RE-CARE is a German-Japanese research network funded by the DFG that focuses on the role of technology in crises. The aim is to conduct cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural research into how social resilience can be strengthened - for example in dealing with pandemics, demographic change or technological upheaval. The next conference will take place on the 25th and 26th August 2025 in Münster, the program can be viewed on the homepage. RE-CARE Website
How did the RE-CARE project come about?
Even before RE-CARE, there was a BMFTR-funded project that dealt with the German-Japanese exchange on COVID-19. Inspired by this crisis-induced collaboration, I simply asked at a conference: who would like to initiate something bigger together?
Who is part of the network - and how is it structured?
RE-CARE has been officially approved as a DFG network since June 2024. Around 40 people are currently involved, 27 of whom are officially listed. What I find particularly valuable is that we not only bring together different countries, but also very different disciplines and career phases. From sociology to technology, health, law, sport and cultural studies, everything is included, so interdisciplinarity is not just a buzzword. It's also a mixed hierarchy - around 50% professors, the rest postdocs. I see this diversity as a strength: older people bring experience, younger people bring fresh ideas. Different perspectives come together without one dominating. My aim is for independent projects to develop from the network - even when I am no longer in charge.
What motivated you personally to initiate this project?
My professional background is in gender studies, sport and health. After my doctorate, I moved more towards crisis research - partly due to corona. Together with a friend and colleague from Potsdam, who worked a lot in technology, we thought about how crises could be systematically researched. I am particularly interested in how “crisis” is understood culturally. In Germany, we often think of war, inflation, energy - very security-related. In Japan, on the other hand, demographic developments, for example, or the consequences of natural and nuclear disasters are a major topic. Japanese society is very tech-savvy - care robots, radiation indicators in Fukushima, a technologically supported insurance system - while in Germany, technology is often met with greater skepticism. I find these contrasts exciting. To use a cliché: I must have traveled by train 100 times in Japan. Not one train left a minute too late - maybe I was just lucky.
Who is the project specifically aimed at - and what do you want to achieve?
RE-CARE is primarily aimed at researchers who work on crises, health and technology in an interdisciplinary and transcultural way. Our aim is not just to facilitate exchange, but to conduct research together, taking different epistemological approaches seriously and learning from each other - not just working side by side.
What have been the milestones so far - and where have there been challenges?
The first major milestone was the conference in Tokyo in March - with many partners from Japan. This was followed by the second conference in Münster in August. A third conference in Kyoto is possibly planned for the future.
Of course, there were also challenges: language barriers, different levels of English, time differences, economic limitations. Unfortunately, not everything can be financed from project funds, so other ways have to be found. But this is precisely where the potential lies - creative solutions, new alliances, a change of perspective.
What impact has the project had so far - scientifically or personally?
Scientifically, we are experiencing a great deal of openness, interest and support. I was particularly impressed by the collaboration with a colleague from Tokyo - a legal scholar who also works as a doctor. Despite this extreme workload, he was super reliable and supportive right from the start - that's a real boost. On a personal level, I can say that it's a pleasure. People give you just as much back as you put in yourself, which motivates me immensely.
What would you recommend to others who want to set up similar collaborations?
Quite honestly: just do it. Sure, you need a good, well-founded research project - but above all you need the will to get stuck in. You have to be on site, be present, take responsibility. I'm doing this myself for the first time and I realize how much work it is. But it's worth it. I've also learned that a personal impression often counts for more than ten emails. If you can, I would recommend making personal contact as early as possible, ideally by traveling to the partner country.
I would like to thank Dr. Dennis Krämer for the open and inspiring conversation.
Dr. Dennis Krämer is a sociologist at the University of Münster. Having grown up in Hamburg, influenced by Japanese pop culture and an early fascination with technology and computer games, he now researches resilience, health and gender relations in an international comparison. He founded and coordinates the German-Japanese DFG network RE-CARE.
