More than 100 researchers from 37 countries to attend network meeting in Braunschweig

One hundred and seven young researchers from 37 countries will gather at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s network meeting being held at Technische Universität (TU) Braunschweig from 18 to 20 February 2026. The attendees are currently in Germany as researchers sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation and are working with colleagues at research institutes throughout the country. The event has the aim of acquainting the new Humboldtians with one another and with Braunschweig, a city that is exemplary of Germany as a location for conducting research. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to talk with Foundation staff members and receive tips regarding living and conducting research in Germany.

Opening ceremony: Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 3 p.m.
Venue: TU Braunschweig, Haus der Wissenschaften, Auditorium (3rd floor), Pockelsstr. 11, 38106 Braunschweig
Journalists are welcome to attend! We will be glad to arrange interviews.

The network meeting will be opened at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 18 February, by Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig, and Markus Zanner, Secretary General of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. J. Daniel Prades, Humboldt Professor at the Institute of Semiconductor Technology of TU Braunschweig, will then give the keynote address titled "Measuring Almost Nothing in Everything: The Quest for Reliable Gas Sensing". The physicist and electrical engineer is an expert on semiconductor technologies and metrology. He develops highly sensitive quantum and nano sensors that can be used to reliably measure the tiniest particles outside the lab. These sensors are used, for example, to measure pollutants in the air. Prades moved from the University of Barcelona to Germany with a Humboldt Professorship in 2024.

On Thursday, 19 February, the attending Humboldtians will visit research institutes at TU Braunschweig where researchers will present the work being done by their institutes and brief lectures will be held in specialist groups. The international attendees will also have the opportunity to establish contact with one another and with German colleagues. 
During the poster session that begins at 2:45 p.m., fellows will present the focus of their research (TU Braunschweig, Haus der Wissenschaften, Auditorium, Pockelsstr. 11, 38106 Braunschweig). At 3 p.m., the Humboldt Foundation will present itself and its programmes to all interested parties during an informational lecture (TU Braunschweig, Haus der Wissenschaft, PK11.1 (196), Pockelsstr. 11, 38106 Braunschweig).

The majority of participants at this year’s network meeting come from the natural and life sciences (70%), followed by the humanities and social sciences (22%) and engineering (8%). Most of the guests from abroad come from India (16), China (12), and Italy (10), followed by Brazil (7) and Australia (6).

Every year, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables more than 2,000 researchers from all over the world to spend time conducting research in Germany. The Foundation maintains an interdisciplinary network of well over 30,000 Humboldtians in more than 140 countries around the world – including 63 Nobel Prize winners.