Science Tokyo and RWTH Aachen Establish Strategic Partnership

On June 3–4, 2025, President and Chief Executive Officer Naoto Ohtake led a delegation to RWTH Aachen University to sign a strategic partnership agreement aimed at expanding Science Tokyo’s collaboration with the prestigious German institution. The delegation included Prof. Nobuhiro Hayashi, vice president for international strategy and engagement; Tatsuya Mizukoshi, director of ANNEX Aachen; and three administrative staff members.

Science Tokyo and RWTH Aachen have actively collaborated through research and student exchanges since signing a university-wide cooperation agreement in 2007. Following the opening of Science Tokyo’s first overseas annex - ANNEX Aachen - in March 2019 on RWTH Aachen’s campus, the two institutions have co-hosted annual joint workshops and a joint symposium on international industry-academia collaboration.

Both universities share a common goal: advancing science and human wellbeing to generate value for and with society and for the economy. This shared vision is reflected in RWTH’s profile areas and Science Tokyo’s new visionary initiatives, which are closely aligned. Under the strategic partnership, the institutions have agreed to intensify collaboration in these aligned research areas through faculty exchanges and the mutual deployment of principal investigators (PIs) to each other’s initiatives.

In presentations leading up to the signing ceremony, Rector Ulrich Rüdiger of RWTH Aachen emphasized the comprehensive nature of a strategic partnership and how important such a partnership is for RWTH Aachen in order to address global challenges, and President Ohtake expressed his expectation that this partnership will contribute to increasing collaboration between Japan and Germany through science and technology. To move forward toward that shared vision, President Ohtake proposed further expanding the existing student exchange framework with the aim of deepening academic ties and promoting mutual engagement. Other possibilities discussed included the joint development of open online courses for students at both universities and coordinated efforts to pursue funding opportunities for establishing satellite laboratories at each institution.

Consul General Yoshitaka Tsunoda and Vice Consul Mika Yamagata from the Consulate-General of Japan in Düsseldorf, who both attended the signing ceremony, stated their high hopes for this partnership, noting that as standards are currently being redefined in a changing international environment, collaboration between Japan and Germany, technology-oriented countries with shared values, holds significant international importance.

Prior to the signing ceremony, the delegation toured several of RWTH Aachen’s key research facilities operated by faculty members actively collaborating with researchers from Science Tokyo.

Prof. Stefan Pischinger provided an overview of the Cluster of Excellence: Fuel Science Center, highlighting its innovative research agenda and examples of collaboration with Science Tokyo. During a discussion with Prof. Thomas Gries, delegation members explored future collaborative possibilities related to cutting-edge developments in medical textiles - both implantable and wearable - at the ITA Group International Centre for Sustainable Textiles.

A visit to the Center for Biohybrid Medical Systems included an introduction to RWTH Aachen’s groundbreaking biomedical research and highlighted joint research outcomes achieved in collaboration with Science Tokyo and future prospects. After a chance to observe how new research facilities at RWTH Aachen have developed and expanded, the tour concluded at the University Hospital, where the delegation attended presentations on the application of artificial intelligence in patient care and examined the state-of-the-art biolab facilities.

Finally, after the signing ceremony, the roles of the International Office and the Welcome Center, which supports international researchers, were introduced at the iconic building SuperC, and Hiroki Abe, a first-year master's student from the School of Environment and Society currently studying abroad, gave a presentation about life at RWTH Aachen.

Science Tokyo’s visit to RWTH Aachen, made possible through the enthusiasm and efforts of President Rüdiger and his colleagues, was highly productive and left all participants energized and optimistic about the expanded research partnership and future collaborative opportunities. It is hoped that the new agreement will not only deepen the friendship between the two universities but also between Japan and the Federal Republic of Germany.

• RWTH Aachen
• Tokyo Tech ANNEX Aachen | Former Tokyo Tech