The DFG Celebrates the 1st Anniversary of its Japan Office
Promoting Creative and Innovative Young Researchers in Germany and Japan
To mark the first anniversary of the opening of its Japan Office in Tokyo, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) held a two hour bi-national panel discussion on 14 April 2010, followed by a reception at the German Cultural Center Tokyo. More than 140 representatives from the science and science-policy community in Japan attended the event.
International cooperation and the promotion of young researchers are both key objectives of the DFG. The high value placed on these objectives is evident in the DFG’s representation abroad, which includes offices in Japan, China, India, the United States and Russia as well as in its many programmes for young researchers. These programmes are designed to support young researchers in achieving independence at an early stage of their scientific careers.
The bi-national panel discussion, which addressed the question of how to promote and nurture the creativity and innovative potential of young researchers, was entitled:
Early Independence for Young Researchers in Germany and Japan?
Addressing this topic, the following issues were discussed:
- Early Independence or Mentoring?
- Are Young Group Leaders Forming the Faculties of Tomorrow?
- What Role Should Government and Funding Organisations Play in the Future?
After welcome remarks by Dr. Iris Wieczorek (Director of the DFG Office Japan), the German Ambassador in Tokyo Dr. Volker Stanzel provided the opening remarks. In his keynote speech, Professor Dr. Tasuku Honjo (Executive Member of the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Government of Japan) offered insights into the current situation of young researchers in Japan. Following the keynote address, Professor Honjo and five other panel members (established scientists and young researchers from Japan and Germany) discussed the three issues mentioned above in more detail. The audience engaged itself in a lively discussion by a large number of questions and valuable comments.
In his kampai speech at the subsequent reception, Professor Ono (President of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, JSPS) wished the DFG Office Japan continued success.
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