The Symposium was opened by the President of Hokkaido University Professor Keizo Yamaguch, followed by keynote addressed from the partnering universities: the President of Oulu University, Professor Lauri Lajunen, and the President of Lapland University, professor Mauri Ylä-Kotola. Special addresses were given by His Excellency, Ambassador of Finland to Japan Mr Manu Virtamo and President of UArctic Lars Kulledud. Further, Dr Öyvind Paasche, Director of the Research Area of UArctic, presented UArctic’s research strategy, inviting researchers from Hokkaido University to join in the research networks and other collaborative efforts of UArctic.

The Symposium continues with three sub-symposia on Friday November 1: Analytical approaches toward big data flood of genetic information; How to establish sustainable society and risk management in the boreal coastal zone, Health in an ageing society with a declining fertility.

The next symposium will be hosted by the University of Lapland in Fall 2014.