Planting seeds in international research cooperation

A PhD student in Brazil dreams of using her skills to develop biodegradable medical devices for use inside the human body. In Germany, a senior researcher in materials science — and a founder of a successful start-up company herself — hopes to mentor young entrepreneurs in Brazil, a country she adores. They each contact the German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) São Paulo after hearing of their work on social media, and before long, a new partnership is born.

This is just one example of the type of work enabled by the DWIH — a collaborative network that connects German science and research to the world, and the world to Germany.

“The network was established to promote both international research cooperation and Germany’s global science diplomacy,” says Joybrato Mukherjee, president of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which oversees the DWIH. “Finding common ground to tackle global challenges is essential given the current geopolitical turbulence.”

Growing a global network

The DWIH network, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, has been evolving since 2009, with six regional hubs outside of Germany, based in Tokyo, São Paulo, New Delhi, Moscow, New York and, most recently, San Francisco (established in 2022). The DWIH hubs are a first point of contact for those interested in forging links with German research institutes and associated organizations, acting as a liaison during initial communications. The DWIH host around 100 free online and in-person events annually, including multi-day conferences, expert roundtables, workshops and themed networking events. Some address global challenges while others focus on important regional issues. They also promote funding opportunities, relevant jobs in research and research positions, competitions and events run by partners.

The DWIH hubs serve as invaluable resources for academics, entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders, offering guidance on navigating the intricacies of research and funding systems in both Germany and the DWIH host countries. Supported by prominent organizations such as the German Research Foundation and the Max Planck Society, the DWIH network fosters collaboration among universities, research institutes, science-related companies, funding agencies and political entities.

“The DWIH hubs bring all these actors under one umbrella and are just as valuable for senior researchers as they are for young researchers and entrepreneurs,” says Mukherjee. “We actively encourage senior researchers to bring their experiences and perspectives into science diplomacy activity. Principal investigators can also find funding sources through our network.”

Every year, the DWIH network also selects a global topic of interest to Germany and all the host countries — in 2023, this was ‘the resilient society’. Through a series of conferences and panel discussions hosted by DWIH worldwide, cross-disciplinary parties examined the complex concept of resilience in the face of climate change and geopolitical crises, and what resilience means for different countries and sectors. In 2024, DWIH’s global focus will be artificial intelligence and the societal benefits that these technologies can offer. These annual topics bring people with shared interests together, providing a platform for discussions and seeds for new collaborative projects. The discussions frequently involve government and business representatives from DWIH host countries, and can therefore help guide national policy and debate.

“Regular consultations with government policymakers help us pinpoint common themes between Germany and other countries,” notes Katja Lasch, director of DWIH New Delhi, India.

Boosting Brazil

“Some may be surprised to learn that Brazil is a world leader when it comes to researching food security, circular economies and natural resource management,” says Sören Metz, head of the local advisory board of the DWIH São Paulo office and Latin America liaison officer for the Technical University of Munich. “In fact, our most vital task is to spread the word that Brazil is a strong research and innovation centre in its own right.”

The São Paulo hub organizes regional events including a Young Innovators Week, where German entrepreneurs running scientific-related start-ups come to Brazil to meet their Brazilian counterparts. “Innovation is astonishing here. Creative young entrepreneurs are flourishing, and their ability to achieve so much with little money is inspiring,” says Metz.

The DWIH regularly collaborate with the Falling Walls Foundation, a Berlin-based not-for-profit organization that aims to dismantle barriers to collaboration in applied sciences around the world. One such example is the Falling Walls Lab competition, which invites worldwide entries from researchers and start-ups. The winners travel to Germany for a conference and mentoring.

The biggest event hosted by DWIH São Paulo is the biennial German–Brazilian Dialogue conference. The 10th conference was held in May 2023 on the theme of sustainable-energy transition, and covered topics such as building reliable low-carbon energy systems and alleviating the burden of energy costs for low-income households.

Innovative India

“In New Delhi, we’re particularly interested in moving fundamental research into applied science and technology transfer,” says Lasch. A prime example is the Innovators Connect programme, where the DWIH brings entrepreneurs and early-career researchers from Germany and pairs them up with partners from India.

“We essentially put them in an incubator for two weeks and encourage them to think outside the box,” says Lasch. “Last year, we placed a materials scientist from Germany with an Indian biomedical scientist. They came up with a novel material for heart stents, which they quickly moved to the patent stage.”

DWIH New Delhi recently held a hybrid forum on sustainable urban mobility, exploring urban transportation and design across disciplines in Germany and India.

“We regularly bring senior and early-career researchers together on panel discussions, many of which are online, to enhance accessibility and inclusivity,” says Lasch. “We encourage these top-level scientists to engage with each other before and after the discussions.”

DWIH New Delhi is actively involved in the Group of 20 (G20) under the current Indian presidency and has contributed to their policy brief on start-ups via the Startup20 Engagement Group, of which Lasch is co-chair for the topic of global alliances.

A reliable helping hand

“We are a trusted neutral partner on the international stage because we are not directly involved in active research,” says Lasch. “We are clued into the discourses in Germany and the host countries and yet we can encourage key stakeholders to come together around one table.”

There are no membership fees or hidden costs for joining the DWIH — anyone with an interest in working closely with Germany’s scientific community can join the activities.

“This is a wonderful platform to explore networking opportunities, no matter what career stage you are at,” concludes Mukherjee. “Our services can help you kickstart a dream project, while we guide you through the relevant science ecosystems.”