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Finland’s North Karelia Bio Forest Economy Delegation Tours Akita Prefectural University and Its Institute of Wood Technology

Academic and research exchanges and collaborations begin to blossom between Finland (University of Eastern Finland and Natural Resources Institute Finland) and Japan (Akita Prefectural University, Akita International University and Akita University of Art).

By Naomi Moriyama

On March 24, 2025, Professor Katsu Takata, Leader of COI-NEXT SOUZOU NO MORI Project and Director of Institute of Wood Technology, guided UEF’s professors and scientists, LUKE’s scientists, and Business Joensuu’s and Regional Council of North Karelia’s representatives through a day of in-depth tours and discussions at:

  • Akita Prefectural University
  • University’s Institute of Wood Technology

Akita Prefectural University

Dr. Hiroo Fukuda, President, Akita Prefectural University
Akita Prefectural University Campus
Auditorium
Forest Science Department
Library Wooden Interior
“Yes We Can” end-to-end process of wooden architecture
Indoor walkway connecting two buildings; a mechanism for cold winter months
Akita Prefectural University Campus
Akita Prefectural University Campus

Institute of Wood Technology

A cross section of a 253-year-old Akita Cedar inside the foyer of Institute of Wood Technology (IWT)
IWT Showroom: A wooden bench
Professor Daisuke Ando welcoming the North Karelia delegation
Fire prevention technology
IWT Lounge and Library with Gorgeous Wooden Interior
IWT Open Office Area
IWT Skylight
IWT Open Office Area to Lounge
IWT Lounge
IWT Lab
IWT Lab
IWT Fire Lab
IWT Fire Lab
Tested Wood Pieces for Burning Resistance
IWT Wall Burning Unit
IWT Lab
Dr. Firas Hawasly guiding the North Karelia delegation

Photos Naomi Moriyama  写真 森山奈保美

Akita’s COI-Next Souzou no Mori Project: Co-Creating Well-Being through Forest Resources.

Led by Akita’s three public universities, harnessing forest resources for research-driven innovation and human capital development, revitalizing industry and economy, pursuing co-creating well-being
in the local community. https://en.akita-souzounomori.com/

Forest Joensuu is the triple-helix model of Forest Bioeconomy in North Karelia, Finland.

The BIOSYS North Karelia International Growth Ecosystem is run by Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus as a project lead, the Regional Council of North Karelia Pohjois-Karjalan maakuntaliitto, University of Eastern Finland and MKN Itä-Suomi | Rural Women´s Advisory Centre (RWAC) of Eastern Finland. The project is funded by Renewing and Competent Finland 2021–2027, EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme’s Just Transition Fund – JTF, and Regional Council of North Karelia.

Project Profile in Finnish
プロジェクト概要日本語　
Project Profile in English
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For more information, please contact Naomi Moriyama [email protected]