Second Collaborative Project Progress Presentations (Nov 4, 2021)

GRK2495 is one of the first international doctoral programs at FAU, which is a joint research and training project together with the Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan in the area of electro-optical and electro-mechanical materials and devices for multifunctional energy harvesting systems. In order to facilitate and increase cross-disciplinary collaboration, GRK2495 includes an engineering and materials development competition.

Four groups of doctoral researchers, each consisting of FAU- and NITech doctoral researcher, are working collaboratively since March 2020 to develop a concept addressing a scientific question. The topic was presented at the Kick-off Meeting in February 2020: Developing a strategy to couple electro-optical and electro-mechanical functionalities. Importantly, this topic is open enough that it can entail materials development, device integration development, simulations, and structure development. The teams then submitted a proposal explaining their research idea, proposed methods, and important milestones as well as a financial justification for requested funds. At the 1st Yearly School on Energy Systems in March 2021, the teams presented their initial findings and results after working collaborativly for one year.

The Collaborative Project has then been extended for one more year, in the same group and with the same question. The teams submitted renewal proposals in May 2021. Now, after continuing the collaborative work in their respective teams, they presented their progress on November 4, 2021: