Indian & German Women Researchers Awarded Grants under IGSTC's WISER Program

By: WE Staff | Friday, 16 June 2023

Ten women researchers from India and two from Germany have been acknowledged by the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) for their participation in the Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) program. The programme seeks to advance women's involvement and teamwork in ongoing research and innovation initiatives involving the two nations.

The selected researchers will receive financial assistance and will not be required to apply for fresh project grants in the partnering countries. This support encourages their active involvement and facilitates seamless cooperation.

On the occasion of its 13th foundation day, IGSTC celebrated its achievements in fostering Indo-German partnerships in science and technology. S.K. Varshney, the head of the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) International Cooperation Division and co-chair of the IGSTC, emphasised the significance of research initiatives that benefit society and have a good influence on people's lives during the program's launch.

Stephan Grabherr, the Charge d'Affaires of the German embassy in Delhi, emphasized the significance of collaborations between industries and universities. He emphasised the necessity for strong partnerships and knowledge-sharing between these two spheres. Rajesh Nath, the Managing Director of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) in India, also experienced as the guest of honor.

IGSTC Director R. Madhan highlighted the notable schedules and accomplishments that have strengthened the partnership between India and Germany. Annapurni Subramaniam, the Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and the chief guest for the event, highlighted the importance of increasing the representation of women scientists and ensuring a proportional number of women-led projects. These initiatives aim to foster inclusivity and diversity within the scientific community.

Additionally, IGSTC awarded Industrial Fellowships-2023 to 20 young Indian researchers from prominent academic and research institutions across India. These fellowships provide an opportunity for these researchers to gain exposure to German industrial ecosystems and applied research institutions for a duration of 6 to 12 months.

The WISER program, on the other hand, enables lateral entry of women into scientific research in science and technology. It creates avenues for long-term Indo-German research collaborations while enhancing capacity building and networking opportunities.

IGSTC also organized an outreach event where scientists and academicians from around 30 institutions in and around Delhi were briefed about the available opportunities for Indo-German collaboration in science and technology. The event also featured presentations on the success stories of IGSTC programs.

Established by the DST, Government of India, and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Government of Germany, IGSTC supports applied research projects, workshops, fellowships, and small ignition funding. Its primary focus over the years has been to provide a networking platform connecting Indian and German researchers and industry personnel. Through its various programmatic activities, IGSTC has successfully connected more than 6,300 individuals from both countries.