Frontiers of Research Symposia

For whom
outstanding young researchers
From where
Germany and a partner country
For what
three- to four-day symposia
Farbige Sprechblasen mit Silhouetten von unterschiedlich aussehenden Menschen darin

Events calendar with dates of the next symposia 

Frontiers of Research Symposia

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation regularly convenes bi- and tri-national Frontiers of Research Symposia in cooperation with its partner organisations in Brazil, China, Japan, India, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The Frontiers of Research Symposia provide outstanding young researchers from Germany and the partner countries with a platform for an international and interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge. The participating researchers 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 respective partner organisations identify and invite the participating researchers. There is no option for researchers to apply themselves.

Ein fröhlicher Austausch zwischen einem Mann und einer Frau an einem Tisch, während im Hintergrund andere Teilnehmer aktiv diskutieren.
The Frontiers of Research Program brings researchers together, across disciplines and across borders. Over the course of the symposium, young scientists are able to establish new connections and learn about the latest research in various fields and the scientific communities in the partner countries.
Teilnehmer einer Konferenz stehen um Poster, die wissenschaftliche Informationen über Enzyme und Plastik präsentieren.
During poster sessions, participants present their individual research projects and have the opportunity to exchange and learn about everyone’s work. This is a chance to make connections and find overlaps that could lead to future collaboration.
Der Referent zeigt auf eine Maschine, während die Zuhörer auf einer Plattform stehen und interessiert den Erklärungen folgen.
At the 2025 German-American Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, participants received a tour of the Spallation Neutron Source at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The symposiums not only brings researchers together but also gives them time to learn about the research infrastructures in Germany and our partner countries.
Teilnehmer eines Symposiums sitzen an einem Tisch, während sie sich über verschiedene Forschungsprojekte austauschen und Notizen machen.
Time is dedicated at the symposiums to allow participants to seek out potential collaboration partners and to discuss project ideas. The leading objective of the Frontiers program is to support scientists in building their research networks and through the CONNECT follow-up program, symposium participants have the chance to visit other participants to foster their partnership.
Eine Gruppe von Menschen sitzt an einem Tisch, während eine Person mit Brille nachdenklich gestikuliert und spricht.
One key characteristic of Symposiums is the extended time given for discussion following presentations. Through the interdisciplinary nature of the participants, presenters are challenged with tailoring their presentation to a non-expert audience and new ideas are gained through the different perspectives that are brought into these discussions.
Die Atmosphäre ist entspannt, während eine Frau am Tisch gestikuliert und die anderen Teilnehmer aufmerksam auf ihre Worte reagieren.
In addition to having the more traditional sessions with presentations and a question round, we have also incorporated panel discussions, workshops, and even board games into our symposiums. This helps to initiate conversations and build connections among the participants in different contexts, which may spark a surprising collaboration.
Group photo at the Indo-German Frontiers of Engineering Symposium

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?

Saturn-ähnliches Dekortationsbild

BRAGFOST, GISFOH and UKGFOH
Stephanie Dill
Tel.: + 49 (0)30 204 545 26
E-Mail: stephanie.dill[at]avh.de 

GAFOE and trilateral JAGFOS
Anke Teubner
Tel.: + 49 (0)30 204 545 52
E-Mail: anke.teubner[at]avh.de 

INDOGFOE and SINOGFOS
Matthias Hergenhan
Tel.: + 49 (0)30 204 555 38
E-Mail: matthias.hergenhan[at]avh.de

FoR Programme Director
Dr Emily Lines
Tel.: +49 30 204 555 36 
E-Mail: emily.lines[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.

At the annually held symposium, 60 young natural scientists meet to discuss cutting-edge research across their disciplines and to identify collaboration partners. This series of symposia was established in 2008 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Humboldt Foundation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Every other year, up to 60 young 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.

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.

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