The recent international developments of inorganic chemistry can be explained not only by the fact that this chemistry applies to all the elements of the periodic system, but also because of its numerous interfaces with other disciplines and fields, themselves in very rapid growth.

Whether one considers synthetic molecular chemistry, bio-inorganic chemistry (models of enzymatic active sites), homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, the photocatalytic activation of small molecules, the synthesis of advanced molecules with high added value via atom-economy processes, or supramolecular chemistry, the concepts and applications of inorganic chemistry are indispensable to deepen and expand our knowledge in these domains of considerable academic and industrial impact and relevance.

The South Europe–Japan Joint Forum “Inorganic Chemistry and Its Interfaces”, held in Strasbourg (France) on 17 & 18 October 2014, was organized for the first time by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the University of Strasbourg (UdS) and the “Centre national de la recherche scientifique” (CNRS, France).

Its objectives were to discuss the most recent advances made by highly recognized international scientists in order to stimulate scientific exchanges and encourage multidisciplinary collaborations by bringing in direct contact top scientists from Japan, France, and southern Europe.

In particular, the catalytic activation by metal coordination using the most recently developed and efficient families of ligands, the bio-inspired catalytic production of dihydrogen, the electrochemical and photochemical activation processes related to solar cells, and the synthesis of complex molecular systems and inorganic materials endowed with unique catalytic, magnetic or electric properties, were at the focus of this Forum.

Considering the relevance of the topics discussed and the outstanding science that was presented during this Forum, we felt that publishing state-of-the-art contributions from these various laboratories would benefit a broader audience and stimulate further scientific interactions.

We are most grateful to the authors for having taken the time to submit a contribution.

Last but not least, we wish to thank the sponsors who have made possible the organization of this scientific event: the JSPS, the UdS, the CNRS, the International Center for Frontier Research in Chemistry (Strasbourg), the “Société chimique de France”, the Ville de Strasbourg, the Région Alsace, and the Consulate General of Japan in Strasbourg.