Japanese text: <a href="https://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/event/2024/11/post-208.html" target="_blank">https://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/event/2024/11/post-208.html</a>

C-FRONT, a collaborative framework of seven national universities and eight institutions in the Tokai region, was established in January 2024. In May of the same year, Shinshu University joined the framework, which was then renamed C²-FRONTS (Tokai-Shinshu National University Collaborative Platform), and began its activities. The primary goal of this framework is to foster innovation and increase the number of talented international students in both the Tokai region and Nagano Prefecture, with the involvement of industry and local governments.

Meanwhile, Shinshu University is strengthening its research capabilities in various fields related to regional environmental regeneration, particularly in Aqua-Regeneration. In December 2023, the university was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities" (J-PEAKS). The university is now promoting three key pillars--research excellence, innovation creation, and regional contribution--in an integrated manner. These efforts are aimed at realizing the university's management vision, "Vision for Greater Shinshu University," which seeks to create new value through cross-prefectural, wide-area collaboration.

Shinshu University's initiatives align closely with the main objectives of C²-FRONTS and are expected to expand beyond Nagano Prefecture and into the Tokai region. Shinshu University has been promoting continuous information exchange with the Central Japan Economic Federation. As a member of C²-FRONTS, the university has been considering holding a symposium on water technology in Nagoya to raise awareness among industries and local governments in the Tokai region.

This symposium will feature an introduction to the water demonstration town initiative, presented by the newly established Institute for Aqua Regeneration at Shinshu University. Shinshu University, in collaboration with C²-FRONTS and the Central Japan Economic Federation, hopes to further increase interest in water technology among industries and local governments in the Tokai region and Nagano Prefecture.