Bochum delegation strengthens science bridges to Japan!

Bochum delegation strengthens science bridges to Japan!

On April 30, 2025, a delegation from the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) traveled to Japan, led by Rector Prof. Dr. Martin Paul and Mayor Thomas Eiskirch. The aim of the trip was to network with actors from science, business and politics in order to intensify the exchange with the respective partners in Tsukuba and Osaka. The participants in the delegation included representatives of Bochum's universities, council representatives, employees of the city of Bochum and representatives from business.

A key focus was on collaboration in the fields of medicine and psychology. The RUB has already had long-standing collaborations with the University of Tsukuba, which should be further intensified during the visit. In particular, there was an exchange with researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, where Rector Martin Paul signed an agreement for further collaboration. NIMS President Kazuhiro Hono and Paul emphasized the importance of this partnership, particularly in the area of ​​materials science.

Expand scientific collaborations

Another highlight of the trip was the visit to Osaka University, which has recently been headed by President Atsushi Kumanogoh. The RUB delegation was the first international group to visit the university under his leadership. The existing cooperation agreement was extended here, while discussions were held about expanding cooperation in research and teaching, particularly with regard to joint master's degree programs.

As part of the official visit program in Tsukuba, the delegation also took part in an exchange at the town hall and a visit to the Tsukuba Start-up Park, where mayors of the twin cities concluded an agreement to network start-ups. A cultural highlight was taking part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony wearing kimonos, which offered insight into both local customs and Japanese culture.

Global Health Innovations Conference

Another important aspect of the trip was the “Conference on Global Health Innovations” in Tokyo organized by RUB. This conference was held in collaboration with Bochum Economic Development and Japanese partners. The Bochum Health Campus was presented here, and RUB scientists, including Prof. Dr. Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal and Prof. Dr. Maike Luhmann, presented their work. Luhmann spoke about the important research into loneliness, a topic of increasing relevance in Japan too.

The participants also had the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with the scientists in a poster session, which promoted intercultural dialogue.

In addition to academic networking, the Campus-in-Campus (CiC) initiative aims to promote the mobility of exchange students and faculty members. Since October 2023, twelve universities have already been integrated into this network, including the RUB, in order to facilitate the exchange of campus resources. tsukuba.ac.jp reports that…

This trip to Japan represents another building block in the long-standing scientific and technological cooperation between Japan and Germany, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. Numerous collaborations have developed during this time, supported by various initiatives and institutions such as the German Science and Innovation House in Tokyo. kooperation-international.de states that…