Background Information

Germany is India's one of the oldest collaborator in Science & Technology (S&T), the collaboration dating back to 1971 when an "Agreement on Cooperation regarding Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and Space Research" was concluded. This was followed by another Agreement on "Scientific Research and Technological Development" signed in 1974, which forms the basis for all S&T cooperation activities. S&T cooperation is reckoned as one of the main pillars of Indo-German bilateral relations. Department of Science & Technology (DST) on the Indian side and German Federal Ministry for Education, Research and Technology (BMBF) are the nodal agencies for overall co-ordination. Within the bilateral umbrella agreement a number of special co-operative arrangements have been concluded and activities implemented by a number of agencies from the Indian and German sides. For example from the Indian side, DST, DBT, DAE, ISRO, CSIR, ICMR, DOD, MNES, MOEF, INSA and from the German side, viz.' Research Centre, Juelich (FzJ), German Aeronautical and Space Research Establishment (DLR), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Society for Research in Radiation and Environment (GSF), Max Plank Society (MPG), Fraunhofer Society (FhG), German Research Foundation (DFG) and Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) are involved in implementation of the collaborative activities. To coordinate the cooperation, both countries have posted Science Counselors in their respective Embassies since mid-80s.

The programmes supported and implemented by DST, through Indo-German S&T Cooperation are as follows-:-

Indo-German bilateral (DST-BMBF) Programme: The activities supported are Joint Research projects; Workshops and Project Formulation visits in identified areas. High emphasis on Application-oriented R&D projects with participation of Industrial partner, wherever possible. The Indo-German S&T Centre is being established in New Delhi with DST and BMBF as the nodal departments for facilitating the activities under the Centre.

Indo-German (DST-DAAD PPP) Programme: Joint Research Projects with special emphasis on specialized academic training to young scientists, Ph.D students through project based exchange visits.

Indo-German (DST-DFG) Programme: Activities supported are Joint Research Projects; Joint Workshops; Joint Research Training Groups; Exchange Visits for Scientists for utilization of major research facilities; Project Development & Fact finding missions; etc.

Indo-German (DST-MPG) Programme: Joint support by Department of Science & Technology (DST) of India and Max Planck Society of Germany for Max Planck Partner Groups at Indian Partner Institutions and Max Planck India Fellowships. This programme, in addition to collaborative research activities among scientists envisages establishment of Max Planck Partner Groups in Indian Partner Institutions (IPI) with co-funding by DST and MPG.

Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Students in Lindau, Germany: DST Awards for Participation of Young Indian Scientists in the Annual Meetings of Nobel Laureates & Students in Lindau Germany

The Joint Call for proposals are issued on mutually agreed dates. For this purpose, please visit What's New Section of the website or www.dst.gov.in