Join us for the 3rd edition of the EU-Japan AI Bridge, bringing together international researchers based in Japan and Japan's AI startups and enterprises.
Thursday, 26 November 2026 · Europa House, Tokyo
Registration is mandatory for access to Europa House. Please register by 23 November 2026.
Programme in preparation. The times shown are provisional; the final agenda, speakers and reception arrangements will be announced here.
Description
Building on the 2024 and 2025 editions, AI Bridge connects international researchers with Japan's AI industrial and startup ecosystem. This year's planned full-day programme brings together perspectives from academia, industry and startups to explore deployed AI systems and practical opportunities for EU–Japan collaboration.
We expect approximately 120–130 participants across the day. The proposed format combines short talks, panel discussions and audience questions, with networking breaks and startup and industry booths.
The programme is being developed around four focus areas:
Topics
- Physical AI in the Field
Drones and autonomous systems in real deployment
Medical and surgical robotics
Humanoids, embodied AI and human–AI interaction
This session examines how embodied AI moves from research into deployment, including operational constraints, evaluation and opportunities for collaboration.
- Perception and Quality
Machine vision and sensor fusion
Quality control and inspection
Predictive maintenance
This session explores how perception and inspection support reliable AI deployment, linking research advances to quality assurance and predictive maintenance in industry.
- Trust and Secure Industrial AI
Reliability assurance and validation of deployed systems
OT (operational technology) cybersecurity
Industrial data protection and governance
This session addresses the technical and organizational requirements for dependable industrial AI, including validation, security and the responsible use of proprietary data.
- R&D Capacity in Japan
Connecting researchers and industry through joint research, technology transfer and research careers
Building research organisations in Japan, and PhD and postdoc career paths
EU–Japan research collaboration and funding opportunities, including Horizon Europe; Judit Erika Magyar of EURAXESS Japan contributes to Session 4
This session considers how Japan can strengthen its AI research capacity and how European and Japanese research communities can develop sustained partnerships.
Draft Agenda
All times are Japan Standard Time (JST). This is a provisional running order. Individual slots, proposed session placements and reception hours remain subject to confirmation. Tentative contributors and provisional slots are explicitly marked.
09:30-10:00 - Arrival, registration and welcome coffee
10:00-10:30 - Opening remarks and EU-Japan policy perspectives (contributors to be confirmed)
10:30-12:00 - Session 1: Physical AI in the Field
10:30-10:45 - Talk 1: Social implications of AI within the continuing technological revolution (Paco Arjonilla García)
10:45-11:00 - Talk 2: Android Robots that embody AI - Social Human-Robot Interaction in Germany and Japan (Christian Becker-Asano; proposed placement)
11:00-11:15 - Talk 3: Title to be announced (Michael Spranger; tentative)
11:15-12:00 - Panel and audience discussion
12:00-13:00 - Lunch break and networking
13:00-14:30 - Session 2: Perception and Quality
13:00-13:15 - Talk 4: Trusting the Answer: Quality Control for AI in Noisy Environments (Adrián Jiménez Pascual)
13:15-13:30 - Talk 5: Event cameras: capabilities and applications beyond conventional RGB cameras. (Andreu Girbau-Xalabarder)
13:30-13:45 - Talk 6: Perception and Quality contribution (speaker to be announced)
13:45-14:30 - Panel and audience discussion
14:30-14:45 - Coffee break
14:45-16:15 - Session 3: Trust and Secure Industrial AI
14:45-15:00 - Talk 7: Proving AI safety (Manuel Baltieri)
15:00-15:15 - Talk 8: Graphic Design Safety Review via AI Agents (Antonio Tejero de Pablos)
15:15-15:30 - Talk 9: Trends in human-robot coexistence for dense industrial workplaces (Mandali Khalesi)
15:30-16:15 - Panel and audience discussion
AISI participation is confirmed for Session 3; its representative and contribution format will be announced.
16:15-16:30 - Coffee break
16:30-18:00 - Session 4: R&D Capacity in Japan
16:30-16:45 - Talk 10: Title to be announced (Kohei Itoh; presentation format to be confirmed)
16:45-17:00 - Talk 11: Empirical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Context in Japan (Susanne Brucksch; slot confirmed)
17:00-17:15 - Talk 12: Leveraging Horizon Europe AI Funding for Japan’s Tech Ecosystem (Judit Erika Magyar, EURAXESS Japan; provisional slot)
17:15-18:00 - Panel and audience discussion
18:00-18:15 - Closing remarks
18:15-20:00 - Networking reception and startup booths
Speakers
Individual slots and the remaining lineup are subject to confirmation.
Talk 1: Social implications of AI within the continuin
Full text on tokyotech.com
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