DFG Office India at the Humboldt Kolleg 2025 in Kolkata
Banner of the Humboldt Kolleg 2025
© Humboldt Kolleg
The DFG Office India of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) participated in the Humboldt Kolleg 2025 in Kolkata at the invitation of its convener and co‑convener. A Humboldt Kolleg is a regional or thematic academic conference organised by Humboldt Fellows outside Germany and funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. These events aim to strengthen international research networks by bringing together researchers from various disciplines to exchange ideas, present their work and build long‑term collaborations.
L to R: Dr Malay Das, Convener of the Humboldt Kolleg, Kolkata; Prof. Debasish Haldar, IISER Kolkata; Prof. Nirmalya Narayan Chakraborty, Vice Chancellor, Presidency University; Prof. Jörg-Peter Schnitzler, Helmholtz Zentrum München – Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany; Prof. Pulak Sengupta, Jadavpur University; Ms Susmita Mandal, Officer – Political Affairs, Culture, Press and Public Relations, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kolkata; Ms Judith Koester, Programme Officer, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
© Humboldt Kolleg
The Humboldt Kolleg 2025 in Kolkata was held from 10 to 13 December 2025 on “Recent advances in sustainable environment, chemical synthesis, and clean energy.” It was convened by Humboldt Fellow Dr. Malay Das of Presidency University, Kolkata, with Dr. Biplab Maji of IISER Kolkata serving as co‑convener. The four‑day conference brought together researchers from India and Germany to discuss topics ranging from detection strategies and environmental hazards to innovations in sustainability, green chemical synthesis and clean energy. With the goal of strengthening Indo‑German academic cooperation, the Kolleg featured keynote lectures, invited talks and panel discussions with leading academics from both countries, including representatives from Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Panel Discussion on “Building a Global Research Ecosystem: Advancing Science for the Benefit of Humanity and the Planet”, L to R: Prof. Ranjan Ganguly, Jadavpur University; Prof. Saibal Kar, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata; Prof. Pulak Sengupta, Jadavpur University; Dr. Vaibhav Agarwal, Deputy Director, DFG Office India; Dr. Mrinalini Walawalkar, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay
© Humboldt Kolleg
Representing the DFG Office India, Dr. Vaibhav Agarwal, Deputy Director, participated in a panel discussion on “Building a Global Research Ecosystem: Advancing Science for the Benefit of Humanity and the Planet.” He highlighted the role of the DFG as a funding organisation supporting knowledge-driven basic research and explained how its initiatives and funding programmes contribute to building and sustaining a global research ecosystem. He also outlined various mechanisms through which Indo‑German research collaboration can be initiated and strengthened.
Keynote lecture by Prof. Jörg-Peter Schnitzler, Helmholtz Zentrum München – Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
© Humboldt Kolleg
Further Information
Please refer to the website of the Humboldt Kolleg 202(externer Link) for more details on the conference.
Further details about the programme and applications can be found her(externer Link).
More insights of the event can be viewed in this LinkedIn pos(externer Link).