Welcome
Wiss-Nama Newsletter October 2025
News from Indo-German Cooperation
Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security and Global Health: Regenerative Systems and Smart Value Chains (SAFE-GH)
With the support of DWIH New Delhi, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) organized a workshop on October 14, 2025, in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. The event explored transformative solutions for sustainable farming, focusing on Regenerative Agroforestry Systems (RAS) and Neglected and Underutilized Crops (NUS). Addressing the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and conventional agriculture, the workshop highlighted the potential of integrating trees, diverse crops, and livestock to create climate-resilient, nutritionally secure food systems in India and Germany. Topics included advances in geospatial AI for monitoring regenerative agriculture, the application of sensors and AI in farming, agricultural industrialization, and RAS and NUS for sustainable food systems.
Upcoming events and conferences
Innovators Connect – Tandem 2025
Innovators Connect – Tandem is a two-week immersive program designed for young researchers and early-stage start-up founders from India and Germany from November 10-20. Organized by DWIH New Delhi, the program includes workshops, mentoring, networking, and intercultural training, offering participants exposure to start-up ecosystems in both countries. 30 selected participants will collaborate in teams to develop innovative ideas and technologies, receiving support from partner incubators in India and Germany. The event, taking place in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, will be hosted by prominent incubators like CCAMP and IISc in India, and partners such as KIT Gründerschmiede and Fraunhofer Venture in Germany. Winning teams will receive further support to develop their ideas.
Falling Walls Science Summit
The Falling Walls Science Summit, taking place from November 6-9, 2025, at the Falling Walls Science House in Berlin or online, is a global event that brings together pioneering leaders from academia, business, politics, media, and civil society to explore ground-breaking research, transformative ideas, and the 2025 Science Breakthroughs of the Year Laureates. Since 2009, it has united top scientists, innovators, and visionaries to foster collaboration and shape the future of global innovation, featuring over 80 events—including panel discussions, interviews, pitches, and round tables—across four days. With 500+ speakers, 2,000+ attendees from 150+ countries, and 3,500+ nominations, the summit celebrates scientific breakthroughs in nine categories, culminating in the announcement of the Science Breakthroughs of the Year on the final day.
DAAD Events
Web Session: PhD in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing a PhD in Germany and get your questions answered too.
October 28, 2025, 3:00 PM, Online
Higher Studies and Research in Germany
DAAD is visiting Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Chennai. Students will be guided about opportunities for higher education & research as well as DAAD scholarships possibilities, etc.
Chennai: October 29, 2025, 4:00 PM, Max Mueller Bhavan, Chennai
Study and Research in Germany
Students and researchers will be guided about opportunities in Germany – Eligibility criteria, types of universities, various master courses, types of PhD, scholarships, application procedure, visa procedures etc.
Bengaluru: November 6, 2025, 2:30 PM, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, 716, CMH Road, Indiranagar 1st Stage, Bangalore 560038
Calls for proposals
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: October 30, 2025
Max Planck Visiting Researchers Program
Max-Planck Society is inviting applications from professors, postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students for the Visiting Researchers Program to encourage an active exchange between scholars in Germany and abroad. The program is designed for researchers working in the fields of economic sociology or comparative/international political economy, who are invited to spend between two and twelve months at the MPIfG. The intended research project of a potential visiting researcher should relate to the MPIfG’s Research Program and ongoing projects at the Institute.
Application deadline: October 31, 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: Heidelberg University
Q. Could you please tell us about your role at the Heidelberg University and how do you contribute to the university’s global outreach efforts?
A. I am Dr. Suboor Bakht, Director, International Office for South Asia for Heidelberg University I manage strategic partnerships, research collaborations, and exchange programs between Germany and South Asian countries. Under my leadership, the university has established over 60 research projects across India, Thailand and Nepal and is expanding its global presence with new initiatives in the Global South, including multilateral scientific events and synergy programs at its international centers. the four international centres of Heidelberg University viz. New York, Delhi, Kyoto and Chile are setting up synergy programmes that will open opportunities for cooperation and exchange.
Q. Heidelberg University is known for its diverse academic programs and research initiatives. Tell us a bit more about them.
A. Heidelberg University offers over 160 academic programs across a range of disciplines, including life sciences, natural sciences, medicine, law, and social sciences. Renowned for its strong research focus, the university bridges basic research and technological innovation, with initiatives like “3D Matter Made to Order” and “Marsilius Kolleg.” As Germany's oldest university, it is linked to 56 Nobel laureates and is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, including partnerships with industry and the Heidelberg Mannheim Health & Life Science Alliance.
Q. What are some of the key highlights of the University that Indian students should know about?
A. Heidelberg University has had a significant presence in India since 1962, initially focusing on South Asian studies and later expanding its academic and research collaborations across diverse fields. The university offers 14 master's programs in English, including in areas like Data Science, Molecular Biosciences, and Biomedical Engineering, aligned with industry demands. It supports Indian students and researchers through various programs, including visa facilitation, mentorship, and language courses. Collaborating with industry giants like SAP and Roche, Heidelberg ensures its curricula stay relevant and fosters applied research. The university also provides career services, internships, and networking opportunities to support post-study employment for international students.
Q. What specific opportunities does Heidelberg University offer for Indian students in terms of scholarships, research collaborations, or exchange programs? Do you have MoUs with any Indian universities or institutes?
A. Heidelberg University offers a range of scholarships for international students, including 150 Master’s scholarships annually and opportunities for joint supervision of Master’s theses, Ph.D., and Post-Doc research. The university also provides Hans Peter Wild Talent Scholarships in STEM, Baden-Württemberg Scholarships, and research internships through the Heidelberg-India Research Internship Programme. Heidelberg has several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with top Indian institutions like Delhi University, Mumbai University, JNU, and IIT Hyderabad to name some.
Q. Are there any new developments or new initiatives that Indian students can expect from Heidelberg University in the coming months/years?
A. At Heidelberg University, the initiatives are open to students from across the world. The new initiatives will be announced next year. Heidelberg University has launched its new strategic initiative, Heidelberg-Hyderabad Hub for Advanced Chemical Education (H3ACE) wherein the scientists and students from the partner institutions viz IIT H, TIFR Hyderabad and University of Hyderabad can enrol for visits and exchanges.
Did You Know?
Germany has a total number of 428 higher education institutions, among which 313 are public and 115 are private.