EJARN Conference 2026

Day 1 — Tuesday 9 June 2026

Morning - Overseas participants arrive; check-in at college / hotel

12:00 - Registration and sandwich lunch

Darwin College (Hall or Bradfield Court)

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13:00–14:00 - KEYNOTE

"UK relations with Japan and the Indopacific: Managing Insecurity"

John Nilsson-Wright, Cambridge University

Bradfield Court

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14:30–16:00 - Session 1 – Japan’s Defence Transformation and Strategic Posture

Chair: Paul O’Shea, Lund University · Discussant: Michal Kolmaš, Metropolitan University Prague · Bradfield Court

– The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (ASDF) and Defence Transformation: From Defensive Counter Air (DCA) to ‘Airpower’

Chris Hughes, University of Warwick

– Japan’s Grand Strategy: Anchoring in a Hierarchical Alliance

Paul O’Shea, Lund University

– Japan’s Strategic Autonomy in Historical and Contemporary Contexts

Beata Bochorodycz, Adam Mickiewicz University

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16:00–16:30 - Coffee

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16:30–18:00 - Session 2 – Europe, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific Security Order

Chair: Marie Söderberg, EIJS · Discussant: Bart Gaens, Finnish Institute of International Affairs · Bradfield Court

– European Naval Deployments to the Indo-Pacific – From Distant Bystander to Protagonist

Axel Berkofsky, University of Pavia

– Japan and Europe in a Disorderly World: Japan Searching for a New Free and Open Indo-Pacific Order

Garren Mulloy, Daito Bunka University

– Japan’s Security Alignment Policy in the Post-Abe Era: Building Networks of Capability

Bart Gaens & Elena Atanassova-Cornelis

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18:30 - Drinks reception

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19:00 - Conference dinner, Richard King Room

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Day 2 — Wednesday 10 June 2026

09:00–10:30 - Session 3 – Economic Security, Strategic Autonomy, and Industrial Policy

Chair: John Nilsson-Wright, Cambridge University · Discussant: Takahiro Kamisuna, IISS · The Old Library

– Geopolitical Tensions and The Shift to Renewable Energy: Why Japan is Falling Behind While Europe is Forging Ahead

Paul Midford, Meiji Gakuin University

– Revitalising Japan’s Semiconductor Industry for Economic Security

Åsa Malmström Rognes, EIJS

– The Dynamics of EU-Japan Relations in the Indo-Pacific [EJARN Book]

Michal Kolmaš, Metropolitan University Prague

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10:30–11:00 - Coffee

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11:00–12:30 - Session 4 – Technology, AI, and Strategic Connectivity

Chair: Patrik Ström, EIJS · Discussant: Markus Heckel, EIJS · The Old Library

– Space as Hidden but Strategic Connectivity Layer in EU-Japan Relations

Eva Liias, EIJS

– The Role of Japan and Europe in Protecting the Liberal World Order from the Negative Effects of AI Deployment

Wilhelm Vosse, International Christian University & King’s College

– EU-Okinawa Paradiplomacy: Decentering Regional Engagement Initiatives

Ra Mason, University of East Anglia Norwich

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12:30–13:45 - Lunch

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13:45–14:30 - KEYNOTE

Marta Szilagyi, EU External Action Service (EEAS)

The Old Library

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14:30–15:00 - Coffee

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15:00–16:00 - Session 5 – Sustainability, Energy, and Corporate Governance

Chair: Giulia Garbagni, Fitzwilliam College · Discussant: Paul Midford · The Old Library

– Sustainable Consumption and Marketing Strategies: Corporate Perspectives from Germany and Japan

Markus Heckel, EIJS

– Japan’s Digital Preparedness for Society 5.0 – A European Perspective

Richard Nakamura, Patrik Ström & Peter Popovics

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16:00–16:30 - Concluding Session and Next-Steps Discussion

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16:30–16:45 - Short break

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16:45–17:30 - EJARN Members’ Meeting

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Download the conference programme via the link below