The International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER) jointly hosted the 2026 WPI Symposium “Advances in Clean Energy Conversion: From Materials to Systems” with Trakia University, Bulgaria, from October 19 to 22, 2026.
The symposium was held at Trakia University and welcomed a total of approximately 250 participants over the four days. Participants included researchers and students from Kyushu University and Trakia University, as well as the Institute of Science Tokyo, Kumamoto University, the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland), Imperial College London (United Kingdom), and partner institutions of the H2START project led by Trakia University, including BGH2A (Bulgaria), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), and CNR-ITAE (Italy).
Ambassador Chikahisa Sumi of the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria also attended the opening ceremony. Welcome remarks were delivered by Prof. Miroslav Karabaliev, Rector of Trakia University; Ambassador Sumi; and Dr. Koichi Akashi, President of Kyushu University, who delivered a video message. Dr. Akira Ukawa, Director of the WPI Promotion Center, JSPS, also joined the ceremony online.
Scientific sessions began on the afternoon of the first day, featuring presentations on the latest research advances across a wide range of fields related to clean energy conversion and utilization. The sessions stimulated active discussions and exchanges of ideas among participants. Poster sessions and laboratory tours were also organized throughout the symposium, providing valuable opportunities for networking and interaction.
For students and early-career researchers, the symposium offered a valuable opportunity not only to present their own research but also to gain direct exposure to cutting-edge research being conducted around the world through lectures and presentations by researchers from various countries.
Over the four days, the symposium fostered exchanges across disciplines, national borders, and generations. It also provided a valuable opportunity to contribute to the WPI mission of “World-Leading Scientific Excellence and Recognition” and “Values for the Future.”
