World Expo Osaka 2025World Expo Osaka 2025

At global showcases such as the World Expo, technological advancements often take centre stage, presenting a vision of hope in which innovation can foster a better, more liveable and more equitable world. To address the urgencies of our time – from ecological crisis to social fracturing – innovation needs to be seen as more than just tools and technologies. It is a cultural, social and behavioural process that calls for deeper reflection on how we think, act and connect.

How can we change our cultural perspective on innovation to encourage meaningful dialogue? Such conversations could explore not only solutions but also the conditions for collective growth and shared understanding.

Diversity, inclusion and equality are often seen as cornerstones of progress. Yet focusing on equality alone can risk overlooking an uncomfortable truth: the world is fundamentally unequal. People and communities are shaped by vastly different circumstances, which in turn influence their opportunities. Recognising these vastly different starting points could be the first step towards meaningful change.

As we explore new ways to tackle global challenges together, how might we move beyond treating everyone the same and instead work to understand and address the inequalities that shape our lives?

The relationship between the Netherlands and Japan reflects the strength of long-term partnerships built on commitment and mutual benefit. While their shared history includes periods of conflict, their bond has evolved over 425 years through cooperation and exchange.

At its heart, this multifaceted relationship is founded on creative collaboration. The exchange of knowledge and skills has led to countless collaborations that have strengthened the cultures and economies of both countries.

As we mark 425 years since the establishment of exclusive trade relations between the Netherlands and Japan, we reflect on the significance of this shared history. From the early exchanges at Dejima to today’s economic and cultural collaborations, this partnership has been shaped by learning and adaptation. Looking ahead, it serves as a model for international cooperation – one that extends beyond these two nations and highlights the importance of mutual respect and shared benefit in a rapidly changing world.

Fostering future generations is essential. It means empowering individuals by equipping them with creativity, skills and the ability to innovate across different fields. This raises the question: how can we create opportunities that not only nurture individual talent but also unite communities through shared learning and collaboration?

The challenge in exploring new educational methods is to create environments that do more than inspire. Cultural spaces offer invaluable opportunities to rethink education. They can move beyond simply passing on knowledge and become dynamic places of co-creation, where learning is inclusive, community-driven and transformative.

Sustainability is a central focus of the Dutch Pavilion. The aim has been to move beyond a distant ideal and to embrace a practical and ongoing commitment to reusing and re-implementing materials. However, sustainability is not simply about conserving resources. It requires a deeper and more holistic re-evaluation of the entire creative, social and political ecosystem. This challenge encourages us to think beyond the mindset of endless growth and consumption. Instead, we could focus on solutions that create lasting value through culture and creativity. What if sustainability involved not only reducing environmental impact or maintaining the status quo but also promoting social justice, economic fairness and cultural regeneration?

There is an urgent need to rethink the relationship between innovation and sustainability. As the final theme of the cultural programme, this reflection brings together concepts of innovation, equality, tradition and future-focused learning.