The European Interest Group (EIG CONCERT-Japan) is an international joint initiative to promote and strengthen science, technology, and innovation (STI) cooperation between the European region and Japan.

On 29 October 2024, the program held the opening workshop of its 10th joint call for proposals, "Solutions for Carbon Neutral Cities" hosted by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) and the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The event was attended by nearly 50 participants, including six research teams, representatives of funding agencies, and members of the Scientific Committee.

The workshop marked the formal launch of research collaborations under the 10th Joint Call. It provided a platform for project teams to present their objectives and initial plans while fostering interdisciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue. Professor Hiroaki Furumai, JST Programme Officer, chaired the event, ensuring productive discussions throughout the day.

Each of the six research teams was given the opportunity to present their project, outlining their objectives, methodology and expected results. These presentations set the scene for lively discussions, facilitating the exchange of ideas between participants and early-stage collaboration.

In the GREENQUAL consortium, the University of Óbuda (project leader: Dr. Viktória Sugár), F4STER Ltd, Osaka University and the University of Agricultural Sciences in Krakow are working together to investigate the role of green spaces in the dense urban fabric to improve climate resilience, water, soil and air quality.