Research in Germany
There are lots of reasons why Germany is so successful. One of the most important is close cooperation between universities, international research institutes and industry. Expert networks of this kind have established themselves in 32 regions of Germany. They operate nationwide and are able to produce innovations with particularly high value-added potential. They are embedded in a framework of innovation-friendly conditions and contribute to the regions' profile creation.
Cutting-edge research also takes place at hundreds of non-university institutions belonging to organisations like the Max Planck Society, the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Association, or the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft. It is here that scientists can find optimum conditions only available at very few other institutions worldwide. The Helmholtz Association alone, the largest of the organisations, employs a staff of about 24,000, 4,500 of whom come from abroad. It has a budget of 2.2 billion euros (2006) which is channeled into research areas such as energy, health and transportation.
Internationalisation – Science without borders
Germany's cabinet adopted the "Strategy for Internationalisation of Science and Research" on 20 February 2008. The government specifically aims to boost collaborative research with developing countries and so open up new fields of innovative potential. Furthermore, it also plans to take on greater international responsibility and to focus more on addressing global challenges.
More mobile, more present
Measures include improvements to the exchange of scientific staff, international collaborative research programmes, and an internationally coordinated research agenda. The strategy provides for a harmonized international German presence in science and research, plus a campaign to promote Germany's role as a major centre of education, research and innovation.
The "Research in Germany" Initiative
The Internationalisation Strategy includes measures aimed at highlighting Germany's appeal and its research landscape in selected topic areas of the High-Tech Strategy. It provides a special focus on selected countries. This marks a decisive contribution by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to promoting German innovation around the world.
Regional and thematic focuses
The first regional measures were implemented in South Korea in 2006 und 2007, one of Asia's high-tech countries. Two key HTS topics for the future provide a hub for further campaigns: Nanosciences and environmental technologies. Specifically targeted, international marketing measures will promote these German research achievements in 2008 and 2009. Further activities are planned in India as from the end of 2008 – to expand and consolidate our cooperation with the world's best.
There are well-established scientific institutions in India and Germany working together on bilateral research and development projects. They also continue to invest in the next generation of leading scientists by championing exchange programs between universities in both countries.
Growing number of Indian students in Germany
The number of Indian students who enroll at German universities in recent years has risen more quickly than that of students from any other country: by 50 percent between 1997 and 2006. More than 4,000 Indian students are currently studying and conducting research at German universities; in 2006 alone the number of exchange students totaled 1,179.
German Academic Exchange Service
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is a leading educational organization that promotes the transfer of young scientific minds by providing grants and scholarships and a cohesive support system. In India the DAAD is currently active through information centers in cities throughout the nation and a network of 27 personal tutors at 20 of the top universities.
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
In a similar vein, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) in Germany has funded a total of 1,531 promising junior scientists from India since 1953 – 19 of which have won awards for their research achievements. The German Rectors' Conference (HRK) cooperates with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to advance the educational exchange.
Joint scientific projects
The STC is also building on this Indo-German symbiosis. Institutions within its framework undertake joint scientific projects in the areas of biotechnology, health, information technology, environmental technology, sustainable research, materials research, aerospace research, production technology and security research.
Projects range in scope from the exchange of personnel between the international firms and educational institutions (PPP), to large-scale collaborations. German research institutions expanding their cooperation with India include the Max Planck Institute (which presently has 12 partner groups in India), the Helmholtz Association, the Fraunhofer Association, the Leibniz Association and the German Research Foundation, which is currently involved in expanding research efforts in nanotechnology.
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