The research team, including dr hab. Marek Matejun, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, dr hab. Bożena Ewa Matusiak, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, and Dr Izabela Różańska-Bińczyk, undertook the internship as part of the implementation of the National Science Centre (NCN) OPUS 24 research project led by dr hab. Marek Matejun, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz.
Participation in the MERC Research Workshop, organised by the Management Education and Research Center (MERC), during which the team presented the results of their ongoing research, was one of the most important elements of the visit. The presentations were accompanied by discussions with staff members and doctoral students from The University of Tokyo, creating opportunities to exchange experiences, compare findings with the perspectives of Japanese researchers, and discuss future research directions and possibilities for scientific cooperation.
The internship programme also included participation in the International Conference on Science and Technology for Sustainability 2026 – “Enhancing Trust in Science: The Role of Science as a Public Good in Policymaking”, organised by the Science Council of Japan. The conference focused on the role of science as a public good, the importance of trust in scientific knowledge, and the use of research findings in policymaking processes and the implementation of sustainable development goals.
Exploring Japanese technological and organisational solutions supporting sustainable business development was another important area of the internship. Members of the team participated in Maintenance & Resilience TOKYO 2026, an event devoted, among other topics, to productivity, sustainability and resilience in manufacturing and construction companies. They also attended Plant Show 2026, which showcased solutions related to the sustainable operation of manufacturing facilities, low-carbon technologies, the circular economy and the digitalisation of industrial processes.
Participation in Tokyo Tech Mixer and Social (Tech / AI / Data / IT) contributed to the development of contacts with the international business and technology community. The event provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and establish connections with professionals working in the fields of new technologies, artificial intelligence, data analytics and information technology.
Another element of the visit was participation in the International Conference on Management, Economics & Social Science, which provided an opportunity to explore current research trends in management, economics and the social sciences while facilitating the international exchange of research experience.
An important part of the internship also consisted of study visits focusing on practical solutions related to the energy transition and sustainable development. During a visit to Tokyo H2 Hub, team members learned about organisational solutions and cooperation models supporting sustainable development, particularly in the areas of public-private collaboration and the implementation of innovations contributing to a low-carbon transition. A visit to the Panasonic Living Showroom at Panasonic Tokyo Shiodome Building provided insights into environmentally friendly technologies and solutions designed to support the creation of more sustainable workplaces.
The internship programme additionally included an activity combining environmental, scientific and cultural perspectives: a visit to the special exhibition “Faces and Flora – Japan’s Native Tree Photography at Koishikawa Botanical Garden”, associated with The University of Tokyo. The exhibition offered an additional opportunity to explore how the significance of nature and native biodiversity is communicated within the Japanese context.
The internship enabled the team to broaden its research perspective in the fields of management and sustainable development, while comparing its ongoing research with the experiences of the Japanese academic and business communities. The visit also created opportunities to develop international research networks and identify new directions for future research and cooperation.
Source and edit: Faculty of Management, University of Lodz
