Background  

Japanese and German higher education institutions are already cooperating successfully in currently over 800 partnerships across a wide spectrum of subjects and research topics. Scientific cooperation between the two countries can be expected to intensify further, with STEM and medical subjects representing a shared priority for scientific collaboration on both sides. 

Not only do economic and demographic developments pave a common ground for cooperation. Starting 2026, Japan is now also officially associated to Horizon Europe, the European Union's framework programme for research and innovation. Approximately a third of Japan’s participations in Horizon Europe have focused on natural science-related projects, while social sciences and engineering and technology each account for about one-fourth of the collaborations. However, cooperation in medical and health sciences under Horizon Europe’s cluster for health is notably low, presenting excellent opportunities for future expansion. 

This KIWi Connect will take a closer look at the field of medical research and the well-established cooperation between Japan and Germany in this area. It aims to further enhance dialogue and collaboration by providing opportunities to address the following questions: 

• How can suitable partners in Japan’s medical research sector be identified? 
• What are the best strategies for developing strong academic collaborations and establishing a sustainable partner network? 
• Where can funding be sought from both the German and the Japanese sides?