Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) Program

IGSTC-WISER intends to build scientific capacity, retain and promote women researchers by utilising complementary expertise in science, technology, innovation, and research partnerships.

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WISER Program: Why Important for UPSC Exam

WISER Program: Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) Program is an important program for increasing participation of women in Science, and Technology. WISER Program is important for UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- International Relations).

WISER Program: Why in News?

Recently, the first 11 awardees of the Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) programme were felicitated in the presence of the German Ambassador to India & Bhutan and the Vice Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The German Ambassador to India & Bhutan appreciated the women researchers’ efforts in niche science & technology areas and said that their contribution would strengthen Indo-German collaborations in S&T.

WISER-2022 Awards

The ten (10) women researchers from India and one (1) from Germany holding regular/long-term research positions in academia, research institutions, or industry were selected under the WISER-2022 programme.
These 11 awardees will receive financial assistance to participate and collaborate in ongoing R&D & industry projects.
They will not need to apply for fresh project grants in partnering countries.

What is WISER Program?

About: WISER is one of-its-kind programme, launched to promote women in the field of research and development by lateral entry.
Parent Organizations: WISER Program was launched by Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) to encourage women researchers in R&D projects.
Mandate: IGSTC-WISER intends to build scientific capacity, retain and promote women researchers in India/Germany by utilising complementary expertise in science, technology, innovation, and research partnerships.
Eligibility: The WISER scheme is designed for women researchers holding a regular/long-term research position in academia/research institute/industry in India or Germany.
- WISER Program is open to all areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics/Medicine).
- There is no requirement of break-in-career or any age limit.
Significance: It is a unique opportunity to be a part of an ongoing research project without applying for a fresh project grant.
- WISER programme will enable gender equality as well as participation of women in Science & Technology through IGSTC’s program.
Awards: IGSTC will support the awardees with a maximum amount of Rs. 39 Lakh from the Indian side and € 48000 from German side.
- WISER program will offer 20 awards per year.

Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC)

About: The Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) is a joint initiative by the Department of Science & Technology (DST),Government of India and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Government of Germany.
Mandate: It was established to facilitate Indo-German R&D networking through substantive interactions among government, academia/research system and industries, thus fostering innovation for overall economic and societal developments in both the countries.
Legal Status: IGSTC is registered in India as a “society” under Societies Registration Act.
- The Centre is guided by a Governing Body comprising of equal number of members from India and Germany with representation from government, academia and industry.
Significance: IGSTC intends to catalyse innovation centric R&D projects by synergising the strength of research/academic institutions and public/private industries from India and Germany.