VUB and Japan Sport Council launch elite sports research partnership
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Japan Sport Council (JSC), Japan’s national sports agency, signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday aimed at strengthening international cooperation in elite sports research.
A key element of the agreement is the creation of the JSC HPSC European Research Center on High Performance Sport, which will be based at VUB's campus in Etterbeek. The new centre is intended to serve as an international hub for research into athletic performance, sports science and innovation in elite sport.
Through the partnership, the two organisations aim to accelerate research, promote knowledge exchange and create new opportunities for scientific cooperation. According to the partners, the Brussels location offers a strategic base for building links not only between Belgium and Japan, but also with European research networks and sports institutes. Researchers from Europe and Asia will be able to exchange expertise, data and innovative methods.
By combining Japanese expertise in elite sports development with VUB’s academic strengths, the partners hope to contribute to the further professionalisation of high-performance sport worldwide.
According to Dr Kukidome, vice-chair of the JSC and director of the Japan High Performance Sport Center (HPSC), it is "a great honour to sign this memorandum of understanding in this milestone year, in which we celebrate the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium."
"We are fully confident that we can build a partnership that will yield long-term value for athletes, researchers, and society," he added.
VUB rector Jan Danckaert said the collaboration will "not only promote breakthroughs in supporting elite athletes but also actively translate this scientific progress into broader societal benefits, which aligns perfectly with our shared pursuit of public value and life achievement."
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