NTNU Chemistry Strengthens Partnership with Osaka University, Advancing Joint Ph.D. Training and Cross-National Research
NTNU’s Department of Chemistry has taken a major step forward in its long-term partnership with Osaka University. During a two-day visit to the Graduate School of Science in October 2025, the two institutions confirmed a series of new initiatives that will deepen academic cooperation, including the launch of a joint Ph.D. program, coordinated student exchange and research training pathways, collaborative beamline proposals at SPring-8 and SACLA, and the development of lab-to-lab research platforms. They also agreed to offer an international summer course on Quantum Materials and Sustainable Chemistry at NTNU in 2026.
The NTNU delegation, composed of ten faculty members and three doctoral students, participated in laboratory visits, research presentations, and administrative meetings that advanced discussions on joint degree implementation, student mobility, and access to large-scale international research facilities. The visit strengthened the universities’ long-standing partnership and established the framework for the 2026 Sakura Science Program and NTNU Summer Program.
Long-Term Collaboration Supporting Joint Doctorates and Lab Partnerships
NTNU and Osaka University have worked together since signing a university-level agreement in 2011. In 2023, NTNU’s Department of Chemistry initiated a dual doctoral degree system with Osaka University’s Graduate School of Science. This allows students to complete coursework and research at both universities and earn degrees from each after joint evaluation. The 2025 visit served as a key step toward putting the system into practice.
The delegation was led by Professor Chia-Jung Lu, former department chair and coordinator of the Osaka partnership. The welcome session, chaired by Professor Takashi Kubo, Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Science, included research introductions from faculty on both sides. A student poster session followed, featuring work in sustainable catalysis, energy materials, quantum chemistry, and biomedical sensing.
Laboratory Visits Lay the Groundwork for Future Collaboration
Delegation members visited several laboratories and core facilities, including the Mass Spectrometry Center, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center, X ray Diffraction Center, and the Research Center for Thermal and Energy Science. The exchange of methods in instrument operation, sample processing, and data analysis set the foundation for future cooperation in sample sharing and joint measurements.
Associate Professor Yi-Hsin Liu and Professor Nakazawa also drafted a SACLA beamline proposal for 2026 titled “Lattice Vibration and Spin Phonon Coupling in Mn Doped Quantum Dots.” Scheduled for submission in early 2026, it is expected to become the first large-scale joint facility project undertaken by the two universities.
Learning from Osaka University’s Scientific Tradition
The delegation visited the School of Science History Exhibition Hall and the Museum of Natural Science, guided by retired Professor Takumi Konno. Exhibits introduced the development of Osaka University’s scientific research since 1931 and highlighted contributions from scholars such as Professor Toshiyuki Majima, known as the father of organic chemistry in Japan.
An evening banquet provided opportunities for extended conversation among faculty and students, reinforcing future channels for academic and laboratory cooperation. Both sides also finalized their collaborative schedule for 2026.
Expanding Student Exchange Opportunities
NTNU’s Department of Chemistry has long supported international research experience and has developed a continuous pathway linking exchange, research training, and dual degrees. A major outcome of the visit was the confirmation that Osaka University will host four NTNU students in January 2026 under the Sakura Science Program, led by Professor Hui Ling Sung. Students will spend five days in Osaka University laboratories for supervised research and cultural exchange.
The two universities will also hold the NTNU Summer Program 2026 in Taipei, focusing on Quantum Materials and Sustainable Chemistry. Graduate students from Osaka University will engage in six to eight weeks of research internships and modular courses.
Complementary Strengths Supporting Long-Term Cooperation
Osaka University’s Graduate School of Science offers seven collaborative research centers and extensive large-scale facilities. NTNU brings strengths in interdisciplinary integration, educational innovation, and international talent preparation. Looking ahead, cooperation will continue across education, research, and industry-academia collaboration through initiatives such as:
- Joint Ph.D. training for two to three students each year
- Research clusters in sustainable materials, energy catalysis, quantum spectroscopy, and theoretical chemistry and simulation
- Joint symposia, coauthored publications, and beamline work at SPring-8, SACLA, and J-PARC
- A proposed NTNU–Osaka University exchange scholarship to support student research in Japan
This cooperation model elevates the partnership from individual faculty connections to a more structured and long-term framework, supporting the development of a regional network in sustainable chemistry and advanced materials research.
Four Year Collaboration Plan
Under their shared plan, NTNU and Osaka University will pursue the following actions between 2025 and 2028:
- 2025–2026: Implement the Sakura Science Program and NTNU Summer Program
- 2026–2027: Hold the first joint international symposium and complete coauthored publications
- 2028: Expand partnership into industry-academia research networks and move toward a trans university research center
The Department of Chemistry stated that the visit highlighted NTNU’s capacity for international talent cultivation, research coordination, and academic program design. Through Osaka University’s scientific infrastructure and NTNU’s educational innovation, the two universities aim to train globally competitive chemists and materials scientists and strengthen NTNU’s role in sustainable chemistry education in the Asia Pacific region.