Japan–Germany Frontiers of Engineering Symposium – Bridging Excellence for the Next Generation

Tokyo, 25 November 2025

The inaugural Japan–Germany Frontiers of Engineering Symposium (JAGFOE) took place from 25 to 28 November 2025 in Tokyo, bringing together 30 outstanding early-career researchers from Germany and Japan. Under the overarching theme “Advanced Materials and Systems for Sustainable Society,” participants engaged in interdisciplinary discussions on innovative materials and sustainable engineering systems. In addition to high-level thematic sessions and poster presentations, the bilateral symposium was shaped by panel discussions with funding organisations, site visits, and a wide range of formal and informal networking formats.

The Japan–Germany Frontiers of Engineering Symposium was jointly initiated by the Engineering Academy of Japan and, and implemented in close cooperation with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Volkswagen Foundation, and the German Centre for Research and Innovation Tokyo.

Bringing together around 30 selected early-career researchers from both countries, JAGFOE provided a platform for presenting research from a broad range of engineering and technological disciplines. The scientific programme was structured around thematic sessions on multifunctional materials, sustainable engineering systems, and systemic transformation processes, complemented by interdisciplinary poster sessions in which all participants presented and discussed their work. Panels with representatives of funding and science organisations, visits to industrial and innovation-related facilities, and diverse networking opportunities further enriched the programme.

Scientific leadership of the symposium was provided by German–Japanese Co-Chairs from academia and the academies. On the German side, the Co-Chair Dr. Sarah Fischer was nominated by Frank Mücklich, acatech member and internationally renowned materials scientist. This nomination highlights acatech’s active role in shaping the academic orientation, quality assurance, and strategic development of the JAGFOE format.

A distinctive feature of JAGFOE was its structured preparatory phase. Prior to the symposium, a dedicated pre-meeting was held at acatech in Munich, enabling the German participants to become acquainted, align expectations, and prepare specifically for the bilateral exchange. In addition to scientific topics, the discussions addressed intercultural aspects of collaboration as well as the science- and innovation-policy context of German–Japanese cooperation.

Beyond its intensive scientific exchange, JAGFOE also served as a platform for bilateral science diplomacy. By linking excellent research with dialogue on innovation systems, institutional frameworks, and societal challenges, the symposium fostered mutual understanding, trust, and long-term perspectives for German–Japanese cooperation. For acatech, JAGFOE represents an important element of its commitment to supporting researchers in early career phases and an example of how international excellence-driven formats can sustainably contribute to networking the next generation of engineers.