As the global economy shifts toward a multi‑polar order, Germany and Japan face a shared strategic challenge: how to sustain industrial leadership in an era defined by geopolitical fragmentation, accelerated AI investment, and intensifying competition between major powers.   

Against this backdrop, so‑called “middle powers” risk being squeezed - unless they convert industrial depth, technology competence, and evolving AI ecosystems into comparative advantages. New strategies beyond general technology cooperation at the ministerial level, as in the G7 Hiroshima AI Process are desperately needed.  

This symposium explores how Germany and Japan can turn middle‑power realities into strategic advantages for shared innovation. It focuses on ideas and responses for cooperation on secure and sustainable supply chain standards, data sharing, as well as the development and deployment of industrial and physical AI.