Welcome
Wiss-Nama Newsletter December 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 December 5 in New Delhi. Universities, research institutes, funding agencies, foundations, and other organisations discussed priorities and plans for the upcoming six months. Our special guest, Dr. Kusumita Arora, Director Indo German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC), presented how the IGSTC combines academia and industry and funds and helps researchers in India and Germany. The Tour de Table was followed by a stimulating exchange on the upcoming projects of German universities and organisations in India.
DAAD EPOS Alumni Meet 2025, New Delhi
The DAAD EPOS-Alumni Meet 2025, held in New Delhi, brought together alumni from India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to strengthen professional networks and share expertise on sustainability and development. The two-day event, themed “Overcoming Development Challenges through Global Partnerships for Sustainability,” featured researchers, social entrepreneurs, and government officials working on issues such as renewable energy, urban planning, agriculture, and water management. The first day included a session by experts from the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), covering themes like renewable energy and sustainable development. Heidelberg University and the University of Cologne also presented collaborative opportunities. On day two, alumni participated in a peer-learning workshop, sharing their experiences and engaging in thematic group discussions on sustainable agriculture, water management, and urban planning, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborative solutions for sustainable development.
Read more: https://www.daad.in/en/2025/10/27/daad-epos-alumni-meet-2025-new-delhi/
Upcoming events and conferences
DAAD Events
Higher studies & Research in Germany (Hindustan University)
DAAD IC Chennai visits Hindustan University. Students will be guided about Master studies and Research in Germany, eligibility criteria, types of universities, application procedure, visa procedures, scholarships etc.
Open to the students of Hindustan University
Chennai: December 11, 2025, 2:00 PM, Chennai
Read more and register: https://www.daad.in/en/event/chennai-higher-studies-research-in-germany-hindustan-university/
Web Session: PhD in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing a PhD in Germany and get your questions answered too.
December 16, 2025, 3:00 PM, Online
Read more and register: https://www.daad.in/en/event/web-session-phd-in-germany-6/
Online Session with German Universities
Learn more about study opportunities in Germany and interact with representatives of KIT (Carl Benz School), HTW Berlin and Hamburg NIT
December 17, 2025, 3:00 PM, Online
Read more and register: https://www.daad.in/en/event/online-session-with-german-universities-16/
Calls for proposal
Call for Proposals for ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2026-COG)
The ERC Consolidator Grant supports Principal Investigators (PIs) consolidating independent research teams. Eligible PIs must have successfully defended their first PhD between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018, and demonstrate research independence. The grant offers up to EUR 2,000,000 for five years, with additional funding of up to EUR 1,000,000 for necessary costs like equipment and fieldwork. This amount is not reduced for shorter-duration projects. PIs applying from outside the EU or Associated Countries can request up to EUR 2,000,000 in additional funding. All funded PIs must spend at least 50% of their time in an EU/Associated Country and 40% on the project. The host institution must be based in the EU or an Associated Country, including universities, research organizations, or international organizations like CERN. Research proposals can be in any scientific field and are encouraged to be interdisciplinary.
Application deadline: January 13, 2026
Open Call for Indo-German Bilateral Workshops
The Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) invites proposals for organising Indo-German workshops on areas of mutual interest with an aim towards creating platforms for substantive interactions between scientists / researchers from academia and industry. The workshops have to take place in India or in Germany and to be designed around a specific research topic out of thematic areas relevant to both DST and BMBF (now BMFTR), which includes the thematic areas of 2+2 project calls. Any other relevant topics of very high importance may also be considered. Proposals with a potential for generating follow up activities including joint projects are preferred. Training workshops as well as meetings between two institutions do not fall under the scope of this call. Persons holding regular positions in public or private non-profit research organisations, institutions of higher education and universities are eligible to submit applications. The application should be submitted by the coordinating host institution / coordinator.
Application deadline: January 31, 2026
Read more: https://www.igstc.org/home/open_call
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.
Read more: https://icssr.org/indo-german-funding-opportunity-joint-research-projects
Campus Conversations: Meet Dr Joyee Ghosh from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
1. Could you please tell us about your role at the IIT Delhi and how being a Humboldt Ambassador contributes to the Institute’s global outreach efforts?
Ans. I am Dr Joyee Ghosh, Associate Professor and Faculty of Physics at IIT Delhi, leading the Quantum Photonics group. Our research focuses on cutting-edge quantum technologies, including free-space and fiber-based quantum communication, quantum sensing, and light-matter interactions. We have been involved in major national and international research projects, and our team has made significant breakthroughs in secure quantum key distribution and multi-user quantum communication. We have also developed a first-of-its-kind squeezed light source for quantum sensing.
I have been featured in Physics Today as one of the “Indian Women Quantum Physicists” and received the “Women of Impact Award” for emerging leadership. Additionally, I serve as the Ambassador Scientist for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, where I promote German scientific collaborations.
As an Ambassador Scientist for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, I promote its fellowships and programs, raise awareness among Indian researchers, and encourage applications for prestigious scholarships. I foster academic collaboration by connecting Humboldt alumni, German academic partners, and emerging talent in India, thus strengthening international research ties. My role also involves recruiting promising researchers, offering guidance on opportunities in Germany, and providing valuable regional insights to the Foundation.
2. IIT Delhi is known for its diverse academic programs and research initiatives. Tell us a bit more about them.
Ans: IIT Delhi offers a wide range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels across engineering, science, management, and humanities disciplines. Its curriculum emphasizes strong theoretical foundations and offers diverse specializations, including AI, cyber security, biomedical engineering, and more. The Ph.D. program is central to its research focus.
The institute is renowned for its interdisciplinary research addressing global challenges, with key areas including sustainable technology, healthcare innovations, AI and robotics, quantum technologies, advanced materials, and infrastructure. IIT Delhi fosters collaboration with industry and government, supporting start-ups and facilitating technology transfer.
3. What specific opportunities does IIT Delhi offer for German students in terms of scholarships, research collaborations, or exchange programs? Do you have MoUs with any German universities or institutes?
A: IIT Delhi fosters an environment for cutting-edge R&D, working to address a broad spectrum of real-world problems through innovation and academic excellence. IIT Delhi has active MoUs with the following German institutions: RWTH Aachen University, TU9 – German Universities of Technology, DAAD and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM).
Under the MoU with TU9, M.Tech-level student exchange opportunities are available. The DAAD MoU enables two-way academic mobility, allowing researchers from German institutions to visit IIT Delhi and vice-versa. In addition, IIT Delhi welcomes German students for short-term research visits throughout the year, enabling them to work on research projects under the supervision of IIT Delhi faculty.
The Institute also offers fellowships for deserving M.Tech and PhD students. German students are also encouraged to watch for upcoming opportunities through Indo–German funding agencies such as DAAD, BMBF, and India’s Ministry of Education, which regularly support joint research projects, mobility programmes, and collaborative academic initiatives.
Did You Know?
The total number of students in higher education institutions in Germany is 2.8 million. Female students make up 50.9% of the total student population in Germany.