Over the past decades, Germany has established a trusting collaboration with countries and areas in the Asia-Pacific region. This includes:

• Australia,
• India,
• Japan,
• New Zealand,
• Singapore,
• South Korea and
• Taiwan.

This is a sound basis for joint research on societal and economic challenges and for reducing dependencies on individual partners.

Enhancing German-Australian cooperation on hydrogen

Green hydrogen is produced by means of a chemical process using water and renewable energy. As a renewable energy source, green hydrogen can help to replace fossil fuels, such as oil, gas or coal. However, there are two big issues for research to answer:

1. Even in future, there will not be enough renewable energy to produce sufficient amounts of green hydrogen in Germany.
2. This alternative energy source is still too expensive.

Australia has enormous amounts of solar energy and is very strong in research. The country is therefore an ideal partner when it comes to hydrogen. In addition, Germany and Australia have means of transport and an infrastructure than can be converted to carry hydrogen. With the support of research, we should be able to ship green hydrogen long distance to Germany at low costs in future.

Developing solutions to achieve a circular economy with Singapore

Increasing amounts of waste and rising commodities prices make it necessary to transform waste into reusable materials. This generates affordable products and helps nature conservation. The underlying strategy is called circular economy. It sprouts new business models and products. Germany is one of the pioneers in circular economy. However, more research and development steps are needed to eventually close the circles. It is therefore useful to work together with other, technologically advanced countries. Singapore is an ideal partner since the city state with its 5.5 million inhabitants is facing similar challenges and is a driver of innovation in the region.

Making life easier for stroke patients together with South Korea

Together with South Korea, we support projects by partners in science and industry in order to develop robotics-based solutions which make life easier for people with disabilities. Market leaders and academic institutions in South Korea and Germany are working together to develop the first neurally controlled assistive soft robot. It will be able to restore the hand and wrist function of stroke survivors with severe paralysis. The system will be applicable in everyday surroundings in order to execute household tasks, for example, and stimulate the brain. The final product will be a wearable soft exoskeleton.

Examples of BMBF measures to promote innovative research with Australia, Singapore and South Korea

Funding research on green hydrogen with Australia

We fund German-Australian research hubs on green hydrogen which act as platform for market-oriented research between companies and higher education institutions. And we fund mobility and exchange of researchers to develop new project ideas.

Funding the circular economy with Singapore

We fund up to four projects which develop innovative solutions for plastics recycling as well as prototypes to be marketed later on.

Funding medical robotics with South Korea

We support joint projects of industry and academic partners to develop robots that make life easier for people with disabilities.

BMBF measures to fund innovation research with India, Japan and Vietnam

Funding the application of artificial intelligence in sustainability research with India

We fund German-Indian research projects involving industrial partners on both sides to develop, for example, efficient and marketable solutions for climate change adaptation.

Funding research on green hydrogen with Japan

We fund German-Japanese research hubs on green hydrogen which act as platform for market-oriented research between companies and universities. Furthermore, we support applied research to develop ship engines that run on green hydrogen.

Funding research for a better risk management of natural hazards with Vietnam

We support joint projects to integrate digital technologies into an effective risk management.

Editorial deadline for this text: 01.11.2024