On August 29–30, 2026, we held SS-F Retreat 2026 in Kannai, Yokohama, under the theme “From Idea Sparks to Concrete Collaborations.”
For the first time, SS-F Lighthouse Lab, which opened in April, served as the retreat’s main venue. This year also brought a wider mix of participants: alongside SS-F Inventors, we welcomed NOVA Fellows, Global Science Scholars (GSS) Fellows, and Emerging Researchers from their labs. Bringing together researchers across disciplines, generations, and career stages gave this year’s retreat a different dynamic.
Participants stayed at OMO7 Yokohama, adjacent to BASEGATE, and headed to Yokohama Chinatown together for dinner. Children accompanying their families enjoyed Wonderia, too. With Lighthouse Lab at its heart, the retreat became an opportunity to experience the city together—from Kannai to Chinatown.
New Science in the Spaces Between Sessions
One of the most memorable aspects of this year’s retreat was how conversations about science filled not only the scheduled sessions, but also the spaces between them.
During the Lightning Science Talks, participants shared their research, their current interests, what they wanted to try, and what they needed to move forward. As they learned more about one another through Speed Date and Brainstorm ReMix, those conversations continued well beyond the sessions.
Over coffee, while exploring lab equipment, on the walk to Chinatown, and around the dinner table, one thought led to another: “That technology might work for my research, too.” “What would happen if we combined it with this approach?” “Then we should talk to that person as well.”
Another researcher would join a conversation, bringing a different perspective or area of expertise. A simple question from someone outside the field could prompt a researcher to see their own work differently. Research topics with no previous connection revealed unexpected common ground. These unplanned exchanges sparked new research questions, ideas, and possibilities for collaboration.
Participants reflected on the fresh perspectives they gained from people with different backgrounds, as well as ideas that could lead to their next experiment or a joint research project.
Rather than simply bringing fully formed ideas to share, participants found that talking with others helped their ideas take shape and evolve. Moments like these unfolded throughout Lighthouse Lab.
Coffee Chat — Sustaining a Life in Science and Connecting with Others
During the afternoon coffee break on Day 1, Jun Takahashi of Kyoto University, Vivian Hwa of Osaka University, Jonathan Brassard of McGill University, and SS-F Representative Director Takanori Takebe gathered for a casual Coffee Chat.
The conversation ranged from the relationships that help early-career researchers build their careers to differences in research and healthcare environments in Japan and abroad, the sharing of research data and knowledge, and the role of trust and collaboration in science.
A particularly memorable message was the importance of building connections beyond one’s own lab or institution early in a research career. Drawing on their own experiences, the speakers emphasized that advancing science depends on connecting across countries, organizations, and disciplines, and sharing knowledge and experience with one another.
The conversation reflected the spirit of the retreat itself: Inventors and Emerging Researchers sharing the same space and talking openly about science.
Explore New Technologies — New Tools, New Possibilities
Encounters with new technologies also opened up conversations.
During Explore New Technologies, participants took a closer look at Lighthouse Lab’s research equipment, including the Nikon AXR Confocal Microscope and BD FACSDiscover S8, and exchanged thoughts on their capabilities and potential applications. A demonstration of DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) also took place at YSA.
“What can it measure?” “Could it work for this kind of research?” “What might we learn by combining it with my data?” As participants gathered around the equipment and asked questions, the discussion naturally turned to their own research.
These encounters went beyond learning about new equipment. Thinking about how a technology might fit into their own science helped participants see research possibilities they had not previously considered—and sparked further conversations and ideas.
Time Together Beyond Research
On the morning of Day 2, interested participants joined a workout at YSA’s gym. Taking a brief break from the scientific discussions of the previous day, they began the morning by getting active together.
Sharing coffee, meals, and exercise alongside conversations in the lab helped people get to know one another. Back at Lighthouse Lab, they picked up ideas they had not finished discussing the day before. Moving between research and everyday moments, participants deepened their connections over the two days.
Two Days of “Why Not?” on One Board
What emerged from the retreat was less a collection of finished research plans than a wealth of questions that participants wanted to explore next.
“What if I combined this idea with my research?” “Working with this person, perhaps I could try something I couldn’t do before.” Participants captured ideas and possible next steps from these conversations on their “My Why Not?” Cards.
They also responded to one another’s cards with “I can help / I’d like to explore this with you!” and “I’m curious / I want to hear more!” One person’s question met another’s expertise or curiosity, opening the door to yet another conversation.
By the end of the retreat, these individual questions, ideas, and responses had come together to form the “My Why Not Board.”
The board held the seeds of science sparked over the two days. Some could lead directly to experiments, others might grow into joint research projects, and some were still waiting to take shape.
From Idea Sparks to Concrete Collaborations.
How will the many “Why Not?” questions born from everyday conversations at Lighthouse Lab grow into new science?
The retreat has ended, but the conversations it started are still continuing.
