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

4th Indo-German Intergovernmental Consultations in Berlin

The 4th Indo-German Intergovernmental Consultations took place in Berlin on May 29 and 30, 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Germany accompanied by his delegation of senior ministers, including Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan. Chancellor Angela Merkel and PM Modi held talks on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues during the visit. Three Agreements have been signed in Science and Technology including a Joint Declaration of Intent on the continued Support of the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability between Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology of the Government of the Republic of India and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, an agreement between Max Planck Institute for Informatics and Max Planck Institute for Software Systems and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi on Indo-German Max Planck-Collaboration for Computer Science and the second addendum to the MoU on research cooperation between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centres.

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67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

23 young Indian researchers are attending the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to chemistry from 25-30th June 2017. Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, organizes a pre-departure meet for the young researchers every year. The purpose of the meet is to brief them about the upcoming meeting and how they can best use this opportunity. Dietrich Graf von der Schulenburg, Cultural Counsellor, German Embassy, addressed the young researchers and stressed the unique opportunity for high-level networking in Lindau. He also presented them with some souvenirs from the embassy. The 23 young Indian researchers are among the 400 aspiring young researchers selected from almost 80 countries who will meet 30 Nobel Laureates to exchange ideas, discuss projects and build international network to continue the lineage of the next generation of leading scientist and researchers.

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Indian cricket delegation visits solarised soccer stadiums in Germany

A delegation of senior officials from Board of Control for Cricket in India and State Cricket Associations, visited Germany from May 28 to June 4, 2017 to get an insight into best practices in constructing and retrofitting sport stadiums with solar technology. The tour was organised by GIZ India. Members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and high ranking officials from eight State Cricket Associations visited four solarised soccer stadiums in Germany as part of their visit to Intersolar Europe 2017, world’s largest international solar exhibition. The visit focused on giving the delegates an insight into best practices in constructing and retrofitting sport stadiums with solar technology. The tour was organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) as part of its Green Wicket project with support from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), German Solar Association (BSW) and Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC).

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Highlights from India and Germany

First Developmental Flight of India’s GSLV MK III successfully launches GSAT-19 Satellite

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a massive rocket on June 5, 2017, which will function mainly as a delivery system for heavier satellites. The rocket will be able to transport heavier satellites that India had previously relied on France’s space agency to carry. This was the first orbital mission of GSLV MK III. GSAT-19, which is a high throughput communication satellite, has been successfully placed in orbit. 

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ISRO puts 31 satellites in space

The Indian Research Space Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 31 satellites – 29 of them belonging to 14 foreign countries – including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, United Kingdom and the U.S. on June 24, 2017 with the PSLV-C38 on board. 

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Indian universities among top 200 universities in the world

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, IIT-Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore have emerged in the top 200 universities in the latest edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. IIT-Bombay held the 179th rank, whereas IIT-Delhi came on 172 and IISc on 190.  IISc is rated the sixth best institution in the world in terms of QS’s ‘citations per faculty’ metric. IIT-Delhi has replaced IISc as the world’s best Indian institution. In the overall rankings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) continues to be the best university for the sixth consecutive year. 

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Top 100 professional colleges in India in 2017

Every year Outlook India Magazine conducts a ranking of India’s top 100 professional colleges. A ranking is provided to the colleges in India in the fields of engineering, hotel management, social work, law, architecture, mass communication, dental, medical and fashion technology. This year too under the 100 best Engineering Colleges’ category Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Mumbai and Kharagpur topped the charts.

Read more about other rankings

Upcoming events and conferences

Indo-German Smart Initiative’s Conference “UrbanLab Delhi: Integrated Urban Development and Co-Production for Indian Cities”

Indo-German Smart Initiative (IGSI) is organising a conference and workshop UrbanLab in Delhi from July 12-14, 2017. IGSI is a network of leading German research and planning institutions that strives for knowledge transfer between Germany and India in the field of smart cities. The IGSI is supported by network partners School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi and National Institute of Urban Affairs. By working on actual planning tasks, participants of UrbanLabs will investigate programmatic gaps in recent smart city proposals and will furthermore experience methods of integrated and collaborative planning processes, which set individuals and users of urban spaces in the centre of itself. The first UrbanLab will focus on Connaught Place, one of the most iconic areas of New Delhi. Six representatives from leading planning companies including architecture, urban design, mobility, infrastructure development, waste management, governance will work together with you on ideas and strategies, to bring Delhi’s smart city proposal into practice. 

To register: igsi%27%info,mail

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. 

International Programmes at Paderborn University

July 13, 15:00 hrs IST, any place convenient to the participant with good internet connection

Find out about International Master Programs at Paderborn University with a focus on Engineering and Economics. Get ready for your job in German Engineering and Business – Study at Paderborn University, the University for the Information Society.

Register

Masters in Germany

July 27, 15:00 h 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 questions such as: Where can one pursue Masters in Germany? How to find a suitable programme? What is the application procedure? etc.

Register

Higher Studies & Research Opportunities in Germany

Chennai: July 4, 11:00 hrs, DAAD IC Chennai, 20/10 Jaganathan Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai

Register

Higher Studies & Research Opportunities in Germany

Coimbatore: July 15, Goethe Zentrum, 734, Avinashi Rd, President Hall, Govind Naidu Charities, Race Course,  P N Palayam, Coimbatore

Register

Study and Research in Germany

New Delhi: July 4, 15:00 hrs, German House, 2 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

To Register

Study and Research in Germany

New Delhi: July 25, 15:00 hrs, German House, 2 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Register

Study in Europe Information Events

Tiruchirapalli: July 10, time yet to be announced, Anna University Tiruchirapalli Campus

Register: At the venue

Calls for Proposals: Funding Opportunities and Scholarships

Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme (VAJRA)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 14thPravasiBharatiya Divas Convention at Bengaluru on 8th January 2017 had announced the launching of VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty scheme by the Department of Science and Technology which enables Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to research and development in India. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of the Department will implement the Scheme. The VAJRA faculty will engage in collaborative research in public funded institutions. The Indian collaborator and the overseas faculty will jointly frame a research plan and the application duly endorsed by the Head of the Institution will be submitted online by the Indian collaborator. Public funded academic institutions and national laboratories are eligible to host the VAJRA Faculty. Applications for VAJRA Faculty Scheme can be submitted from July 1, 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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Know the Indo-German science landscape: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune

IISER Pune

(©IISER Pune)

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.

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has established seven Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), one of which is IISER Pune. Other institutes are located in Bhopal, Berhampur, Mohali, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram and Tirupati. IISER Pune is a research-intensive teaching institute, offering Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. programmes which is also a member of Association of Indian Universities. Since its inception IISER Pune has published over 900 research papers in highly reputed national and international journals.  IISER Pune currently has collaborations with various German institutes and universities like Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam and Leibniz University, Hannover. It promotes relationships with overseas universities and institutions and helps to define the scope of these relations through appropriate MoUs. 

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Did You Know

The Earth is travelling across the sun at a speed of 67,000 miles per hour.

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