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Scientists from Chemnitz University of Technology promoted the research and innovation location of Chemnitz in Japan and deepened existing collaborations

Prof. Dr. Georgeta Salvan, Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, and Prof. Dr. Stefan Schulz from Chemnitz University of Technology accompanied the saxonian Minister for Economic Affairs, Martin Dulig, on his delegation trip to Japan

Prof. Dr. Georgeta Salvan from the Professorship of Semiconductor Physics (headed by Prof. Dr. Dietrich R.T. Zahn) of Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC), head of the Magneto-Optics Research Group at the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) and deputy spokesperson of the Collaborative Research Center/Transregio (SFB/TRR) "Hyperpolarization in Molecular Systems" (HYP*MOL), Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, head of the Professorship of Advanced Powertrains at TUC and Chairman of the Board of the saxonian Innovation Cluster "Wasserstoffland Sachsen" (HZwo e. V.), and Prof. Dr. Stefan Schulz, Honorary Professor of Nanoelectronics Technologies at the Center for Microtechnologies of TUC, head of the MAIN Research Group of Nanoelectronics Technologies and Deputy Director at the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS, participated in a delegation trip to Japan led by the saxonian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Transport, Martin Dulig. The delegation consisted of about 25 people, including representatives from politics, saxonian companies, and academia. The visit to various research and business sites in Japan took place from September 12 to 15, 2023.

Prof. Salvan and Prof. Schulz accompanied the State Minister, among other places, to the Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems (CIES) of Tohoku University in Sendai. On September 14, a Germany-Japan Joint Workshop titled "Future Semiconductors and Related Technology" was held with the aim of deepening collaboration in microelectronics. In addition to representatives of the saxonian delegation, renowned scientists from Tohoku University and Yamagata University participated.

After introductory remarks by Martin Dulig, Dr. Hiroshi Iizuka, Vice President for Research and Industry Academic Collaboration of Yamagata University, and Shunsuke Ishikawa, Director of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Tohoku, there was an intensive scientific exchange with presentations and discussions in a round table format.

On-site, Prof. Dr. Salvan presented the new Collaborative Research Centre Transregio HYP*MOL, for which the University of Leipzig and TUC jointly secured the funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). Salvan addressed current research results in spintronics and also established contacts for future cooperation with CIES, which is headed by the renowned researcher Prof. Tetsuo Endoh. "The expertise of the Japanese colleagues regarding spins in organic molecules or in the field of spintronics fits very well with our HYP*MOL research area. Cooperation should be interesting and rewarding for both sides. We invited Prof. Endoh to visit Chemnitz University of Technology," summarizes Salvan. "We were also able to discuss important research topics in the field of micro-electro-mechanical systems, the so-called MEMS, and the packaging of electronics and MEMS, thus deepening the long-standing cooperation with Tohoku University," Schulz concluded.

Prof. von Unwerth met with company representatives during a tour of Toyota's fuel cell vehicle manufacturing facility. Together, the vehicle experts exchanged views on Toyota's manufacturing, but also on the capabilities of Chemnitz as a hydrogen location in an international comparison and explored opportunities for collaboration.

Prof. von Unwerth then stated, "Toyota is leading in the development of hydrogen-based drive systems. This means that we at Chemnitz University of Technology and at the Hydrogen Innovation Center of HZwo e. V. will benefit from a collaboration and can significantly expand our research location based on this. Developing our research focus on hydrogen together with one of the world's largest and leading automotive manufacturers in the development and use of hydrogen fuel cell technology is very appealing."

Prof. Schulz and Prof. Salvan also used the meetings with representatives of semiconductor companies and equipment manufacturers Ebara, Tokyo Electron, Renesas, Rapidus, and Kioxia to present both important research results from the Center for Microtechnologies of TUC and the Fraunhofer ENAS as well as from the SFB/TRR HYP*MOL and its research focus. Furthermore, Prof. Schulz aimed to initiate future collaboration in the development of electronic components and process simulation with these companies.

Matthias Fejes
26.09.2023

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