KOKURITSU DAIGAKU HOJIN KYUSHU KOGYO DAIGAKU

Their core work

Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) is a Japanese national technical university based in Kitakyushu, specializing in engineering research across robotics, electrical power systems, and environmental technologies. Through MSCA-RISE staff exchange schemes, they serve as a non-EU knowledge partner bringing Japanese engineering expertise into European consortia. Their contribution spans humanoid robotics for special education, power transformer design with biodegradable fluids, and advanced water treatment using hydrogels and nanofiltration membranes.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 engagement (2017-2019) centered on applied robotics and cyber-physical systems for human-facing applications like special education. From 2019 onward the focus shifted decisively toward sustainable engineering — first into green electrical power infrastructure (biodegradable oils for transformers) and then into environmental remediation (biobased materials, photocatalysis, membrane filtration for water). The trajectory shows a clear pivot from robotics toward materials science and sustainability technologies.

They are moving toward environmental engineering and biobased materials, making them a relevant Japanese partner for European green-tech and circular-economy consortia.

How they like to work

Kyutech participates exclusively as a third-party partner in MSCA-RISE staff exchange projects — a scheme specifically designed to integrate non-EU institutions into European research networks. They never coordinate, but contribute specialist engineering knowledge and host incoming European researchers. Each project brought different consortium partners, suggesting they are recruited for specific technical skills rather than operating inside a single loyal network.

They have collaborated with 31 unique partners across 17 countries through just three projects, indicating broad international reach despite limited H2020 volume. Their network is Europe-centered with Kyutech serving as the Japanese node.

What sets them apart

As a Japanese national engineering university participating in Horizon 2020 through MSCA-RISE, Kyutech offers European consortia a direct bridge to Japanese research culture and industrial engineering expertise — something few EU partners can provide. Their breadth across robotics, electrical engineering, and environmental chemistry means they can plug into consortia on very different technical topics. For coordinators building globally-connected proposals, they function as a ready-made Asian research hub with proven H2020 compliance experience.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CybSPEED
  Unusual combination of humanoid robotics with pedagogical rehabilitation in special education — an applied human-centered use of cyber-physical systems.
• BIOTRAFO
  Targets a specific industrial pain point — replacing mineral oils in power transformers with biodegradable alternatives — with clear commercial relevance to utilities and transformer manufacturers.
• SusWater
  Running through 2026, it combines four distinct water-treatment technologies (hydrogels, photocatalysis, enzymes, nanofiltration) in one integrated approach.