Brussels, Belgium -19 June 2026 - Japan Sport Council (JSC) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) have officially signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic cooperation is set to accelerate international collaborative research in high performance sport by leveraging the respective research capabilities and networks of both organizations.

A New Strategic Research Hub in the Heart of Europe

A cornerstone of this cooperation is an agreement to provide activities which we provisionally call the “JSC HPSC (HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT CENTER) European Research Center on High Performance Sport”, in collaboration with VUB at the VUB Etterbeek campus in Brussels.

Positioned in the capital of the European Union, this collaborative framework will not only facilitate closer bilateral collaboration – enabling mutual access to cutting-edge facilities, supporting joint research, and fostering researcher exchange – but will also aim to enhance connections across European research networks and expand engagement with researchers and institutions.

The signing ceremony took place on Friday 19th June 2026 at VUB Etterbeek campus, Brussels in attendance of H. E. Mr. OSUGA Takeshi, ambassador-designate of Japan to the Kingdom of Belgium.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Jan Dankaert on behalf of VUB, and by Dr. KUKIDOME Takeshi on behalf of JSC.

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Prof. Jan Dankaert, VUB Rector (Left); Dr. Takeshi Kukidome, Vice President of JSC and HPSC High Performance Director (foto: Greetje Van Buggenhout)

Dr. Kukidome, JSC Vice President and HPSC High Performance Director: "It is a great honor to formalize this MoU between JSC and VUB in this milestone year marking the 160th anniversary of Japan-Belgium diplomatic relations. This partnership lays a critical foundation for the HPSC European Research Center at the VUB campus, driving international collaborative research and expanding our global research networks. In collaboration with VUB, which shares our values, we will promote new research in high performance sport and extend these outcomes into life performance, actively pursuing our vision “From High Performance to Life Performance,” thereby enabling the social implementation of our research to resonate widely. Together with VUB, we are committed to generating new knowledge in sport science, fostering the next generation of researchers, and contributing to international society through high performance sport. We are confident that we can build a partnership that delivers long-term value for athletes, researchers, and society."
Prof. Dankaert, VUB Rector: "We are honored to establish this structural bridge between Asia and Europe alongside the Japan Sport Council. By combining our interdisciplinary sports science expertise and regional networks with the JSC’s incredible high-performance infrastructure, we are creating a unique collaborative ecosystem. This hub will not only foster breakthroughs in elite athletic support but will also actively translate these scientific advancements into broader societal benefits, perfectly mirroring our shared commitment to public value and life performance."

About Japan Sport Council (JSC)

Established in 2003, the Japan Sport Council is the national agency responsible for the promotion of sports in Japan. Japan High Performance Sport Center (HPSC) within the JSC consist of Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS) and National Training Centers (NTC), and closely works with Japanese Olympic Committee and Japanese Paralympic Committee.

HPSC is a center established to contribute to the enhancement of h igh-performance sports for both Olympic and Paralympic sports at home and abroad by providing research, support, and advanced scientific training environments, based on sports medicine, science, and information possessed by JISS and NTC. We set forth the concept “from High Performance to Life Performance,” as it is important to widely deploy knowledge gained in the area of high performance to society.

About the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

VUB is a public research university located in Brussels, Belgium. Based in the capital of the European Union, VUB is actively engaged in international research collaboration through its participation in European research programs and its extensive network of universities, research institutes, and international organizations.

In the field of sport science and related disciplines, VUB conducts interdisciplinary research integrating sport science, health, and social sciences, contributing to international collaboration and knowledge development in high performance sport.

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