15 PhD students of the BOKU doctorate school ABCM ("Advanced Biorefineries - Chemistry and Materials") visited three internationally leading Japanese institutions in this field during a twelve-day excursion: Shinshu University (fiber science), Kyoto University (chemistry of lignocellulosics) / Kyoto University - Uji Campus (nanocelluloses and composites) and Kyoto Institute of Technology (processing of renewable resources).