaborate and exchange ideas with researchers outside of your own country to take greater steps as a researcher.