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On January 13, 2026, Shinshu University concluded a comprehensive cooperation agreement with the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) and Chungnam National University (CNU), Republic of Korea.

This agreement was initiated following a visit in December 2025 by a Shinshu University delegation led by President Soichiro Nakamura, Vice President Shinichi Yonekura, and Vice President Ick-Soo Kim to CNU, one of the University’s partner institutions. During the visit, the two universities exchanged views on expanding areas of academic collaboration. In particular, strong interest was expressed in Shinshu University’s research in the field of Aqua Regeneration (ARG), which the University has identified as a strategic priority. As a result, a trilateral collaboration involving CNU and its close partner, the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), was proposed. The conclusion of this agreement represents an important first step toward realizing this collaboration.

The signing ceremony was held in Daejeon City, where both CNU and K-water are located. In his opening remarks, President Nakamura stated, “Water is not merely a natural resource. On our planet of water, Earth, it forms the foundation that sustains human life and is the most essential element connecting the environment, society, and future generations. In an era marked by accelerating climate change, increasingly frequent water-related disasters, and growing pressures on natural systems, the responsibility to address water-related challenges can no longer be borne by a single nation or institution alone. It has become a global mission.”

Following the ceremony, Distinguished Professor Morinobu Endo of Shinshu University delivered a commemorative lecture entitled “Advancing Innovations in Water Treatment Membranes for the Global Water Resources Era,” as a leading researcher closely involved in the cooperation fields of this agreement. Subsequently, an international joint forum involving the three organizations was held. During the panel discussion, Vice President Ick-Soo Kim participated and proposed the establishment of a trilateral joint research center on water-related studies, which was formally approved.

K-water is a government-affiliated organization engaged not only in water resource management within Korea, but also in water regeneration projects and flood mitigation initiatives worldwide. Through this agreement, Shinshu University is expected to further advance its research in the ARG field—strengthened in recent years under MEXT’s “Promotion of Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities (J-PEAKS)”—and to contribute to international efforts in water regeneration as well as to the resolution of global challenges related to the utilization and control of water resources.