Germany Lauds India’s Moon Mission and Calls for “Moonshot Ambition” in Science and Technology Collaboration
New Delhi: Germany has commended India’s groundbreaking moon mission, emphasizing the need for “moonshot ambition” in bilateral science and technology collaboration.
Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger highlighted India’s impressive achievements in space exploration. Stark-Watzinger stressed that India’s success in landing on the moon and launching a probe to the sun demonstrates its capabilities and sets the stage for further innovative collaborations. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges such as energy security, food supply, and healthcare.
India and Germany marked a major milestone, commemorating 50 years of successful collaboration in science and technology. The Golden Jubilee celebration was attended by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and Federal Minister of Education and Research of Germany Bettina Stark-Watzinger.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the significant growth of the Indo-German partnership over the past decade, contributing to advancements in various scientific fields. “This is a golden jubilee of a golden collaboration,” he remarked, highlighting the robust relationship that has transformed both nations’ progress.
India’s remarkable strides in space technology, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence were showcased. Dr. Singh noted India’s rise as a global leader in space technology, citing the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s success. He also highlighted India’s growth from 50 biotech startups to over 8,000 in 10 years.
Stark-Watzinger praised India’s advancements and emphasized the need for continued partnership in tackling global challenges. “We need moonshot ambition,” she said, stressing international collaboration in addressing energy, food security, and healthcare issues.
India and Germany took their scientific collaboration to the next level by establishing the International Research Training Group, focusing on photoluminescence in supra-molecular matrices.
Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed this joint initiative as a testament to the scientific prowess of both nations and expressed optimism about the future of bilateral research and development.
Three significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to further strengthen Indo-German collaboration in science and technology. A Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) aims to enhance innovation and incubation ecosystems through an exchange program, facilitating knowledge sharing between policymakers, startup incubation professionals, and deep-tech startups from both countries.
Dr. Jitendra Singh and Bettina Stark-Watzinger witnessed the signing, reaffirming their commitment to leveraging collective expertise for scientific advancements. This partnership is set to drive breakthroughs in photoluminescence research, with potential applications in bioimaging, OLED devices, and more.
The celebration set the stage for deeper cooperation, with both nations committed to addressing global challenges through cutting-edge research and innovation.
Dr. Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to collaborating with Germany in emerging areas, ensuring scientific advancements translate into tangible benefits for the public.
