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Science and Technology Cooperation

25.09.2020 - Article

India and Germany have a long history of collaborative research, technology partnership, and higher education cooperation. The Indo-German science and technology partnership has massively grown in the last couple of years and high-level diplomatic visits have further boosted the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

In November 2019, during Chancellor Merkel’s visit to Delhi, Germany and India agreed to establish a joint research programme in Artificial Intelligence. They also decided on the extension of the Indo-German Partnership in Higher Education for another four years, with contributions of 3.5 Million Euros each.

Chancellor Merkel with Prime Minister Modi at the 2019 intergovernmental consultations
Chancellor Merkel with Prime Minister Modi at the 2019 intergovernmental consultations© PIB

The exchange of students and young researchers has considerably grown over the past years. Since 2008, the number of Indian students in Germany has quadrupled to circa 29,000 in 2020 – making Indian students the second largest foreign student group in the German university system.
Visit www.daad.in for more information on student mobility.

Another important pillar of technology partnership is bilateral research funding. The German Research Ministry and German Research Institutes fund numerous calls together with their Indian counterparts in a multitude of fields, including material science, biotech, health, sustainability, disaster management, artificial intelligence, and urbanism. A special focus is kept on applied research with innovation benefits to both countries.

India is also participating in several major fundamental science projects in Germany. Since 2009 India has been involved in the expansion of the Petra III particle accelerator in Hamburg. India is also a major contributor of the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research, a particle accelerator that is currently being built in Darmstadt and sets the tone worldwide in terms of research opportunities.

Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan at the opening of the Petra III particle accelerator in 2016
Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan at the opening of the Petra III particle accelerator in 2016© DESY/G.Born


Since 2010, the “Indo-German Science and Technology Center” funds innovative Indo-German industrial research projects with the participation of excellent research institutions and above all small and medium-sized enterprises from both countries.

At the “Indo-German Center for Sustainability” at the IIT Madras German and Indian researchers deal with issues around water management, land use, waste management, and renewable energy.


Ambassador Lindner with participants of the Winter School of the Indo-German Center for Sustainability at IIT Madras 2020
Ambassador Lindner with participants of the Winter School of the Indo-German Center for Sustainability at IIT Madras 2020© German Embassy New Delhi

The German Centre for Research and Innovation in New Delhi is a hub of all German research agencies with a presence in India. It serves as a go-to point for all matters related to research cooperation with Germany, and connects Indian and German researchers through workshops and expert discussions.

The Academic Evaluation Center (APS) is an institution of the Science Department of the German Embassy in New Delhi. From autumn 2022, the APS will check the higher education entrance qualification and the academic performance records of applicants with Indian certificates who are aiming to study in Germany. Information on the different application procedures for an APS certificate can be found at www.aps-india.de.

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