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The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation invites early career researchers in the fields of engineering and applied sciences to apply to participate in a symposium jointly organised with the Engineering Academy of Japan, the Volkswagen Foundation, DWIH Tokyo and acatech.
The symposium aims to incentivise and establish international engagement and collaboration between early career researchers working in Germany and Japan on a broad range of disciplines, thereby encouraging the exchange of ideas across disciplinary and national boundaries. From November 25 to 28, 2025, participants will gather in Tokyo, Japan.
During the three days, participants will engage in cross-disciplinary discussions about the two session topics and their interlinkages. There will be considerable time for networking among all 30 researchers. All participants will have the opportunity to present their work with a poster. The Engineering Academy of Japan will also offer exclusive guided tours and panels discussions with the sponsor companies, such as DMG Mori Tokyo Global Solution Center.
After the symposium, all participants can apply for funding through the follow-up programme CONNECT to carry out future joint research activities with participants from the partner country.
Thematic focus
New technologies can emerge from novel materials created out of curiosity while innovative engineering systems often require new advanced materials. Advanced materials play a crucial role in sustainability by enabling energy-efficient technologies, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing resource efficiency across various industries. Simultaneously, society also has to adapt to sustainable systems, and social implementation needs to be considered when introducing new advanced materials. This symposium will aim to promote the overarching discussion from sustainable materials and systems to their practical applications and implementations in society. In particular, two sessions will be organized from two different perspectives: Bottom up from new materials with novel properties and functions to their technological applications, and top down from innovative engineering systems and their requirements to design of necessary materials. This symposium will tackle circular materials and materials systems from different angles with speakers and participants with a broad range of backgrounds, linking research in engineering from academia to industry.
The symposium will focus on the following topics:
Topic 1: Multifunctional and sustainable materials for the future
- Development of materials: Creation and exploration of novel materials, improvement of known materials
- Mechanisms of functions and designs for sustainability
- Sustainable fabrication processes for advanced materials, including the use of sustainable raw materials
- Integration of multiple functionalities, e.g. sensing properties, acting properties
- Implementation of materials, e.g. stimuli-responsive materials for sensing
- Creation of new technologies based on new materials
Topic 2: Sustainable engineering systems and their social implementation
- Requirements of sustainable engineering systems
- Strategies to reduce impact of innovation on the planet, e.g. mono-material design to use less resources, recycling streams, upcycling
- Challenges of functional integration regarding their industry application, e.g. predictive maintenance, financial, supply chain
- Needs for social implementation of sustainable materials, e.g. consumer acceptance, securing of workplaces
CONNECT
To encourage and support long-term collaboration and networking, participants may apply for the follow-up programme CONNECT, offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. All participants are eligible to apply after the symposium. The funding is designed to facilitate collaborations that arise directly from the symposium. CONNECT provides residence allowances for short working visits up to 30 days to Germany or Japan that can be taken up at any time following the symposium.
Eligibility requirements for researchers from Germany/Japan
Participants must
- work at either a national research institution, university or private company
- Scholars working on their Ph.D. should be in the final stages of the process
- Post-doctoral scholars should have completed their Ph.D. within the last 10 years
- be based in Germany or Japan,
- be fluent in spoken and written English.
Participants must attend the entire symposium. A pre-meeting will also be held in Germany and in Japan in September. For participants in Germany, the meeting will be held during the first week of September. For participants in Japan, the meeting is planned for mid-September.
Researchers at all career stages are eligible to apply provided that they
- are based in Germany,
- work at research institutions in Germany,
- have completed a PhD within the last 15 years,
- are fluent in spoken and written English.
Participants are expected to attend the entire symposium. Attending the event in its entirety is mandatory in order to meet the requirements to apply for the Humboldt Foundation’s CONNECT programme.
Application process
Applications may be submitted using this online application form until June 29, 2025. Only applications received within this deadline will be considered. Submitting an application does not guarantee participation in the JAGFOE symposium. Applicants will be notified in August 2025 if they have been selected to participate.
Applications must be in English.
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Proven research interest and/or experience in at least one of the session topics of the symposium
- Commitment to and experience in interdisciplinary research activities
- Added value of the symposium to applicant’s academic career development
Logistics
Date of Symposium: November 25, 2025 (begins in the evening) until November 28, 2025 (ends early afternoon)
Venue: KKR Hotel, Tokyo, Japan
Accommodation: The Engineering Academy of Japan will reserve rooms for all participants at the KKR Hotel Tokyo and will cover hotel expenses for three nights from November 25 to 28, 2025. Transfer between the conference venue and the hotel will be provided. Expenses for meals for the duration of the symposium will be covered by the Engineering Academy of Japan.
Travel Expenses: Participants from Germany will receive a travel allowance from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The amount of this travel allowance will be announced in August 2025 and will be based on the average economy class airfare, including transfer costs and other additional costs. Participants will make their travel bookings individually using the travel allowance. The amount of the travel allowance will be transferred after participation in the symposium.
Participants from Japan will receive information regarding their travel costs from the Engineering Academy of Japan.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact
- For applicants based in Germany: Luisa Golfier, luisa-antonia.golfier[at]avh.de
- For applicants based in Japan: Miwa Sasaki, miwa.sasaki.japon[at]gmail.com