(17.09.19) The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) is engaged in a vibrant and a highly successful funding cooperation with many Indian central research funding agencies, especially the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). With an intent to explore the possibility of establishing new institutional links at the state level, and also to reach out to the community of researchers in South India, DFG recently ventured into the southern state of Karnataka. There, it cooperated with Karnataka’s Department of IT, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, a research-funding agency at the state-level, to jointly organize a capacity building workshop for Karnataka-based young researchers.

The one-day “Indo-German Research Proposal Writing Workshop” took place at the newly constructed Karnataka Science and Technology Academy in Bengaluru on 30 August 2019 and was attended by 75 postdoctoral researchers from various institutions throughout the state. It focused both on proposal writing and related skills and on possibilities of connecting with the German research community. The organization was professionally handled by the Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS). From Germany, the DFG, the Consulate General, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation as well as the Freie Universität Berlin were represented.

Inaugurating the workshop, Dr. H Honne Gowda, Special Secretary (Technical) of the Dept. of IT, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, and Managing Director of KSTePS emphasized the importance of honest and well-managed science for the wellbeing of society and encouraged participants to consider international, in particular Indo-German research collaboration. Dr. Matthias Kiesselbach, Director of DFG India Office, added that whether we like it or not, skills in research management and presentation have become essential for a successful career in science.

In order to give an overview of such skills – in particular proposal writing skills – eminent scientists, grant managers and representatives of funding agencies as well as the German Consulate in Bengaluru shared their considerable experience.

For the researchers, the event was a great opportunity for learning essential skills and for networking with eminent researchers, colleagues and funders. DFG hopes to see some of them again – in joint research projects with German colleagues.