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Frontiers of Research Symposia
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation regularly convenes bi- and multinational Frontiers of Research Symposia in cooperation with its partner organisations in Brazil, China, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The Frontiers of Research Symposia provide outstanding researchers from Germany and the partner countries with a platform for an international and interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge. The participating researchers (who have earned their doctorate within the last 10 to max. 15 years) establish or strengthen connections with other future thought leaders, often pioneering innovative fields for collaboration. Participants question and expand the boundaries of their respective disciplines – for example through cross-disciplinary discussions of current advancements, innovative research and emerging opportunities. The Frontiers of Research programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
Who’s invited to participate?
The Humboldt Foundation and its partner organisations personally invite researchers that have been selected to participate through a nomination or application process. Announcements about current application rounds will be published regularly on this page.
When and where do the symposia take place?
The three- to four-day symposia take place alternatingly in Germany and in the partner country or countries at regular intervals. Participants in the Frontiers of Research Symposia are exclusively eligible for funding from the CONNECT programme, which allows them to conduct working visits in the respective partner country.
Which are the partner countries and what symposia are held?
FoR Programme Director
Dr Emily Lines
Phone: +49 30 204 555 36
Email: emily.lines[at]avh.de
BRAGFOST, GISFOH and UKGFOH
Stephanie Dill
Phone: + 49 (0)30 204 545 26
Email: stephanie.dill[at]avh.de
GAFOE
Luisa Golfier
Phone: + 49 (0)30 204 555 37
Email: luisa-antonia.golfier[at]avh.de
INDOGFOE and SINOGFOST
Matthias Hergenhan
Phone: + 49 (0)30 204 555 38
Email: matthias.hergenhan[at]avh.de
MENAGFOST and JAGFOS
Anke Teubner
Phone: + 49 (0)30 204 545 52
Email: anke.teubner[at]avh.de
Every year, up to 60 researchers from engineering and the applied natural sciences meet to challenge the boundaries of their fields. Nominated and funded by CAPES and the Humboldt Foundation, they establish new collaborations across their disciplines.
Every other year, up to 60 researchers from different fields of engineering and applied natural sciences meet for an interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge. The American National Academy of Engineering and the Humboldt Foundation have been cooperating in this programme since 2001.
Up to 50 scholars working in the humanities are invited once a year to explore new avenues for collaboration across their disciplines. Organised and funded by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Humboldt Foundation, these symposia serve to establish and strengthen interdisciplinary ties among researchers from both countries.
About 60 young researchers in the engineering and applied natural sciences meet every other year to exchange ideas about the interdisciplinary transfer of knowledge and methodology across the borders of their different fields. The Indian Department of Science and Technology and the Humboldt Foundation have been cooperating in this programme since 2009 to foster new Indo-German research networks.
Once a year, 72 researchers from Japan, the US and Germany meet to challenge the boundaries of their fields, establishing new collaborations across their disciplines. The trilateral symposia are jointly organised by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the American National Academy of Sciences and the Humboldt Foundation.
Each year, around 50 mid-career researchers from Germany and various Arab countries gather to discuss the latest research trends and explore opportunities for interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration. Starting in 2026, the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) of Jordan and the Humboldt Foundation have partnered to co-finance and organise this symposium, which will take place alternately in Germany and Jordan.
At the annually held symposium, 60 researchers in the engineering and applied natural sciences meet to discuss cutting-edge research across their disciplines and to identify collaboration partners. This series of symposia was initially established as Sino-German Frontiers of Science Symposium in 2008 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Humboldt Foundation. Since 2026, symposia in this series are held in a new format with a focus on “Science and Technology”.
About 30 young researchers are invited to discuss recent advances, cutting-edge research and budding opportunities across various fields in the humanities. Since 2019, the British Academy and the Humboldt Foundation have been cooperating in this programme, facilitating a fertile interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge between scholars from the UK and Germany.
CONNECT Follow-up programme
A follow-up programme available exclusively to participants of the Frontiers of Research Symposia funds working visits in the respective partner country for up to 30 days. It thereby allows participants to establish longer-term collaborations, contributing to deepening academic relations between German and the partner country.
Current calls for applications
- 17th Brazilian-German Frontiers of Science and Technology Symposium on "Bridging Transitions Together: Collaborative Technologies for Future-Proof Industry and Society" (28 – 31 October 2027 in Berlin, Germany)
- 16th Sino-German Frontiers of Science and Technology Symposium: “Designing matter: from quantum states to living systems” (3-6 June 2027 in Berlin, Germany)