DWIH annual report 2025



NYU positions itself as a global university, with campuses on several continents and a mission to educate students and researchers as globally minded actors. International partnerships are part of its identity. In this sense, the partnership with DWIH is an ideal fit and has developed from individual events into a genuine strategic bridge between NYU and the German research system.

DWIH plays a role that Gray describes as crucial: opening doors, building networks, and enabling encounters. Whether at NYU’s German House, the German Consulate, or conferences in the United States. A particularly formative moment was the Falling Walls Science Summit in November 2025, during which NYU hosted two events with support from DWIH.

Partnerships with German Universities

2025 was an important year for the cooperation: NYU and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin signed a partnership agreement that formalized the long-standing collaboration between the two universities. At the same time, DWIH supported a symposium on neurological and psychiatric disorders at NYU School of Medicine in cooperation with the University of Cologne.

Nina Gray sees NYU on a path toward further partnerships with German universities. She hopes that more NYU researchers will make use of funding programs offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and that cooperation between Germany and the United States will continue to grow. In the current political environment, this cannot be taken for granted. That makes the partnership with DWIH all the more meaningful, as a strong signal that NYU is determined to expand its international collaborations.



Compact sessions with a manageable number of participants, intensive exchange on current topics, high-ranking political guests –Erika Kovacs-Bogdan has fond memories of the DWIH New York Future Forum. Kovacs-Bogdan works as a Principal Alliance Manager, at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, an independent, non-profit research institute with close ties to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. It is one of the world's leading centers for biomedical research – with pioneering work in genomics and drug development and the ambition to rapidly translate these into the development of new therapies and medicines. Under the title "Health, Tech, Diplomacy," the Future Forum took place there in 2025. As an Alliance Manager at the interface with industry partners, Kovacs-Bogdan was heavily involved in the organization.

Strong Network in the Biotech Hub Boston

For the Broad Institute, which innovates at the intersection of scientific disciplines, the cooperation with the DWIH opens up perspectives on application-oriented fields such as AI-supported cluster analyses or medical technology. Kovacs-Bogdan also mentions that the DWIH's network in the start-up and venture capital scene could be beneficial. For the DWIH, the Broad Institute is a strategically important partner: it combines excellent research with a strong network in Boston's biotech hub.



At DWIH’s initiative, Dehghan and his team examined the healthcare ecosystems of Massachusetts and Baden-Württemberg as a case study; the results were presented at the Future Forum in September 2025. The degree of international networking proved particularly revealing. While Germany plays only a marginal role for the U.S. cluster, German companies are strongly oriented toward the United States. For Dehghan, this demonstrates how important actors such as DWIH are in creating targeted connections between the innovation ecosystems of both countries. A second joint project followed in November: a workshop at Harvard University as part of the German American Conference. There, students used the ISTARI tool to search for companies in the United States and Germany according to specific criteria and assess their potential.

Networking Beyond DWIH New York

ISTARI has particularly benefited from DWIH’s network. Through the Future Forum, the team established contacts in the biotech sector and got to know the German-American Business Council of Boston. Together with the latter, the start-up has since submitted a joint proposal at the European level on the topic of entering the U.S. market. The Harvard conference also created valuable new connections. The collaboration now even extends beyond New York: ISTARI plans to work with additional DWIH locations in the future.





Amman and Frühauf’s vision proved to be a compelling idea, and Softletics won first prize in the Startups Connected competition in 2025. The competition is run by the DWIH São Paulo for German start-ups that create innovative solutions in global healthcare. The prize for the two founders was a week-long roadshow in Brazil, along with a year’s membership of the São Paulo Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK). Organised and supported by the DWIH, the trip in November 2025 made all the difference in opening doors for Ammann and Frühauf. “The DWIH gave us access to important stakeholders and supported us linguistically and culturally,” Ammann explains.

Thanks to the roadshow, the two founders made some lasting contacts. Disabled Brazilian athletes are currently testing Softletics prosthetics and providing feedback. Ammann and Frühauf are also in talks with hospitals and potential manufacturing partners to explore producing their prosthetics in Brazil. The DWIH remains at their side as they take their next steps into the Brazilian market. “We’re still in close contact,” Ammann observes. “What we find particularly helpful is their support in communicating with local stakeholders, and in dealing with regulatory and market-specific questions.”



Andréia Fressatti Cardoso is just one example of the success of the programme. The political scientist had heard about opportunities in Germany, but at first she wasn’t sure if her research priorities would meet with interest there. “I was all the more surprised when I was introduced to a professor from Germany who wanted to know more about my research,” she says. Cardoso describes the final session as particularly memorable, as it was an opportunity to speak to representatives of universities and funding bodies. She made use of these contacts later to prepare for the next stage of her career.

In late 2025, Cardoso applied for a CAPES Humboldt Research Scholarship, which helps postdocs from Brazil pursue their research projects in Germany. But regardless of the outcome of her application, she is sure about one thing: “Germany has become an important objective in my academic career, and the DWIH workshop was a decisive factor in that. It piqued my interest in Germany and has helped set the course for my future career.”



Martin Gegner describes the Rio symposium as a “milestone” for Mobility2Grid. “One immediate outcome was a number of research collaborations with organisations such as UFRJ and Mackenzie Presbyterian University in São Paulo,” he says. The DWIH is a key player in these partnerships, and it has become Gegner’s first port of call in his work on Brazil and Latin America. “Information about potential partners is particularly valuable. By this, I mean the contacts who would simply be out of reach without the DWIH São Paulo,” he explains.

Following the symposium, Mobility2Grid and the DWIH intend to expand their collaboration in 2026. They are planning online formats for exploring energy and mobility transition technologies. They are also developing “real labs” to test innovations in energy and transportation in real-life conditions.



• A Shared Mission for the Future: In the San Francisco Bay Area, global health is understood as a field at the intersection of science, technology, and society – shaped by practical application and innovation in precision medicine, AI-supported diagnostics, data-driven prevention, and translational research.
• Transatlantic Networks: With renowned universities and leading non-university research institutions, the Bay Area has a dense ecosystem for health and life sciences. Resilient transatlantic networks for global health innovation are emerging through collaboration with German partners.
• Resilient Cooperation in Uncertain Times: The focus is on partnerships that remain stable, even amid geopolitical uncertainty, and advance joint approaches and solutions in global health.
• Data, AI, and New Infrastructures: Researchers depend on interoperable systems, secure data spaces, and clear rules for the responsible use of AI. The region serves as a testing ground for new models of data exchange. Data privacy and patient autonomy are central considerations.
• From Therapy to Prevention: Prevention is playing an increasingly important role. Genomic research and AI-based risk analyses aim to detect diseases earlier, enable more targeted preventive care, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
• Equal Opportunity and Diversity: Research institutions in the region are actively addressing the underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities in clinical studies. They are embedding inclusive research approaches and laying the groundwork for health solutions that are effective across diverse social contexts.
• Science Diplomacy and Science Communication: In light of growing skepticism toward science and the spread of disinformation, exchange among researchers, policymakers, and the public is becoming increasingly important. It strengthens trust in evidence and makes political decisions easier to communicate.
• Culture of Innovation and Rapid Implementation: In San Francisco’s biotech hub, a willingness to take risks, venture capital, foundation and grant funding, and close collaboration between companies and universities help bring ideas into practice more quickly.
• DWIH San Francisco as a Bridge Builder: DWIH strengthens German-American exchange on global health, connects relevant stakeholders, and translates insights into actionable recommendations for German decision-makers.





However, turning a concept like the AI Exchange into genuine collaboration requires more than innovative technology – it requires personal encounters, formats for exchange, and visibility. This is exactly where the DWIH comes in: it supports Glüer’s team in expanding the partnership with UCSF, creates spaces for professional exchange on federated learning and AI imaging, and ensures that the collaboration gains recognition. “Through the DWIH’s formats, a technical idea becomes a resilient transatlantic partnership,” says Glüer.

A Shared Scientific Ethos

Glüer describes the concrete impact of this support as follows: “Direct contact has a twofold effect: intellectually, because California is simply ahead of us in AI, and emotionally. When a doctoral student has their poster praised by a star of the AI scene at a conference, it provides motivation for years of research that can certainly become quite stressful.” Beyond professional inspiration, he also sees something more fundamental at stake: “Especially in times like these, we must preserve and strengthen the transatlantic partnership and the ethos of science.”





• Ideal conditions: India’s digital infrastructure, the innovation capacity of its companies and its large, diverse population provide a unique testing ground for developing viable solutions for global healthcare systems.
• India as a key player in global healthcare: India is a leading manufacturer of generic medicines and vaccines. Furthermore, Indian scientists are particularly active in health research, especially in the fields of medical technology and digital health.
• Focus on Digital health during the G20 presidency: At the G20 summit 2023 under India’s presidency, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health. India is a key supporter of the initiative and one of the world’s leading countries in strengthening equitable access to digital health solutions.
• Key role in the fight against infectious diseases: With a population of around 1.5 billion, India has the world’s largest population. Given its high population density and biodiversity, the risk of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and dengue spreading is particularly high. The Indian government has committed to combating these diseases and places a strong emphasis on research and innovation.
• Major investment in One Health strategies: Under the motto ‘One Earth, One Health’, the Indian government is promoting international partnerships to build a resilient global health architecture.
• Cooperation between the health sector and policymakers: At the state and district levels, “One Health Committees” are being established. These include representatives from the district administration, the public health sector, environmental health institutions and private stakeholders including companies.
• DWIH New Delhi as a connecting platform: The DWIH New Delhi supports scientific cooperation in the field of global health and with this thematic focus, and in 2025 intensified Indo-German knowledge exchange through various events and dialogues.



I had previously studied in Germany and completed my PhD there, andI first came across the DWIH New Delhi in my home country, India. Later, through the DWIH San Francisco’s ‘Women in Entrepreneurship’ programme, I also had the opportunity to learn about the start-up ecosystem in the Bay Area. Overall, I have benefited extensively from the global network of DWIHs.

Every environment has its own energy and approach to innovation. My experiences in India, Germany and the USA have made me adaptable and open-minded. They have also made me confident to keep going: It led me to co-founding a biotech start-up ‘Renatrix’ in Berlin with my two business partners in 2025.”

Read the interview with Dr Komali Valishetti at www.dwih-newdelhi.org.



Read the interview with Dr. Mugdha Lele at www.dwih-newdelhi.org.



India is becoming increasingly important for the University of Bonn. “There is clearly enormous potential for research collaborations, as well as for systematically attracting young researchers to our PhD programmes,” says Vice Rector Münch.

Recently, the University of Bonn established a China–India Competence Centre within the Vice Rectorate for International Affairs. However, according to Vice-Rector Münch, cooperation with local stakeholders such as the DWIH New Delhi is essential to increase the university’s visibility in the region. “We hope to organize successful events in India with the DWIH New Delhi and likewise with other partners”, says Vice-Rector Münch.



• Breaking new ground in life sciences and biotech: Japan is setting the pace for global developments in biotech. The combination of outstanding fundamental research and one of the world’s largest pharma markets is setting new standards in regenerative medicine and gene therapy.
• Tech-based solutions to the challenges of an ageing society: Japan is the fastest-ageing society in the world. With its use of technologies such as care robots, exoskeletons and AI-supported monitoring systems, Japan is considered a global benchmark in its approach to a healthy and dignified old age.
• Robust pandemic prevention and infection research: Thanks to networks such as the Strategic Center of Biomedical Advanced Vaccine Research and Development (SCARDA) and the Japanese initiative for Global Research Network & Link on Infectious Disease (J-GRID), Japan is making a vital contribution to global efforts to monitor and fight infectious diseases.
• Close research partnerships with Germany: Japan and Germany are linked by deep-rooted partnerships in fields such as cancer research, health informatics and age-specific medicine. Joint initiatives between the two countries are working on areas such as the use of AI in diagnosis, and resilient healthcare systems.
• The DWIH Tokyo strategic platform: The DWIH Tokyo serves as a central strategic bridge between the German and Japanese innovation ecosystems. Through targeted initiatives to promote networks between science, industry and politics in 2025, the DWIH laid the foundations for new synergies in medical technology and the digital health industry.



Fukasawa describes the joy he feels now that his business is able to work with many cafes, canteens and hotels. “Our products have made it possible for us to make this sector more sustainable,” he says. Fukasawa’s painstaking approach secured him first prize at the 2024 AsiaBerlin Summit Tokyo, a pitch competition co-organised by the DWIH Tokyo. He was rewarded with the opportunity to travel to the AsiaBerlin Summit in Germany to present his vision to an international audience of experts and investors.

“The insights I gained there were sensational,” he says. “In terms of sustainability, Germany is one of the leading countries in the world. In Berlin, there’s a huge willingness among people to live sustainably.” Fukasawa says he could definitely see himself selling his products on the German or European markets in the long term.



The beginning of the project in 2022 fired up German-Japanese collaboration on green hydrogen. “I got to know the team at the DWIH Tokyo on my first visit here, and they supported us brilliantly. They put us in touch with major research institutions, and even explained every detail of how the Japanese research sector works.” The DWIH was also represented at the opening of the Japanese-German Green Hydrogen Material Laboratory at the University of Yamanashi in September 2023. The lab was set up to develop low-cost durable catalysts for hydrogen technology.

Since then, the German-Japanese cooperation has expanded to include exchanges for students and PhD candidates. Its future goals include setting up an International Research Training Group Programme for PhD students (known as a “graduate externship”) and a double master’s degree programme taught by the Universities of Yamanashi and Hamburg. “We began our partnership by working from the bottom up,” Özaslan explains. “It was a bold choice, but it really accelerated the process. We recently signed a memorandum of understanding between our two universities.”

The opening ceremony of the Japanese-European Clean Energy Material Research Hub at the University of Hamburg in 2026 included Dr Carsten Walbiner, Head of Section for Research Fellowship Programmes at the DAAD. The DAAD’s Green Hydrogen Research Tour also visited Özaslan’s research units at the University of Hamburg and the Hydrogen Terminal Braunschweig.

“You have to be brave to keep up with the latest developments in green hydrogen applications,” says Özaslan. “We still have a lot of questions to answer in our research, but if we can develop low-cost and more efficient materials and processes, we will be able to make implementing green hydrogen cheaper and more scalable. If we can do that, science will have built a bridge with industry and become a catalyst in its own right.”



Making the move to Germany is an interesting prospect for Japanese firms right now, since exports are attractive thanks to the weak yen. In addition to this, demographic changes in Japan are resulting in falling employment rates across many sectors. “In the current climate, even SMEs in Japan which have never previously had any international ambitions are considering making a move abroad,” Kawakubo explains.

This is where NRW.Global Business Japan’s longstanding links to the DWIH come in. “When it comes to the research sector and accessing talented people, we can count on the DWIH Tokyo as a partner to organise events and provide guidance.” The office of NRW.Global Business Japan is only ten minutes’ walk from the DWIH’s base in the German Cultural Centre, which makes the work even easier. “When we make useful contacts, it’s pretty much just a matter of going across the street,” she observes.