A New Franco-Japanese Collaboration under the ASPIRE and PEPR SPIN Research Programs
On March 3 and 4, 2025, Grenoble hosted the launch of a major Franco-Japanese collaboration in quantum spintronics, led by PEPR SPIN and fundred through the ASPIRE program of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Held at the Minatec center, this key event brought together around one hundred participants, including 70 in person, for presentations on the latest research advances and stimulating discussions between leading scientists and early-career researchers. The event concluded with laboratory visits at the Néel Institute and SPINTEC
An Institutional Opening
The event was inaugurated by the project coordinators, YoshiChika Otani for Japan and Lucian Prejbeanu for France, in the presence of several representatives from the governing institutions of the participating labs on both sides. Among them were Zenji Hiroi, Director of the Institute for Solid State Physics (ISSP), Norio Kawakami, JST Responsible, Catalin Miron, Director of Research Infrastructures, European and International Affairs at CEA-DRF, Pascale Bayle Guillemaud, Director of CEA-Irig, Frédéric Petroff, Scientific Director of CNRS Physics, Caroline Bertoneche, Vice-President for International Affairs at Université Grenoble Alpes and Lorena Anghel, Vice-President for Research at Grenoble INP – UGA.
Gathering around one hundred participants, including seventy in person, the event featured presentations on recent advancements in quantum spintronics and discussions between renowned scientists and the next generation of researchers.
The ASPIRE Program: A Catalyst for Scientific Innovation
The ASPIRE program (Accelerating Science and Piloting Innovation for Research Ecosystems) of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) aims to support world-class Japanese scientists by connecting them with leading international researchers. In December 2024, 14 projects were selected under the “ASPIRE for Top Scientists” category, each receiving funding of about to 3.5 Million € over five years.
Quantum Spintronics: A Promising New Research Field
Quantum spintronics is emerging as a new scientific frontier, at the crossroads between spintronics, quantum mechanics and materials science. This collaborative project seeks to leverage quantum degrees of freedom associated with charge, spin, orbital, phonon, and magnon currents to develop new functionalities and uncover novel physical phenomena.
By integrating advanced nanofabrication and state-of-the-art analysis techniques, this Franco-Japanese collaboration aspires to lay the foundation for a groundbreaking quantum spintronics, with potential applications in spintronics and quantum computing.
Scientific Objectives and Expected Advances
The research conducted within this collaboration is structured around three key areas:
1. Spin and Orbital Transport
> Investigating and characterizing orbital accumulation using cutting-edge experimental techniques.
> Studying the dynamic properties of orbital currents, their propagation, and attenuation lengths.
> Developing new interfaces leveraging the orbital Edelstein effect for efficient spin current conversion.
2. Quantum Transport
> Establishing a quasiparticle transport technology using pulsed surface acoustic waves.
> Exploring the effects of surface acoustic wave injection into atomically thin materials exhibiting superconductivity, magnetism, and charge density wave properties.
3. Chimera Quasiparticles
> Designing and fabricating magnon-phonon polaron band structures, analogous to quantum materials.
> Studying the coherent propagation of quasiparticles over long distances and the possibility of rectification via edge states.
A Strategic Collaboration for Global Research
By fostering exchanges between young researchers and graduate students from Japan and France, this initiative strengthens knowledge circulation and encourages the emergence of new ideas. The partnership between PEPR SPIN and Japanese institutions aligns with a broader vision of cutting-edge research, opening new perspectives for quantum spintronics.
This kick-off event marks the formalization of the collaboration between the Université de Tokyo – RIKEN – Osaka University and the PEPR SPIN (Programme de Recherche SPINtronique), including Grenoble, Paris Saclay and Marseille hubs and marks the beginning of an ambitious scientific journey, positioning France and Japan at the forefront of tomorrow’s technological breakthroughs.
