Welcome
Wiss-Nama Newsletter September 2025
News from Indo-German cooperation
German organisations come together for science roundtable
The German Embassy hosted a roundtable with some 20 German agencies, each with science-related programmes in and with India on September 1 in New Delhi. Universities, research institutes, funding agencies, foundations, and other organisations discussed priorities and plans for the upcoming six months. Our special guest, Nistha Tripathi, Founder, Scholar Strategy, presented ways on how Germany could attract more highly qualified Indian students and become a favoured international study destination. The Tour de Table was followed by a stimulating exchange on the upcoming projects of German universities and organisations in India.
Enhancing Indo-German SME Innovation and Technology Cooperation
DWIH New Delhi and the Fraunhofer Office in India have collaborated on a report that offers an overview of the innovation and research ecosystems in both India and Germany, with a particular focus on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs play a crucial role in driving economic growth, but they often face challenges in international technology collaborations, such as limited personnel capacity and restricted access to global research networks. The report highlights existing short-term support mechanisms but stresses the need for long-term initiatives to strengthen SME-to-SME and SME-to-academia collaborations. It also explores funding opportunities for technology transfer and industry-academia partnerships. In 2022, DWIH New Delhi and Fraunhofer Office India launched an exploratory project to identify barriers in Indo-German SME collaboration, gathering expert insights through discussions and a stakeholder dialogue in Berlin and New Delhi. The findings of these dialogues helped shape the recommendations in the report, aimed at improving technology cooperation between the two countries.
Read more and download the full report
Upcoming events and conferences
Web-talk Series- Research Careers in Germany
DWIH New Delhi is organising a 3-day web-talk series from October 7-9 to present the research and innovation landscape of Germany for international researchers. Questions like, where can you do research in Germany? What kind of funding is available for short-term and long-term research stays? Is Germany a location for advanced research in public health? How does Germany perform in research opportunities for women? will be answered representatives of funding bodies, public research organizations, research promotion organisations as well as scientists with research experiences in Germany in the series.
Find below more on the series:
Research Careers in Germany: Pathways in Public Health
October 7, 2025, 4:00 PM, Online
Research Careers in Germany: How to Fund your Research and Research Stays
October 8, 2025, 4:00 PM, Online
Research Careers in Germany: Opportunities for Women
October 9, 2025, 4:00 PM, Online
DAAD Events
Chennai: Research in Germany (IITM)
The DAAD is conducting a virtual information session with IIT Madras about PhD opportunities in Germany and DAAD funding. The session will cover eligibility criteria, application procedure, documentation, visa procedure etc.
Open for students of IIT Madras
September 8, 2025, 6:00 PM, Online
Web Session: Bachelors in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing Bachelor’s in Germany and get your questions answered too.
September 9, 2025, 3:00 PM, Online
Chennai: Higher Studies and Research in Germany (Jeppiaar Institute)
The DAAD is conducting a virtual information session with Jeppiaar Institute Chennai about Masters and PhD opportunities in Germany. The session will cover eligibility criteria, application procedure, documentation, visa procedure etc.
Open for the students of Jeppiaar Institute
September 10, 2025, 1:30 PM, Online
Online Pre-Departure Session
This event will provide valuable insights, tips, and networking opportunities to ensure a smooth transition to your new academic life in Germany.
Open for students with admission to a German university for winter semester 2025 – 2026.
September 11, 2025, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Online
Hyderabad: Higher Studies and Research in Germany (BITS Pilani)
The DAAD is conducting a virtual information session with BITS Pilani Hyderabad about Masters and PhD opportunities in Germany. The session will cover eligibility criteria, application procedure, documentation, visa procedure etc.
Open for students of BITS Pilani Hyderabad
September 12, 2025, 4:00 PM, Online
Web Session: Masters in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing Masters in Germany and get your questions answered too.
September 16, 2025, 3:00 PM, Online
Warangal: Higher Studies and Research in Germany (NIT Warangal)
The DAAD is conducting a virtual information session with NIT Warangal about Masters and PhD opportunities in Germany. The session will cover eligibility criteria, application procedure, documentation, visa procedure etc.
Open for students of NIT Warangal
September 17, 2025, 4:30 PM, Online
Online: DAAD Scholarships Information Session
The session aims at providing information regarding all DAAD scholarship programs followed by a Q&A session.
September 18, 2025, 4:00 PM, Online
Study & Research in Germany
Students and researchers will be guided about Bachelors, Masters and PhD opportunities in Germany. This in-person session will cover eligibility criteria, application procedure, documentation, visa procedure etc.
Bengaluru: September 19, 2025, 3:00 PM, DAAD Information Centre Bangalore, At Indo German Chamber of Commerce, 403 Shah Sultan, 4th Floor, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru 560052
Web Session: PhD in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing a PhD in Germany and get your questions answered too.
September 23, 2025, 3:00 PM, Online
Calls for proposals
Applications Invited: Young Ambassadors 2025
DAAD is inviting applications from students to become Young Ambassadors. DAAD Young Ambassadors are students or young professionals who have studied or conducted research in Germany and are passionate about promoting it as a destination for higher education. They help inspire others by organizing events, volunteering at fairs, and answering queries about studying or researching in Germany. Ideal candidates are from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, or Sri Lanka, under 32 years old, and willing to share their experiences with others. Responsibilities include organizing events, attending study fairs, and responding to inquiries. Ambassadors are supported with promotional materials and must report their activities. The role lasts for one academic year, with the possibility of renewal, and includes a training workshop in October 2025.
Application deadline: September 14, 2025
Call for nominations in 2025 for Max Planck Partner Groups
Max Planck Society is inviting applications from outstanding junior scientists or postdocs who have obtained their doctorate no longer than seven years ago (medicine: nine years) for their Max Planck Partner Groups. Researchers must have spent a minimum of 6 to 12 months at an MPI and, at the time of nomination, hold or are expected to hold a position at a research institution, ideally in their home country. Partner Groups are supported for up to five years with €20,000 p.a. provided from MPG central funds. There are currently 88 active Partner Groups worldwide, with a total of 260 ever established. Partner groups serve to jointly promote young scientists worldwide and to strengthen scientific excellence at the respective foreign research institutions and universities. They enable collaboration in research areas that are innovative, scientifically promising, geared to the future and mutual interest both to the MPI and to the international partner institution.
Application deadline: September 18, 2025
RISE WorldWide: Call for Project offers 2026
DAAD is inviting Indian research groups, labs and doctoral students to submit project offers to host a motivated student from Germany in summer 2026. Students from Germany will bring expertise in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine (and related fields), and are supported by a DAAD scholarship. Since its start, nearly 4,000 German undergraduate students have joined research projects across the globe.
Application deadline: September 30, 2025
DAAD HSK Scholarship 2025-2026: Applications open
DAAD is inviting applications for its “University Summer Courses scholarship Programme” offered for foreign students and graduates (HSK) for 2025–2026. This program offers funding for students in undergraduate and master's programs to deepen their knowledge of the German language (general and technical) and regional studies through in-person courses. Eligible students must have completed at least two years of university study before the scholarship begins. The program covers language, cultural, and technical language courses, all taught exclusively in German, with a minimum of 18 teaching days and 25 hours per week.
Application Deadline: 30 October 2025
Indo-German Funding Opportunity for Joint Research Projects in the field of Social Science Research
In pursuance of the MoU signed between the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) Germany, proposals for joint Indo-German academic research projects in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities are invited. Proposals submitted by teams of principal investigators with some initial cooperation experiences are welcome. The objective of this programme is to promote and strengthen the research cooperation in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities between the two countries, by providing funding to allow joint research activities for internationally excellent research in relevant areas of mutual interest and benefit. This is a co-funding mechanism for the support of joint research projects between ICSSR and DFG. Applicants must be permanently employed in a research or academic position in a recognized research or academic institution – either publicly funded university/college, deemed universities recognized by the UGC or a publicly funded research institute or ICSSR research institutes/recognized institutes. They must also hold a PhD or equivalent qualification and have an interest in high quality research which may be evident by past studies, publications and academic background.
The collaboration opportunity will be open throughout the year with no deadline.
Consolidator Grants: ERC awards €678m in grants to back excellent research across Europe
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded its 2024 Consolidator Grants to 328 researchers across Europe. These grants, totalling €678 million, aim to support outstanding scientists and scholars as they establish their independent research teams and develop their most promising scientific ideas. The funding is provided through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. The grants will support scientific projects spanning all disciplines of research from engineering to life sciences to humanities. Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply. Research must be conducted in a public or private research organisation (known as a Host Institution/HI). It could be the HI where the applicant already works, or any other HI located in one of the EU Member States or associated countries.
Campus conversations: Meet Dr. Elizabeth Khawlhring Songate from Uni Göttingen India Office
Q 1. Could you please tell us about your role at the India office and how it contributes to the university’s global outreach efforts?
Ans: My main role is to facilitate, coordinate and support the academic exchange activities between Göttingen and India. The Göttingen India Office works in close coordination with other German organisations based in India such as DAAD, DFG, MPG. We have more than 25 MoUs with Indian institutions. We conduct research projects, students and faculty exchange projects, and organise joint events and activities both in India and Göttingen.
Q 2. The Uni Göttingen is known for its diverse academic programs and research initiatives. Tell us more about them.
Ans: We offer comprehensive range of subjects across 13 faculties: in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences and medicine. The University of Göttingen, the University Medical Center Göttingen and seven top level non-university research institutions, including four Max Planck institutes, have cooperated to build up the Göttingen Campus in a collaborative effort consciously shaped over a period of years.
Q3. What are some of the key highlights of the university that Indian students should know about?
Ans: We charge no tuition fees for degree-seeking students. We offer wide range of English-taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Students from our Indian partner institutions can come as exchange students. We also offer free German language courses to students during the semester. Besides the Buddy Service, the Study Buddy Programme and plenty of events for international students, we run recruitment, support and integration of outstanding international scientists and students in Göttingen.
Q4. What specific opportunities does the Uni Göttingen offer for Indian students in terms of scholarships, research collaborations, or exchange programs? Do you have MoUs with any Indian universities or institutes?
Ans: German universities do not normally provide scholarships. Instead, student applicants can look for fundings from external organisations both in Germany and in their home countries. Under our Global Exchange Programme, students from our MoU partner institutions are welcome to apply for semester exchange in Göttingen. For Indian scientists exploring the possibility of research collaboration with University of Göttingen may contact Göttingen India Office at india.office@uni-goettingen.de
Q 5. Are there any new developments or new initiatives that Indian students can expect from the Uni Göttingen in the coming months/years?
Ans: We have a Göttingen alumni training and networking event in the pipeline. Please visit the Göttingen India Office webpage at https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/684616.html for any updates on mobility projects and research grants.
Did you know?
According to a study by online porta ‘Study in Germany’, around 65% of the international students had the intention to stay in Germany, after their studies.