Wiss-Nama Newsletter

WISS-NAMA is the newsletter of the Science and Technology Department of the German Embassy, New Delhi. The title is a combination of a German and an Indian word: WISS, an abbreviation of the German word 'Wissenschaft' (meaning science), and NAMA, a word used in Sanskrit and Persian contexts, standing for 'compendium' or 'handbook'.

News from Indo-German Cooperation

Dr Jasper Wieck speaks at Fraunhofer Workshop on Smart Cities

Fraunhofer Society, with the support of the German Ministry of Education and Research, Indian Ministry of Urban Development and National Institute of Urban Affairs organised a Smart City Solution workshop on the theme “Building the city of tomorrow” on 9th May at Shangri La Eros Hotel, New Delhi. Chargé d’ Affaires Dr Jasper Wieck gave the welcome address. Among the participants of the workshop were experts from Germany and representatives of German companies as well as decision makers from India, including heads of the smart city units from the States. The workshop also included sessions on topics like Smart Water Management, Financing Models for Indian Smart Cities, Sustainable Energy Systems for Smart Cities, Mobility and Stakeholder Participation amongst others. The lectures were followed by interactive Q&A sessions. Mr. Ambitabh Kant, CEO Niti Aayog, addressed the participants during the closing session of the workshop.  

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Heidelberg Centre South Asia launches a unique exchange platform for young scholars  

Under the aegis of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Heidelberg Centre South Asia (the Branch Office of the Heidelberg University in New Delhi) officially launched the Heidelberg India Research Internship Platform (HEIIN) on April 10, 2017 at the German House for Research and Innovation (DWIH). The Vice-President of Heidelberg University, Prof. Dr. Dieter Heermann, inaugurated the platform, together with Mr. Stephan Lanzinger, Head Science and Technology Section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ms. Tania Friederichs, Head, Innovation and Technology, EU Delegation to India, Prof. Kavita A. Sharma, President, South Asian University, Prof. Pankaj Jalote, Director, IIIT Delhi and Prof. Shahid Ashraf, officiating Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia Central University. This platform offers researchers information on internship opportunities both in Heidelberg and its partner institutions from India.

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Meeting on Big Data Science at Jawaharlal Nehru University

School of Computational and Integrative Science, J.N.U., New Delhi, and Heidelberg Centre South Asia co-organized a meeting on Big Data Science on April 11, 2017 at J.N.U, where there were invited talks followed by a panel discussion. About 50 students, research scholars and some post-doctoral researchers from different schools/centres of JNU and 10 faculties from SCIS, JNU and other institutes of India attended the meeting. After the inaugural session, there were three talks. In addition to that, Dr Sivaji Chadaram (Scientific Advisor, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology) and Dr. Naresh Sharma (Head, International Relations Office, IISER Pune) attended the meeting.

Highlights from Germany and India

India successfully launches South Asia Satellite

India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) successfully launched the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) on May 5, 2017. South Asia Satellite is a communication satellite built by ISRO to provide a variety of communication services over the South Asian region. The 2,230-kg communication spacecraft will support communication, broadcasting and Internet services, disaster management, tele-medicine, tele-education, weather forecasting in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on achieving a flawless lift-off and said the launch fulfills India’s promise of July 2014 of a regional satellite. “With this launch we have started a journey to build the most advanced frontier of our partnership. With its position high in the sky, this symbol of South Asian cooperation would meet the aspirations of economic progress of more than 1.5 billion people in our region and extend our close links into outer space”, he said.

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Research factory for microelectronics started in Germany

The German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) is starting a new investment programme for microelectronic research. The focus of the programme is the “Research factory for microelectronics Germany”, in which for the first time research capacities are being linked, bundled and spread nationwide, in order to gain more influence internationally as a microelectronic site. The BMBF is funding the investment programme with a total of 400 million Euros. Since the reunification this is the biggest investment in the research of microelectronics in Germany. 

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Upcoming events and conferences

DAAD Events

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) will be organizing a series of events for Indian students and researchers interested in pursuing studies or research in Germany and webinars for students joining German universities shortly.

Webinar

Master’s in Germany

May 25, 15:00 hrs IST, any place convenient to the participant with good internet connection

German universities combine research and studies and have been the scene for ground-breaking discoveries. This webinar will deal with admission procedure, timeline, course selection for pursuing Master's studies in Germany.

Register  

Training Workshop:  Preparing a PhD Application to a German University/Research Centre

Chennai: May 12, 9:30 - 16:30 hrs, Seminar Hall 2, IC & SR Building, IIT Madras Campus, Chennai 600036

Register by email. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate.

Application Deadline: 25 April

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DAAD Presentation at The Hindu International Education Fairs 2017

Chennai: May 13, 2017, Taj Club House, Chennai

Register at the venue

PhD in Germany

New Delhi: May 12, 11:00 - 13:00 hrs, DAAD, DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, New Delhi

Participation only with prior registration. Registration closes on 10 May 2017.

Register

PhD in Germany

New Delhi: May 26, 15:00 - 17:00 hrs, DAAD, DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, New Delhi

Participation only with prior registration. Registration closes on May 24

Register

Calls for Proposals: Funding Opportunities and Scholarships

Green Talents – International Forum for High-Potentials in Sustainable Development

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has held the prestigious ”Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development” since 2009 to promote the international exchange of innovative green ideas. The award, under the patronage of Minister Johanna Wanka, honours 25 young researchers each year.

Application deadline: May 23, 2017

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PhD positions in cancer research

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg invites international students holding a Master’s degree in (molecular) biology, (bio-) chemistry, (bio-) physics, computational biology, computer science, epidemiology/public health studies and related subjects to apply for their International PhD Program. 

Application deadline: May 31, 2017

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DAAD announces Young Ambassador Programme 2017

If you are a student or student researcher and have recently returned from a study stay in Germany and you loved it, tell others how great it was. Become a DAAD Young Ambassador! Young Ambassadors are students or young professionals who have studied or carried out research at a university or research institute in Germany and are interested in promoting education in Germany. Through the Young Ambassadors Programme, selected candidates will be able to keep their ties to Germany alive, hone their presentation and organizational skills and make a difference in something they feel strongly about. 

Application deadline: June 12, 2017

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Falling Walls Labs 2017 

The Call for Applications for Falling Labs India 2017 is now open. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), German House for Innovation and Research (DWIH) New Delhi the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) are hosting this year’s Falling Walls Lab with support of the Federal Foreign Office, Germany. The Lab will take place at IIT Madras on August 12, 2017. The Falling Walls Lab gives innovative young minds the opportunity to present their research project, business plan, entrepreneurial or social initiative that is relevant to the world of today to a panel of eminent jury and general public. The winner of the Lab qualifies and gets funded to participate in the Lab Finale in Berlin on November 8, 2017 as one of 100 international and interdisciplinary participants. 

Application deadline: June 12, 2017

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DAAD Project-Based Personnel Exchange Programmes (PPP)

Under the PPP programmes, university professors and scientists from German and Indian universities and those in permanent employment at independent research institutes are eligible to apply for 2 years funding for collaborative research projects between Indian and German research groups.

Deadline: June 14, 2017

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M.Sc. Solar Energy Engineering at University of Freiburg

The MSc. Solar Energy Engineering is a part-time distance learning program which covers the scientific and technological details of solar cell, photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. The teaching language is English and the specifically designed online lectures are accompanied by eventful (voluntary) campus phases at the end of each semester.

Start of the next study batch: Oct 2017

Application deadline: June 15, 2017

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Participation of Early Career Researchers in the Humboldt Colloquium "Germany and India – Partners in Education and Research"

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation invites advanced PhD students as well as scientists and scholars who received their PhD degree fewer than 10 years ago to submit an application to participate in the three-day colloquium and present a short paper during the workshops and/or a poster during the poster session. The Humboldt Foundation will hold a three-day interdisciplinary symposium in Bengaluru from November 23-25, to explore the opportunities and challenges of collaborative partnerships between India and Germany in education and research. Participants will include around 150 current members of the Indian Humboldt community as well as around 50 early career researchers from leading universities and research institutions across the country. 

Application Deadline: July 3, 2017

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Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) and European Fellowships (EFs) 

The MSCA-IF aims at supporting the international mobility of researchers through two sub-schemes i.e. the Global Fellowship allowing Europeans to come to India and the European Fellowship for Indians to go to Europe in one of the 28 Member States or in one of the 14 countries associated to Horizon 2020. Since launch of Horizon 2020, 380 Indian researchers have benefited from MSCA grant. The MSCA provide grants at all stages of researchers' careers, from PhD candidates to highly experienced researchers, and encourage transnational, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. The MSCA is the main EU programme for doctoral training, funding 25000 PhDs. The call is open to young & experienced researchers of any nationality, i.e. researchers holding a doctoral degree or at least four years’ full-time research experience by the time of the call deadline.

Application deadline: September 14, 2017

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Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for German Chancellor Fellowship

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation invites applications from Indian young professionals from wide range of fields such as politics, business, media, public administration, society and culture. The Fellowship for prospective leaders offers talented young professionals an opportunity to spend a year in Germany which they can use to advance their professional training and conduct together with their German host a project they have developed themselves. 

Application Deadline: September 15, 2017

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EU Call for Propasals - ERASMUS+ Programme 

Numerous Call for Proposals have been announced under the Erasmus+ Programme, the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport as well as on the 2016 and 2017 Erasmus+ annual work programmes. The Erasmus+ programme covers the period 2014 to 2020. Any public or private body active in the fields of education, training, youth and sport may apply for funding within this programme. In addition, groups of young people who are active in youth work, but not necessarily in the context of a youth organisation, may apply to learn mobility of young people and youth workers as well as for strategic partnerships in the field of youth. Under the ERASMUS+ programme there are a definite number of calls for proposals having different deadlines till October 2017. 

Application deadline: October 2017

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Job Vacancy

Key expert: EU Days and Higher Education Outreach expert for EU Policy and Outreach Partnership India

The Project Management Agency, working as a contractor for German Aerospace Centre, is looking for a key expert for the work related to the outreach in the area of Higher Education, aimed at promoting Indian participation in the Erasmus+ programme and Jean Monnet activities, as well as at encouraging academic cooperation between Indian and European Higher Education Institutions. The applicant should have an advanced university degree, with knowledge of both European and India higher education systems, and should be able to lead and motivate a multicultural team of experts to deliver results. 

Application deadline: May 27, 2017

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Know the Indo-German science landscape: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

To acquaint our readers with the scientific scenario in India and Germany and to highlight the Indo-German cooperation in the field of science and technology, we would like to introduce one German or Indian Science institution in every edition, as a new feature in our newsletter.

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

(©IIT Delhi)

The Indian Institutes of Technology (popularly known as IITs) are institutions of national importance established through an Act of Parliament for fostering excellence in education. There are twenty three IITs at present including IIT Delhi. IIT Delhi offers state-of-the-art undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. Comprising of an excellent faculty the institute aims to offer instruction in Applied Sciences and Engineering of a standard comparable to the best in world, provide adequate facilities for post-graduation and research, establish teaching and research programmes of an interdisciplinary nature and to develop strong collaborative links with other institutions and organisations among others. Since its inception, over 35000 students have graduated from IIT Delhi in various disciplines including Engineering, Physical Sciences, Management and Humanities and Social Sciences. Admissions to all undergraduate programmes are made through Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), whereas for postgraduate programmes are done through Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Among other countries IIT Delhi also has a strong cooperation with Germany. The Indo Max Planck Collaboration in Computer Science (IMPECS) is run as collaboration by the Max Planck Institutes for Software Systems and Informatics at IIT Delhi.

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Did You Know?

Eyes always remain the same in size since the time we are born and till the moment we die, whereas our ears and nose constantly grow throughout our life.

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