Science, a diplomatic tool between India and Germany

Using science as a diplomatic tool to build people-to-people relations with India, Germany is focusing on increasing collaborations between scientists and academia of the two countries.
"Soft power is not just about culture. It includes science too and we call it science diplomacy. In the wider sense, science includes a large spectrum of humanities, social sciences, etc. Our focus is on building relations using science," Dr Alexander P Hansen, chairman of German House for Research and Innovation, told PTI here.
Known as 'Deutsches Wissenschafts- und Innovationshaus' (DWIH) in German, the centre in New Delhi comprises a consortium of 15 German organisations including research-funding institutions, research centres and German universities.

In the last couple of years they have organised a series of workshops, seminars and exhibitions to bring German and Indian institutes on the same platform.
"Around 45,000 people including students, researchers and scientists have so far visited our programmes in different cities. We have been most successful in Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Hyderabad," Dr Hansen said.
Ever since DWIH started operating in October 2012, the number of Indian students flying off to study in the European nation has increased by 50 per cent.
"Now there are 9500 Indian students in Germany. This is a 50 per cent jump during the last two years. Streams like engineering, medical science and biology are very popular," the official said.