Bilateral Cooperation in Science and Technology
Overview
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In terms of scientific output across all subjects, Germany is India's second largest collaborator world wide
(© picture alliance/Design pics )
Indo-German cooperation in science and technology is a defining pillar of our bilateral relationship. India and Germany maintain a highly dynamic academic exchange and a vast array of bilateral research projects to jointly develop the technologies of the future.
Today, German is the most popular foreign language among Indian students and graduates. In terms of scientific output across all subjects, Germany is India's second largest collaborator worldwide. For Indian scientists working abroad, Germany is among the top three destinations in the world.
So far, more than 2,000 joint projects have been successfully completed, resulting in over 7,000 exchanges of scientists, more than 2,000 joint scientific publications and more than 400 Indo-German workshops and seminars. At present, over 170 projects are being implemented. India's star researchers have earned 1,680 prestigious Humboldt-fellowships till date, placing India among the world's top three countries in this category.
DAAD scholarships for India have increased by 30 percent in the decades from 1999 – 2009. In 2009, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funded 1,107 Indians to pursue higher education or conduct research in Germany. In the period from 1999 – 2009, more than 7,520 Indian students and researchers got an opportunity to carry out their studies or research in Germany under the umbrella of DAAD programmes.
History of research cooperation
Today's highly dynamic science and technology cooperation between India and Germany is the result of decades of ever intensifying-ties in this field.
Cooperation in science, research and technology between India and Germany dates back to the 1960s. Since then, it has been based on two inter-governmental agreements in 1971 and 1974. Subsequently, several special arrangements between German and Indian research organisations were signed to initiate and implement common research projects as well as the exchange of scientists.
Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC)
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German Minister Annette Schavan and India's Kapil Sibal inaugurate the S&T Centre
(© German Embassy)
The flagship of Indo-German cooperation in science and technology is the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) in Gurgaon, near Delhi. India and Germany each contribute two million euros annually to the Centre, which serves as a model for Public Private Partnerships for scientific and industrial research.
Since 2010, it funds bilateral research projects in the applied sciences. A particular focus is the active involvement of industry companies on both sides. A first tranche of bilateral research projects in the fields of biotechnology and renewable energies started in 2010. A second call is being prepared.
German Research Foundation (DFG)–INSA (Indian National Science Academy) Programme
In 1986, the German Research Foundation (DFG)–INSA (Indian National Science Academy) Programme for further enhancement of academic exchange was set up. Within the next two years, two more components were added to this exchange programme: one was to enable a nine-month course for Indian or German masters students in either one of the seven IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) or in one of seven defined Technical Universities in Germany; the other primarily addressed younger scientists for a project-based exchange supported by DAAD and the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Nobel Laureate Meetings in Lindau
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Young Indian Scientists meet Nobel Laureates in Germany
(© Council for Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting)
Furthermore, a group of around 20 outstanding young Indian scientists takes part in the Annual Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau/Bodensee since 2001.
Thereafter, DFG organises their weeklong visit to premier German research institutions. India was the partner country at the Lindau Meet in 2009.
Other bilateral agreements
In 2004, the Max Planck Society signed a crucial agreement with DST, covering joint research projects, joint seminars and the exchange of scientists.
Also, in 2004 DFG signed an agreement with DST, broadening significantly the scope of cooperation from individual-based to project-oriented research. Joint seminars, preparatory visits and short-term visits are also part of the agreement.
In February 2010, the Indo-German Max Planck Centre for Computer Science was inaugurated by the former German President Horst Koehler, together with the then Indian Minister of Science & Technology, Prithviraj Chavan. Set up jointly by DST and the Max Planck Society, the centre will receive a total funding of around four million euros over the next five years.
