Germany and India intensify science ties

Germany and India have agreed to strengthen scientific collaboration and networking, with a focus on tackling climate change and developing clean energy technologies.

Each of the countries will allocate ?10 million to the establishment of a joint science and technology centre, which will be located in Delhi. The Indo-German Science and Technology Centre will
encourage collaboration with Indian industry and scientific institutes. Public-private partnerships are expected to meet most of the project costs.

Memoranda of understanding on research collaboration were also signed for the scientific domains of advanced materials, energy and biomedical technologies, and for promoting scientist exchange
programmes.

One of the centre’s first projects will address ‘lean manufacturing’: making components lighter and stronger in order to lower costs for industry while increasing efficiency.

An Indian version of Germany’s Max Planck Institutes will also be set up under the agreement. One of the goals behind this is initiative is to allow Indian scientists who have benefitted from
Max Planck fellowships to keep up links with their host institutes in Germany. Indian researchers make up the largest group of foreign scholars in international Max Planck research institutes.

Germany and India also released a joint statement calling for effective, practical solutions to address climate change, including mitigations and adaptation strategies to support the economic
and social development of developing countries.