24/08/2026
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮: 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗩𝗮𝗲𝘀-𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
For decades, Asia was seen primarily as the world's factory floor. Today, it has become one of the world's most dynamic engines of innovation, technological development, and new ideas. Many of the innovations shaping our future are emerging from Asia. What can Europe learn from this transformation? And how can Europe and Asia work together to tackle the technological and societal challenges of the decades ahead?
To explore these questions, Leiden Asia Centre invites you to the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗩𝗮𝗲𝘀-𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, held as part of our 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
This year’s Vaes-Elias Lecture is the first in a series of annual Asia Lectures aiming to underline Leiden University's position as a leading centre of expertise on Asia.
The evening will open with remarks by Professor Luc Sels, president of the Executive Board of Leiden University, who will reflect on the growing importance of Asia knowledge for the Netherlands and Europe and the role of Leiden University in fostering understanding of this rapidly changing region.
The keynote lecture will be delivered by Professor Vinod Subramaniam, President of the Executive Board of the University of Amsterdam and Professor of Biophysics. Drawing on his experience at the intersection of science, innovation, and academia, Prof. Subramaniam will discuss how Europe and Asia can learn from one another in an age of technological transformation and why international knowledge exchange is more important than ever.
Following the lecture, Puneet Shukla, the Regional Head EMEA of Infosys will join Prof. Subramaniam for a moderated 𝗤&𝗔 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲:
17:00 – Welcome reception
17:30 – Opening remarks by Luc Sels
17:45 – Vaes-Elias Lecture by Prof. Dr. Vinod Subramaniam
18:15 – Moderated discussion and Q&A with Puneet Shukla.
19.00 – Closing words
Date: 30 September 2026
Location: Groot Auditorium, Academy Building, Leiden University
The lecture is open to all, but places are limited.
𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻-𝘂𝗽 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸:
https://leidenasiacentre.nl/event/what-europe-can-learn-from-asia-invitation-to-the-2026-vaes-elias-lecture/
