The UGC, an autonomous organization of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, has the unique distinction of being the only grant-giving agency in the country which has been vested with two responsibilities: that of providing funds and that of coordination, determination and maintenance of standards in institutions of higher education. Thus, the UGC emerged as a natural partner for enhancing Indo-German collaboration in basic research in all fields of sciences, including humanities and social sciences.

The German Research Foundation (DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and the Indian University Grants Commission (UGC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2010. The strategic aim of the agreement is to support intense research cooperation along with the promotion of young researchers between researchers in India and Germany in well defined topics of mutual interest.

In order to enhance well-structured and long-term partnerships, this funding scheme will focus on cooperation between Research groups forming an "International Research Training Group (IRTG)" (Internationales Graduiertenkolleg) in Germany and in India aimed at the joint qualification of doctoral candidates in both countries.

Scope of Cooperation

The Indian and German partners should jointly formulate a high quality research and qualification programme to be implemented by researchers in both the countries. The programme should provide for regular exchanges of scientists, academic staff, post-doctoral fellows and doctoral students working in the defined project for the purpose of joint research and training.

The participation of the German and Indian groups should be of such significance - in terms of both content and size - that the joint programme can be expected to develop into a German-Indian centre of competence of the highest academic quality.

In principle, any research area (with specific emphasis on interdisciplinary within the main topic of the research area) is eligible. The Principal Investigators from both sides should thoroughly discuss the details of the project in advance, before finalizing and submitting the project proposals to the UGC and the DFG for establishment of the IRTG.

Proposal Submission

The proposals will be invited by the UGC and the DFG separately, but with mutual consent.

Draft proposals for the establishment of an IRTG will first be submitted to and evaluated by DFG following the regular terms and conditions for a DFG Research Training Group. The DFG can fund preparatory workshops on the basis of an application sent to the Division of Research Training Groups at the Head Office in Bonn (for this purpose, the DFG accepts applications throughout the year). After a positive review of the draft proposal, the applicants are invited to submit a full proposal both to the DFG and the UGC. The full proposal is a joint application regarding the research and qualification programme.

On the DFG side, the cooperation will be channeled through the regular IRTG funding and peer review mechanism. On the Indian side, the Indian researchers will have the opportunity to submit full proposals once the Call for Proposals is announced by UGC.

The panel review of the full proposal will be jointly organized and carried out by DFG and UGC.

• Website of the University Grants Commission (UGC)