DWIH-Jahresbericht 2023

Resilient in word and deed: a look at the development of the network of the German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) in 2023.

One of the remarkable strengths of the worldwide network of the German Centres for Research and Innovation is its ability to address global challenges from diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives. This was particularly evident during the DWIH’s 2023 focus topic “The Resilient Society”, as noted by Tabea Kaiser, the Head of the DWIH Section at the DAAD: “It was immensely enriching to witness the various DWIH sites addressing different aspects of the broad concept of resilience. Moreover, the network as a whole demonstrated impressive resilience itself amidst the geopolitical challenges it currently faces as an organisation.”

Networking under difficult conditions

This encompasses events such as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which dominated global political headlines in 2023. “The continued operation of our DWIH in Moscow despite severe restrictions is itself a testament to resilience,” says Dr Ursula Paintner, who is responsible for the DWIH as Director Communications at the DAAD. Despite the constraints, regular network meetings persist under the DWIH’s guidance, facilitating information exchange among German supporter organisations about the situation in Russia. This ongoing communication with Russian scientists exemplifies the spirit of science diplomacy.

Overall, the DWIH demonstrated collaborative approaches to address global crises by engaging researchers across various events at the different sites. Understanding “resilience” solely as the ability to adapt to stressful situations is inadequate: in its original psychological context, the term signifies the capacity to overcome crises and emerge stronger. “The key is not only to respond appropriately to challenges but also to leverage difficult circumstances as opportunities to develop innovative solutions to future problems,” explains Tabea Kaiser. “The DWIH excel in this aspect because their global presence allows them to draw on a very wide range of varied and complementary perspectives and expertise.”

Diverse perspectives

DWIH Tokyo showcased the diverse perspectives through its event on the subject of space debris, expanding to the discourse on increasing resilience through sustainable action, particularly focusing on the area of low-Earth orbit. With thousands of satellites crucial to modern societies’ functioning, the potential consequences of their failure are dire. Essential services like communication, navigation, weather forecasting, and disaster warnings rely on these satellites. However, the increasing number of small objects in near-Earth space poses a significant threat, as even minor collisions at high speeds can be catastrophic.

Meanwhile, the DWIH New York programme addressed systemic crises such as climate change and how they impact on political systems. New Delhi and São Paulo focussed on fostering science-based start-up cultures, which play a vital role in enhancing overall social resilience. DWIH San Francisco emphasized the importance of striking a balance between innovation and social responsibility as a fundamental requirement for resilience.

Is artificial intelligence making us more resilient?

The DWIH network’s current focus topic in 2024, artificial intelligence, continues a key theme from 2023, says Ursula Paintner. “In terms of our resilience to global crises, the fascinating but unresolved question is whether AI makes us more or less resilient.” While artificial intelligence holds promises for great achievements in medical research, it also carries the potential for destruction, particularly when utilized in political disinformation campaigns or armed conflict. “In light of such developments, it may be time to reconsider our understanding of resilience,” Paintner suggests.

Klaus Lüber

Interdisciplinary collaboration on resilience explores a wide range of perspectives: a look at the countries where the German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) are based and their unifying theme for 2023 – “The Resilient Society”.

What makes a society resilient? There are many answers to this question, none of them definitive. The concept of resilience, which had essentially been coined in psychology and has been applied to many other fields, including physics, sociology and medicine, is too complex to be easily defined. Science is not only concerned with investigating the topic, but it can also specifically promote resilience and support it through innovation. A look at Germany’s research landscape and its global connections shows that the search for resilience is a key theme in international partnerships.

In Germany, policymakers are drawing on the expertise of scientists and scholars to build resilient structures. In March 2024, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz appointed the members of Germany’s new Expert Council on “Health and Resilience”. Established as a successor to the Covid-19 Expert Council which met for the last time in April 2023, the new advisory body will use scientific research to examine how the healthcare system and society can be best equipped to deal with future crises, “not least in view of the consequences of climate change and demographic developments”, as Scholz emphasised. This new advisory council is a good example of just how interdisciplinary collaboration on resilience can work: the appointed experts come from a wide range of backgrounds, including public health, ethics, modelling and social sciences. There is an obvious need to bring together different areas of expertise in the pursuit of protection and stability.

International partnerships are key

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the flood disaster in Central Europe in 2021 and the consequences of climate change, the “German Strategy to Strengthen Resilience to Disasters” was formulated in 2022: “Particularly in high-tech societies interwoven in global trade, the consequences for all areas of life and our community have become much more complex: loss of human life and livelihoods, significant economic, social and environmental damage as well as threats to critical infrastructure.” Global interdependence in the face of crises and disasters means that international cooperation is needed in response. No society can achieve resilience in isolation, shielded by national borders. Dialogue with partners around the world is required to combine the best ideas and solutions.

In the field of renewable energy, for example, we see how international partnerships contribute to a sustainable security of supply. Because they are potentially inexhaustible, renewables can make an energy system more resilient. Brazil has exceptional resources in areas such as wind, solar and biomass, but the South American country also needs to diversify its range of renewable energy sources. The German-Brazilian Energy Partnership – a forum that brings together the private sector, policymakers and academic researchers – is working to address these issues. The partner countries are pursuing developments in the field of green hydrogen and are seeking to strengthen digitalisation and networks with the aim of increasing energy efficiency. They are deliberately focusing innovation on stabilising energy supplies.

A collaborative approach to multiple stress tests

The challenge of organising development in a dynamic and sustainable manner is a significant one for the mobility sector, too. As the world’s most populous country, India is particularly familiar with the relevant issues in this field. Indian know-how complements the expertise available in the German research scene: the two have been brought together in the well-established cooperation between the Technical University of Munich and the Indian Institutes of Technology Bombay and Kharagpur respectively. Their focus is not only on mobility and transport but also on climate, environment and energy. Collaborative activities range from anticipating new mobility solutions and safety testing of automated vehicles through to reducing energy consumption in the transport sector. The example of Indo-German cooperation illustrates how important forward-looking research can be in preparing for the future.

One aspect of this future is indisputable: it is highly digital. Groundbreaking developments in artificial intelligence, in particular, are testing the resilience of modern societies. How can we harness the benefits of these developments while at the same time effectively countering the dangers of manipulation and loss of control? This is also the matter of heated debate in the US,– not least because of the tense political climate. From the multicultural “world capital” of New York on the East Coast to the Californian innovation hotspot of Silicon Valley, many digital trends have their origins in America. While the US is a technology leader in many areas, it is also keen to build partnerships in its quest for digital security and cyber resilience. The US and the European Union are currently intensifying their collaboration on a free and secure cyberspace that respects human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Benefits of global cooperation for individuals and societies

Ultimately, the protection of individuals is crucial to maintaining the resilience of a society. The German-Japanese exchange, in its particularly striking diversity, shows what is important when it comes to dealing with an ageing population or the potential threat of pandemics. The German Institute for Japanese Studies addresses both of these issues with its research focus on “Sustainability and Resilience”. How societies organise modern urban communities is another focus of the German-Japanese dialogue. In Japan and around the world, it is becoming increasingly clear that there may be no simple answers to the questions of resilience. However, we are most likely to find solutions for the future if our search is not restricted by national borders or by disciplinary boundaries.

Johannes Göbel

“2023 was a particularly successful year for DWIH New Delhi because we managed to significantly increase the visibility of our activities for Indo-German cooperation in research and innovation in Germany. Our increased on-site presence in Germany – among others an incubators workshop with delegates from India – enabled us to achieve a whole new level of mutual awareness and networking. This aligns with our established position in India, where DWIH New Delhi is now recognised at a high government level as an expert in knowledge and technology transfer in the field of science-based start-ups. Our active involvement in the Startup20 Summit during India’s G20 presidency in 2023 reflects this. We have strategically worked towards achieving this position and our efforts had a clearly visible impact in 2023. A 360-degree perspective is crucial in all our activities: we never solely focus on a single event but always on a comprehensive strategy, including networking and communication. We implement topics long term and explore its various aspects and perspectives.”

In 2023, the DWIH New Delhi particularly focused on strengthening international knowledge and technology transfer between India and Germany while expanding its network of drivers of innovation from academia, business and politics.

DWIH New Delhi’s Outreach in Germany

In June 2023, as a part of the established ‘Incubators Connect’ series, four workshops took place in Germany. These workshops brought together twelve representatives of Indian institutions that support research based start-ups with 40 participants from the German start-up ecosystem.

The workshops were organised by DWIH New Delhi in collaboration with KIT Gründerschmiede – the start-up support unit at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology –, the Entrepreneurship Hub at TU Braunschweig and Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, and also Science & Startups, a consortium of universities in Berlin. “By bringing together numerous institutional representatives and political decision-makers from all over Germany with participants from India, we facilitated access for Indian incubators to relevant German networks,” explains Aadishree Jamkhedkar, Head of Programmes at DWIH New Delhi. In Germany, DWIH New Delhi also participated in the EXIST workshop for transfer centres, where it offered a workshop on recruitment and support for international start-ups. This was the first time that the DWIH New Delhi organised onsite events in Germany, a whole new level of engagement. According to Dr Katja Lasch, Director of DWIH New Delhi, “we were able to increase the visibility of the DWIH New Delhi and developments in the Indian science-based start-up sector”.

Expertise for Startup20 Summit

“The expertise we have built up over the years clearly paid off in 2023,” says DWIH Director Dr Katja Lasch. She was appointed as Co-Chair of International Alliances task force of the G20 Startup Engagement Group. Her work in 2023 and involvement in strategic papers led to some of DWIH New Delhi’s recommendations being included in the final communiqué issued at the Startup20 summit. At the G20 Startup Summit, organised by the Indian government, Dr Lasch contributed perspectives from Germany and shared experiences in establishing a German-Indian corridor for science-based entrepreneurship.

In dialogue with Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck

The DWIH New Delhi’s efforts in connecting start-up ecosystems internationally is recognised at the German government level. At the request of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the DWIH supported an interview session for the Minister with science-based start-up founders in AI and climate action. This session was held at the BASF Innovation Campus in Mumbai during Minister Robert Habeck’s visit to India in July 2023. “We nominated the start-ups for the event through our strong incubator network in India,” says Aadishree Jamkhedkar. “The event aligned with our strategy of approaching topics such as entrepreneurship from multiple perspectives using innovative, communicative formats.”

Science Circle Lecture on the UN Ocean Decade

Against the background of the ongoing United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Climate Change Conference (Conference of the Parties – COP) in Dubai, DWIH New Delhi organised an event in December 2023 as a part of its established Science Circle Lecture series. The focus was on the project “DITTO – The Digital Twins of the Ocean”, by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Kiel University. This project involves developing a tool that creates “what-if” scenarios based on a data twin of the current situation. The presentation provided information on how DITTO enables ecological predictions on topics ranging from fisheries to marine tourism, and contributes to the development of a sustainable “blue economy“.

Fireside chat on research clusters

The Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India is promoting the formation of research and technology clusters – as is the Clusters4Future Initiative run by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF). In light of these initiatives, in March 2023 DWIH New Delhi organised an online dialogue addressing topics such as structures, financing and international orientation of these research clusters. This fireside chat resulted from discussions with the Office of the PSA over the last two years and a keen interest in organising an exchange on this topic, emphasises Aadishree Jamkhedkar.

Bettina Mittelstraß

DWIH New Delhi facilitated interdisciplinary dialogue on the transformation of the transport and energy sector in two interlinked events – the Indo-German Forum and a workshop for early career researchers.

How will people and goods get from A to B in the cities of the future? How will traffic and transport systems work? How can urban mobility be planned in a way to reduce emissions, respond proactively to climate change and enable sustainable coexistence? These are crucial questions societies face worldwide – especially in India, where cities are rapidly expanding into megacities, and in Germany, where the political agenda focuses on transitioning from combustion engines to electric cars, along with the necessary infrastructure expansion. The topic is highly relevant in both countries – necessitating innovative ideas – reason enough for DWIH New Delhi to bring together a range of different research approaches to sustainable urban mobility.

“The research topic of ‘sustainable urban mobility’ provided an ideal starting point for interdisciplinary work with a long-term perspective,” says Dr Katja Lasch, Director of DWIH New Delhi. Not only did it align with DWIH’s 2023 focus topic “The resilient society”, but it also built on the previous year’s theme of green hydrogen, while establishing connections to the upcoming DWIH focus topic on Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Our experience has always been very positive when we don’t necessarily start entirely from scratch but pick up on thematic aspects from past years and build further on these,” says Dr Lasch. This enhances networks that are already established.

Holistic perspective and design thinking

DWIH New Delhi organised two interconnected events in 2023 focusing on sustainable urban mobility. The first event, the Indo-German Forum, an established flagship format, was held as a hybrid event in March 2023. Simultaneously, a five-day workshop for doctoral students and postdocs titled “Integrated Engineering for Future Urban Mobility” was conducted. Both events approached the topic from a 360-degree perspective.

The Indo-German Forum served as a productive gathering of researchers, decision-makers and other experts from India and Germany. They discussed possible measures and applications based on a wide range of insights. “Perspectives from political science were crucial here, as was the systemic view,” notes Katja Lasch. Discussions revolved around: how AI can be used for integrated mobility and energy systems and shaping governance for sustainable urban mobility.

For the first time, the workshop for doctoral students and postdocs was based on a completely new concept: the 24 early-career academics from India and Germany not only presented their research on the topic, they also spent two and a half days in mixed teams with a professional trainer from Germany engaging in a design thinking process and working interactively on solutions for future-oriented urban mobility. The teams benefited from the participants’ diverse research background – including transport and urban planning, materials science and battery research, and AI – while receiving support from Indian and German professors who validated their initial ideas. The professional networking of early-career academics in an application-oriented work process acted as catalyst for new ideas. On the fourth day, participants joined a panel at the Indo-German Forum. “It was particularly important to us to involve early-career investigators in the relevant networks,” says Dr Katja Lasch. The workshop ended with four groups pitching their new ideas for joint research projects.

For this event, DWIH New Delhi collaborated with the German TU9 universities, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which comprises 43 research institutes. “Working with these partner institutions, we established a working group of experts ahead of the workshop with whom we developed the call and organised subject-specific inputs,” says Dr Katja Lasch. This strategic approach has proven highly effective for DWIH New Delhi.

Cooperation with partner institutions enabled the recruitment of participants from Germany who had had no previous connection with India.

Bettina Mittelstraß

In order to enhance our resilience in the face of global crises, it is imperative that we adopt an international, interdisciplinary approach. This was one of the key findings to emerge from the numerous DWIH New York events in 2023 that took an in-depth look at the DWIH’s focus topic “The Resilient Society”.

Individual, social and digital resilience

At its inaugural event on the focus topic of “The Resilient Society” on March 8, 2023, DWIH New York explored a broad spectrum of ways in which technological innovations can impact on society, with experts from the fields of IT and climate research participating in the dialogue. “It was especially interesting to observe how even at that early stage, ethical and moral considerations were already of great importance to the computer scientists,” recalls Dr. Jan Lüdert, Head of Programs at DWIH New York. “At that juncture, the fervour surrounding artificial intelligence had not yet reached its zenith.” The event was organized in cooperation with the Hasso Plattner Institute Potsdam, which was represented by its then director Professor Christoph Meinel.

The social implications of decarbonization

Is the 1.5-degree target set down in the Paris Agreement still achievable? A study published in 2023 by the Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS) at the University of Hamburg raises concerns. According to the authors, the necessary transformation lacks sufficient societal support and factors such as the war in Ukraine are making it more challenging to maintain progress. At the event “Shaping Climate Futures: The Social Drivers of Deep Decarbonization” on May 16, 2023, representatives of the CLICCS met with climate experts based in the US to discuss potential strategies for halting climate change. In contrast with the study’s conclusions, there was a very high level of social awareness of climate issues at the event. “At that time New York was struggling with heavy rainstorms,” reports DWIH Head of Programs Jan Lüdert. “So, the audience was acutely aware of the drastic effects of climate change, which they were already witnessing.” Lüdert asserts that New Yorkers, in particular, demonstrate impressive personal initiative, a conclusion that was corroborated during the discussion, too. He further observed, “This event enabled us to establish a very interesting link between research and society.”

FUTURE FORUM 2023: interdisciplinary cooperation

It’s the flagship event of the DWIH New York: once a year the FUTURE FORUM discusses the current DWIH focus topic in its entirety. On October 19 and 20, 2023, experts came together in Manhattan to address social resilience in a total of five thematic areas: global security and crisis governance, climate change (including the subsidiary aspects of biodiversity and planetary health), energy sources and raw materials, cybersecurity, and finally the question of how the multiple crises affect individuals and their role in a democracy. “Our aim was to highlight the intersectionality of all the different areas and to show that the answer to overcoming our current challenging global situation lies in cooperation between the various disciplines,” explains Head of Programs Lüdert.

Resilience training in the digital city

The theme of the event entitled “From Pixels to Progress” which took place on October 28, 2023, at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge was how digital tools can help cities reduce their environmental footprint. The invited experts were Dr. Hilke Marit Berger and Rico Herzog, both of whom are researchers at the City Science Lab, HafenCity University Hamburg. In collaboration with the MIT Media Lab, the Hamburg experts have developed “Urban Digitope” – an educational game about urban development as impacted by climate change. It combines both analogue and digital elements. “This worked very well in our workshop, too,” says Jan Lüdert, who found the subsequent shared reflection on the role of digital technologies in adapting to climate change to be particularly enriching. “We talked about what perspectives and partnerships are needed to navigate between naïve tech optimism and critical reflection when it comes to ensuring the resilience of cities in the future.”

Avoiding tipping points

The study “Interconnected Disaster Risks” is one of the most important scientific publications produced each year by the United Nations University in Bonn, with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Last year’s main report focused on the common causes and effects of future so-called “risk tipping points” – critical thresholds that indicate severe and, in some cases, irreversible imminent changes. In order to avoid such events, the experts analyze the causes of certain extreme weather situations to derive potential courses of action in the event of similar constellations in the future. “This was an important event for us to engage in dialog with multilateral players,” says Jan Lüdert. Other participants included Melissa Fleming, Head of Global Communications at the United Nations, and Professor René Haak, Head of the Science & Technology Section at the German Embassy in Washington.

Klaus Lüber

“For decades, San Francisco and the Bay Area have been globally recognized for their groundbreaking innovations. In 2023, one subject in particular shaped the public perception of the region as a hub of exceptional research and revolutionary applications: artificial intelligence (AI). Here, it is extraordinary to witness the rapid pace at which research findings are translated into applications, along with the close-knit and often highly interdisciplinary connections between industry and research. Many researchers in San Francisco and the Bay Area are aware of the responsibility involved in the developing of innovative AI technologies: they’re now addressing ethical issues, risks, human rights and other concerns at an early stage, which I find greatly impressive. I see significant links to science and innovation in Germany, particularly in the automotive sector, in the life sciences and climate and environmental technologies. There are fascinating examples of collaboration in these areas. The DWIH plays a crucial role here as a facilitator, bringing together key experts through our efforts.”

DWIH San Francisco’s rich and expanding network is a valuable resource for innovators on both sides of the Atlantic.

Roundtable on the life sciences

CRISPR/Cas9, a tool developed by Professor Emmanuelle Charpentier (Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens) and Professor Jennifer Doudna (UC Berkeley) is a profound accomplishment in the life sciences. To showcase cutting-edge life sciences research in this region, DWIH SF held a “Roundtable for Entrepreneurship & Research in the Life Sciences” on March 7, 2023. Among the participants was Enrique Lin Shiao, Ph.D., a scientist who worked in genome editing at the Doudna Lab and is currently a venture capital investor in biotechnology sector. At the roundtable, he discussed his experience in the research ecosystems in Germany and the USA. The event was organized in connection with the visit by Mario Brandenburg, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Partnership for cyber security

With the increase in cyber-attacks, new technologies can increase a country’s internal and external security. In 2023, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI), the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Agency for Innovation in Cybersecurity GmbH (Cyber Agency) focused on the solutions that already exist in San Francisco and the Bay Area and which ideas have significant potential. An event was held on September 8, 2023, at the residence of the German Consul General in San Francisco to mark the start of this collaboration. The results of the cooperation will inform decision-making on funding research. “We’re getting together to enable development and market access in the area of cybersecurity-focused products and services – on the other side of the Atlantic as well,” said BSI President Claudia Plattner.

Focus on science communication

Nobel laureate Randy Schekman (UC Berkeley) was keynote speaker at the symposium “Science Communication – Changes in the Relationship between Science and Society”, which was held at the University of California Berkeley and supported by the DWIH San Francisco. Schekman raised concerns about how publicly funded research is published in for-profit journals that restrict access by imposing prohibitively expensive paywalls. He also discussed the enormous pressure on researchers to publish, which can sometimes negatively impact the quality of research. In a concluding panel, participants discussed the importance of cooperation between researchers and journalistic media. In summary, René Haak, Head of the Science and Technology Section at the German Embassy in Washington, noted that targeted communication can have a key impact on the integrity of science.

New paths with AI in medicine

How can bone diseases be recognized early, for example better predicting bone fractures? This is the focus of a cooperation between Kiel University (CAU) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). “This joint project involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze thousands of images from Germany and San Francisco, providing insights into the risk of bone disease, for example,” explained Zahar Barth-Manzoori, Director of the DWIH San Francisco. Following the launch of the project in June 2023, an international conference on the topic took place from October 3 to 5, 2023, supported by DWIH San Francisco. Researchers from Kiel University, the UCSF Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Department and the Hyperpolarized MRI Technology Resource Center (HMTRC) at UCSF took part.

Innovations to strengthen resilience

A joint webinar “How Innovation Supports Resilience in Higher Education” held by DWIH in San Francisco and New York on November 8, 2023, addressed the question of how education and research can boost a society’s resilience to crises. The participants of the webinar discussed the responsibility of universities and research institutions in times of rapid technological progress. Dr. Julia Schaletzky, Executive Director of the Harry Wheeler Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases (CEND) at the University of California Berkeley, highlighted the intense dialog between basic research and industry in the Bay Area. She noted that a resilient society must balance innovation and social responsibility. Dr. Joann Halpern, Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) in New York, advocated for design thinking as a method to strengthen resilience, as it focuses on people and their current needs. She emphasized that such solutions adapt to dynamic changes, thereby strengthening resilience.

Clara Krug

DWIH São Paulo in 2023 addressed both the resilience of democracy in turbulent times and the transdisciplinary search for innovation. It also focused on how DWIH supporters can continue to network, not only with each other, but also with Brazilian institutions.

Roundtable: Boosting a Democratic Culture of Dialogue

The 2022 presidential election further polarised Brazilian society. One low point here was the storming of the Brazilian parliament by supporters of the ousted right-wing populist president Jair Bolsonaro in January 2023. “Dialogue and debate are crucial for academic freedom and innovation, but the charged atmosphere makes the situation more difficult,” says Marcio Weichert, Head of Programmes at DWIH São Paulo. A panel discussion organised by DWIH São Paulo at the 75th Annual Conference of the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC) in July 2023 addressed how science and education can help overcome prejudice and hatred in Germany and Brazil. Speakers included Professor Monika Oberle, Chair of the Academic Advisory Board of the German Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), social historian Professor Michel Gherman of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), and Dr Jochen Hellmann, Director of DWIH São Paulo. “The event demonstrated the importance of political education in creating a culture of dialogue and a resilient democracy,” says Marcio Weichert. At a young age, people need to be taught the ability to critically examine information and discuss it objectively – even with those who hold opposing views. The roundtable attracted a lot of interest among conference attendees: “We made a lot of new contacts at this event,” says Weichert.

Workshop for Supporters

Another highlight was a “Brazil Week” organised by DWIH São Paulo for its supporters at the end of March 2023. The programme mainly consisted of the Advisory Board meeting, as well as a workshop on the role and perspectives of the DWIH, which was attended by the representatives of nine of the ten main supporters and eleven of the 17 associated German universities and academic organisations. “Previously, we asked supporters about their goals and how satisfied they were with our programme work – and the results were very positive,” says Marcio Weichert. DWIH supporters are mainly seeking to establish and expand cooperation with partners in Brazil and Latin America in general, and to increase their own visibility in the region. They would also like to collaborate more with other German institutions active in Brazil in order to be able to maximise synergies. The workshop contributed significantly to this goal, says Weichert: “The days we spent together and the interesting discussions we engaged in definitely gave our cooperation a new impetus and greatly strengthened the network.” The week was rounded off by two information events on university study and research in Germany, both of which were well attended by both supporters and the general public, and an academic symposium was also held.

“Klimapolis” Symposium

In the context of the BMBF-funded interdisciplinary research project “Klimapolis” (Network on Urban Climate, Water and Air Pollution: Modelling, Planning, Monitoring, Social Learning) a symposium was held in Natal in April 2023. It was organised by the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and the University of Cologne together with Brazilian partners, and co-funded by the DWIH São Paulo. With representatives of local authorities, researchers from the fields of climatology, urban planning and the social and environmental sciences from Brazil and Germany discussed the specific challenges that climate change poses for cities. “At the DWIH we work at the interface between science and society to ensure that research findings reach decision-makers in politics, business and administration,” says Marcio Weichert.

Startup Competition for a Resilient Society

In November 2023, the German start-up Colipi won the “Resilient Society” competition sponsored by DWIH São Paulo as part of the “Startups Connected” programme of the German-Brazilian Chamber of Industry and Commerce São Paulo. “We were impressed by the solution presented as a response to climate change,” said DWIH Director Dr Jochen Hellmann. The Hamburg University of Technology spin-off developed a method for producing biomass using a gas fermentation process which makes use of the ability of hydrogen-oxidising bacteria to bind carbon dioxide. There are more than 400 industrial plants in Brazil that produce biochemicals – usually fuels – from biomass. The Colipi process could be used to make bacteria absorb the released CO2, thus closing the bio-economic cycle. This innovative process could also be used to produce green hydrogen.

Miriam Hoffmeyer

The 10th German-Brazilian Dialogue on Science, Research and Innovation, held in 2023, constituted a significant highlight among the academic events organised by DWIH São Paulo. The event, which focused on the topic of the sustainable energy transition, brought together 20 experts from universities, research institutes and companies in the two countries. The participants engaged in a constructive exchange of ideas, presenting a range of new perspectives on the subject.

“This German-Brazilian dialogue was a milestone because companies were well represented for the first time as well,” says Marcio Weichert, Head of Programmes at DWIH São Paulo. “Bringing together stakeholders from business and academia is crucial when it comes to transforming the energy system. After all, the solutions developed by researchers need to be implemented by industry.” Organised and sponsored by DWIH São Paulo together with the Brazilian funding agency FAPESP, the event, which took place on 16 and 17 May 2023, was also attended by executives from the Brazilian subsidiaries of BASF, Bosch, Siemens, Siemens Energy and Volkswagen. The event began with a presentation by Professor Veronika Grimm, a member of the German Council of Economic Experts – a body that advises the German government on macroeconomic development issues. Grimm was keen to emphasise the need to reduce CO2 emissions in all sectors of the economy in the face of climate change. Cooperation between Germany and Brazil could contribute to this, she said, for example in the production of green hydrogen.

In the second keynote speech, Professor Joana Portugal Pereira of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), discussed the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition, noting that nearly all major economies in the world have adopted carbon reduction targets and that the cost of renewable energy is at an all-time low. A total of six panels were held over the two days, with participants discussing a wide range of technical, political, economic and social issues related to the energy transition. Topics included the potential for reducing energy costs for low-income families, and the role of value and supply chains.

Finding Technological Solutions, Pooling Investment

“I found the event extremely interesting because so many different aspects were highlighted – including some that I don’t encounter in my day-to-day work,” says Fernando de Oliveira Júnior of Bosch Brazil. In his presentation, the research and development manager discussed various technological paths to achieving carbon-neutral mobility. “I firmly believe that there’s more than one solution here. Every region of the world should use the renewable energy sources that are available locally or source them from regions and countries that have them in abundance,” says de Oliveira Júnior. Brazil certainly has this abundance: 80 per cent of the electricity consumed already comes from renewable energy sources, mainly hydropower, but solar and wind energy are also showing impressive growth. Bioethanol has been used as a fuel in Brazil for decades and offers great potential, as does biomethane, which can also be used to produce hydrogen, says de Oliveira Júnior. But an abundance of energy also poses challenges: “If investments are distributed haphazardly, it won’t help any one technology to break through. Greater cooperation between Germany and Brazil in the energy sector could help to pool investments more effectively, thereby significantly accelerating innovation.” He states he is still in touch with some of the researchers he met at the dialogue. He adds, “It’s very helpful if we already know potential cooperation partners at universities and research institutions, especially when it comes to initiating new projects.”

Effective Discussion, Problems Identified

Professor Vania Zuin Zeidler of Leuphana University Lüneburg also believes that the dialogue between researchers and business leaders has enabled “genuinely effective discussion on a more sustainable and inclusive energy transition”. Like Fernando de Oliveira Júnior, the chemist is pleased that the presentations from German-Brazilian dialogue are available on YouTube, in both English and Portuguese. In her presentation, Zuin Zeidler called for a greener and more sustainable production of renewable energy. “There are many challenges to overcome,” she says: by 2050, for example, the world will have to phase-out of wind turbine blades, which weigh 43 million tonnes and are made of complex composites that are difficult to recycle. The recycling of solar cells also poses an enormous problem, says Zuin Zeidler, who believes that the role of sustainable chemistry is not only to improve the individual functions of products and materials, but also to optimise every stage of their life cycle with regard to sustainability and efficiency.

Following numerous presentations and discussions, many of the speakers visited the Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI) at the University of São Paulo (USP) and toured laboratories where research is being carried out into hydrogen and fuel cell technology as well as concentrated solar power (CSP). “Everyone learned a lot from each other,” says Marcio Weichert, reflecting on the 10th German-Brazilian Dialogue on Science, Research and Innovation, adding that Brazilian participants became more aware of the urgent need for renewable energy in Germany and Europe. “And German participants came to see Brazil as a country with a powerful research profile.” The organising team hopes that the exchange will lead to more technological cooperation between the two countries, new research projects and a further increase in knowledge transfer.

Miriam Hoffmeyer

“German-Japanese relations intensified in 2023. Germany and Japan are natural partners with regard to science and technology, and face similar social and global challenges. The number of German organisations in DWIH Tokyo's network of supporters has increased by four to 27, a reflection of the very significant increase in interest in scientific co-operation with Japan. Our work focused especially on social resilience, sustainability, and technology transfer. We have a very active and diverse network of supporters, which ensured that we covered a range of different perspectives including from the social sciences, law, the natural sciences and engineering. We have been particularly keen to expand our collaboration with the private sector and our activities to promote international technology transfer – most notably through the German-Japanese symposium ‘Taking Innovation Abroad’.”

With events on topics ranging from the removal of space debris and research into green hydrogen to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, DWIH Tokyo's work in 2023 was shaped by diverse activities.

German Research Fair: Successful Premiere

With 14 exhibiting universities and research funding organisations, 350 participants – and a return in 2024: the first German Research Fair in Japan in April 2023 was a resounding success for DWIH Tokyo. "There's a great need for information about research opportunities in Germany", says Dr Laura Blecken, Head of Programmes at the DWIH. The virtual trade fair was “an entirely new initiative” in the work of the DWIH and a project she felt “particularly passionate about” herself, said Blecken. People from almost every prefecture in Japan took part in the fair, which was restaged in April 2024 under the auspices of the DAAD. Promoting academic exchange with Germany was also the idea behind DAAD Secretary General Dr Kai Sicks’ visit to Japan in April 2023, which included meetings with early-career researchers and professors. Although the tight curricula in the Japanese higher education system leave little room for extended periods of study abroad, Germany is nonetheless the most popular non-English-speaking destination for Japanese students, and a key partner in the field of academic exchange.

“Sustainable Space – Resilient Earth”

Under the motto “Sustainable Space – Resilient Earth”, the DWIH joined forces with the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to organise a forum on the elimination of space debris in June 2023. “It was an absolutely intriguing event,” says Dr Laura Blecken. During the panel discussion, it became clear just how existential the issue is, giving rise to a new sense of urgency amongst participants. Germany and Japan have long been partners in space research, and both countries are committed to preventing the pollution of the Earth’s orbit. “We were looking for a theme with a specific problem focus,” says Blecken. This proved to be a successful endeavour, with Blecken observing that even during the event itself, participants began to consider potential solutions and initiated discussions on closer ties in German-Japanese cooperation.

Exhibition: “The Fascination of Science”

Who are the individuals behind the greatest discoveries of our time? An exhibition of works by German photographer Herlinde Koelbl not only features portraits of world-famous scientists but also information about their research, summarised in sketches or in a few words written on the palm of the hand. After its Japan premiere at the DWIH Tokyo in 2022, the exhibition stopped over at Kyoto University before moving on to the Miraikan in Tokyo in 2023 – Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation and the country’s biggest science museum. Within two months, nearly 70,000 people had seen the portraits of 41 Nobel laureates and influential researchers from around the world. For the exhibitions in Japan, Herlinde Koelbl expanded the collection to include portraits of astrophysicist Dr Nami Sakai and two other Nobel Prize winners – stem cell researcher Professor Shinya Yamanaka and palaeogeneticist Professor Svante Pääbo. “The exhibition pays tribute to innovation and scientific creativity while emphasising the importance of international cooperation in research – issues that are central to the work of DWIH Tokyo,” says Axel Karpenstein, Director of DWIH Tokyo, which organised the exhibition at the Miraikan. In 2024 the exhibition is due to move on to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST).

Important Hydrogen Research

Several events demonstrated the importance of green hydrogen, both in the work of DWIH Tokyo and in the context of German-Japanese cooperation. In March 2023, DWIH Tokyo co-hosted a “Fireplace Talk” at the residence of the German Embassy in Tokyo. The keynote speech was given by Felix Christian Matthes, Research Coordinator for Energy and Climate Policy at Germany’s Öko-Institut, followed by a commentary given by Professor Takao Kashiwagi of the Tokyo Institute of Technology. “There are wide-ranging opportunities for collaboration in this area, and DWIH Tokyo is looking to help the topic gain further momentum,” says DWIH Head of Programmes Dr Laura Blecken. In August 2023, the DWIH supported an event organised by the DLR on hydrogen storage options. In September 2023, a TU Braunschweig laboratory for bilateral research on green hydrogen was opened at Yamanashi University, attracting significant media interest. Since 2023, TU Braunschweig has also been a new supporter of DWIH Tokyo represented by the Energy Research Centre of Lower Saxony (EFZN).

Dealing with Artificial Intelligence

What is the future of artificial intelligence (AI)? Two events in March and September 2023 were dedicated to this question. In March 2023, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ) and the DWIH Tokyo jointly organised a panel discussion on “Human-Machine Interaction and Responsibility”. Six experts from Germany and Japan offered insights into key concepts and ethical issues related to the use of AI, including Dr Eva Buddeberg of the Goethe University Frankfurt, who spoke on the topic of responsibility and liability. “It was a very intense discussion, with perspectives from a number of different disciplines,” says Blecken. In September 2023, a series of workshops were held to explore how the development and experience of technology in society is shaped by debates and narratives about the future of AI. This will continue to be an important theme in Tokyo: in November 2024, the DWIH Tokyo is planning a high-profile Japanese-German-French AI conference on the subject of “Generative AI – Pathways to Democratisation, Transparency and Sustainability” which will further explore the issues raised in 2023.

Sarah Kanning

How the DWIH Tokyo symposium “Taking Innovation Abroad” facilitated discussions on technology transfer and laid the foundations for longer-term exchange.

The white robot waiters at Avatar Robot Café DAWN in Tokyo have big eyes, round heads and snub noses. They are kawaii, as they say in Japan – which means “cute”. But the fact that they take orders and serve coffee at the café is not a mere technical gimmick: it serves a serious purpose. The robots are operated by individuals who are no longer able to engage in typical daily activities due to severe and chronic illnesses such as muscular atrophy. Through these robots, they interact with others. The primary goal of this innovative concept, which merges digital technology, robotics, and social inclusion, is to combat isolation.

DAAD Vice President Dr Muriel Helbig visited the café in December 2023 during her trip to Japan. For Dr Helbig who is also President of the Technical University of Lübeck and former board member of the University Alliance for SMEs, the visit was an opportunity to gain an overview of the wide range of technological innovations and scientific advancements in Japan, and to expand German-Japanese cooperation not only in science but also in technology transfer. The latter is becoming increasingly important for both countries, being a means to boost innovation capacity and to tackle global challenges. "For science transfer to be helpful, useful, and hopeful, it must be international," observed Dr Helbig in Tokyo.

“Enormous potential for sharing experiences”

"Technology transfer is crucial both globally and for Germany and Japan. Japan has been intensively engaged in this area for 25 years, which presents a great potential for sharing its experiences with Germany," says Axel Karpenstein, Director of the DWIH Tokyo. Germany and Japan share strengths in technological fields like medicine and engineering and face similar challenges regarding technology transfer.

"Technology transfer is about sharing ideas, knowledge and technologies so that they can be applied in practice," says Karpenstein. "Basic research is crucial, but equally important are the pathways for transferring this knowledge into practice. We need this transfer if we want to solve the key challenges of our time, such as climate change."

The DWIH Tokyo addresses technology transfer through several formats, such as including industry representatives in DWIH events and supporting the internationalization of the startup scene. It co-organises the annual TechBIZKON pitch contest for startups from Germany and Europe in Japan, which covers topics like mobility and microelectronics. Supporting diversity also plays an important role, highlighted by the DWIH Tokyo’s support for the Femtech Fes!, where primarily female founders showcase innovations and technologies that address women's health and wellness issues.

The social benefits of technological innovation

The two-day symposium “Taking Innovation Abroad” featured a discussion of German and Japanese experience in promoting technology transfer. It was held on 4-5 December 2023 and organised by the DWIH Tokyo in cooperation with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The event began with a look at the status quo and the transfer structures in the two countries. Dr Muriel Helbig and Osamu Kobayashi, Director of the International Affairs Department of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, presented strategies for promoting technology transfer in Germany and Japan and discussed the social benefits of technological innovations. Head of Programs at DWIH Tokyo Dr Laura Blecken moderated the discussion, which included questions from the audience. Eighty participants were present on-site, with another 170 taking part virtually.

In the second part of the programme, Axel Karpenstein and five experts from science and industry in Japan and Germany engaged in a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of international technology transfer. They shared numerous best practices and success stories, offering valuable insights into how transfer structures can be further developed. “One of the DWIH’s greatest strengths is its ability to bring people from different fields together for meaningful dialogue,” says Karpenstein.

Insights into the transfer landscapes of Germany and Japan

On the second day of the event, Dr Lorenz Granrath, Japan Representative of the Institute for Experimental Psychophysiology (IXP), and Professor Koichi Sumikura of the Graduate Research Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo provided insights into the transfer landscape in Germany and in Japan. The subsequent virtual workshops on “Fostering Entrepreneurship”, “Connecting Universities and Industry”, “Optics & Photonics”, “Industry 4.0” and “Biomedicine” gave participants the opportunity to engage more closely with the subject matter, get involved in detailed discussion and network with experts.

“The symposium laid an important foundation for a long-term exchange between our two countries in the area of technology transfer,” says Axel Karpenstein. This was also demonstrated by the creation of a LinkedIn group following the event, which enables symposium participants and other interested stakeholders to continue to remain in dialogue.

Sarah Kanning

“Crises such as climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine are compelling societies to address increasingly complex questions and adapt swiftly to changing conditions. Science plays a crucial role here, providing essential contributions through basic and applied research, enabling constructive action during multiple crises. Achievements in health, digitalisation, mobility, and a secure and sustainable energy supply demonstrate how research can support a resilient society. In times of crisis, well-established international networks are vital for fostering the necessary innovation in science and technology on an ongoing basis. The German Centres for Research and Innovation exemplify such a network, acting as catalysts for first-class cooperation at the intersections of science, industry, and society.”

“A well-established network offers benefits on multiple levels, not least through the dialogue it generates. One significant advantage is that the partners involved are not working in isolation to achieve their goals. By bringing together such a diverse array of stakeholders, the global network of German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) excels in fostering international dialogue in the field of science and innovation. Numerous German and international partner institutions benefit from the cooperation facilitated by the DWIH. The digital DWIH Annual Report 2023 illustrates how the Centres and their supporters are successfully addressing key contemporary issues. The focus topic for 2023 was ‘The Resilient Society’, highlighting the importance of collaboration in tackling global challenges . I extend my gratitude to the staff at the Centres and at the DWIH management office in Bonn for their dedication– and I very much hope you find this annual report an engaging and informative read!”