Scientific cooperation between Japan and Sweden is creating connections that extend far beyond individual research projects. Dr. Shinya Nagasawa, Director of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Stockholm Office and Professor Emeritus at Waseda University, discusses the role of fellowships, joint research programs and alumni networks in strengthening bilateral ties. He also highlights the potential of biopharmaceuticals and regenerative medicine, while emphasizing the importance of passing knowledge, experience and professional relationships to the next generation of researchers.

Bridges: As Director of the JSPS Stockholm Office, how do you see academic and scientific exchange contributing to the broader Japan–Sweden relationship, particularly at a time when both countries are deepening cooperation in innovation, sustainability and advanced technology?

Nagasawa: The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) conducts “Bilateral Programs” and “International Fellowship Programs” as part of its international academic exchange initiatives and maintains particularly active ties with Sweden.

These programs promote the global circulation of talent and support the establishment and strengthening of international research networks. Academic personnel exchanges, facilitated through mutual visits and stays, foster bilateral understanding and cultivate friendly relations. Most recently, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado paid an official visit to Sweden to attend the golden wedding anniversary of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, with visits to Malmö, Lund and Stockholm

Sweden is widely recognized for its strengths in research, life sciences, engineering, sustainability and innovation. From JSPS’s perspective, which areas of Japan–Sweden research collaboration hold the greatest potential for deeper cooperation in the years ahead?

While all these areas are important and hold great potential, biopharmaceuticals and regenerative medicine products are particularly promising and constitute a key part of the national strategy. They are listed among the products and technologies covered by both “10. Synthetic Biology/Biotechnology” and “11. Drug Discovery/Advanced Medical Care” within the “17 Strategic Investment Fields” established by the Takaichi Cabinet.

This category was selected because biopharmaceuticals and therapies involving regeneration, cells and genes account for approximately 40% of the expanding pharmaceutical market, which was valued at around 200 trillion yen in 2022. These products are directly linked to public health and human life. Ensuring supply autonomy to mitigate the risk of disruptions is therefore an urgent priority from the perspective of health and medical security.

The strategic direction involves leveraging strengths in technological foundations, such as iPS cells and antibody-drug conjugates, while building a track record in contract development and manufacturing. By maintaining and expanding domestic production infrastructure, the aim is to meet domestic medical needs while promoting the global expansion of drug discovery ventures and capturing overseas markets.

Corporate-level ties are also being strengthened, as demonstrated by Asahi Kasei’s acquisition of Swedish pharmaceutical company Calliditas.

How does the JSPS Stockholm Office help create meaningful connections between Japanese and Swedish researchers, universities and institutions, and what makes these academic exchanges valuable beyond the research community itself?

The JSPS Stockholm Office promotes academic exchange between Japan and Sweden primarily by offering fellowship programs and supporting the formation of communities, including alumni associations, for researchers who have conducted work in Japan.

The fellowship program provides outstanding young Swedish researchers with opportunities to engage in collaborative research at Japanese universities and other research institutions under the guidance of Japanese host researchers. The office also works to form, maintain and strengthen research networks between Japan and Sweden by bringing recipients of JSPS support into alumni associations. Particular emphasis is placed on follow-up activities that help these international research networks remain active after the fellowship period concludes.

The true value lies not merely in the immediate achievements of collaborative research, but in the intergenerational transfer of experience and professional connections. Former fellows can use these alumni communities to share the knowledge and networks they gained through JSPS fellowships with their peers and the next generation of researchers.

What message would you like to share with Japanese and Swedish researchers, institutions and young academics about the importance of continuing to build long-term, trust-based research partnerships between the two countries?

To build a research partnership between Japan and Sweden grounded in sustained trust, it is crucial that exchanges fostered through programs such as fellowships do not remain fleeting interactions but are instead passed on to the next generation.

To support this goal, we encourage researchers who have previously received JSPS support, including through fellowship programs, to join the alumni association. Through these communities, they can share the experiences, professional networks and feedback they gained through academic exchange with Japan with their peers and the next generation of researchers.

At JSPS, we also intend to listen more actively to the voices of researchers. We invite Swedish researchers whose JSPS support has led to successful outcomes, such as securing research funding or developing collaborative research projects, to share their experiences with the JSPS Stockholm Office.