The International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (IB-BMBF at DLR) in Bonn and the Department of Biotechnology at the Indian Ministry of Research and Technology, New Delhi, are the nodal agencies responsible for implementing the project in each country.

Proposals can be submitted in the following priority areas:
Structural biology
Bioprocess engineering
Applications in microbial biotechnology
Cell culture technology
Infectious diseases
Neurobiology and neurosciences

- Relevance to German and Indian national programmes and multinational programmes (e.g. EU programmes)
- Preparation of new projects in applied fields of mutual benefit and justification for collaboration
- Quality and originality of research approach
- Qualification of applicant and availability of infrastructure
- Proposals should include young scientists
- Expected results and outcomes

Scientists/faculty members working in a standard capacity in universities, national R&D laboratories/institutes and private R&D institutes can all apply.
Private sector: Partners from all private sectors are welcome, but financing is limited:
Project duration: 2 years, extendable by one year
Processing:
Joint research projects must be submitted to both nodal agencies by 31 October 2008. Unilaterally submitted projects will not be considered.

Financial support is available from the respective nodal agency for the exchange visit under the approved projects component.
The hosts will provide living expenses (except private sector in the case of DBT) connected with the agreed programme of the visit. As a general rule, visits should not exceed 3 months.
Indian scientists travelling to Germany: 82 euros per day (1 to 22 days); max. 1840 euros for 23 to 30 days (in cases where free accommodation is provided, the daily allowance is 26 euros); 61 euros for every day after the first month.
German scientists travelling to India: Rs. 1000 per day plus accommodation; max. Rs. 30000 per month plus 700 for every day after the first month.

Deadline for applications: 31 October 2008
Shortlisting of selected projects: 31 December 2008
Commencement of project: 1 February 2009

Further information
In Germany:
PD Dr. sc. Lothar Mennicken
Deputy Director, Dept. America, Asia, Ocenia
International Bureau (IB) of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
c/o German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Straße 1
D-53227 Bonn
Tel. +49 (0)228 3821-407
Fax +49 (0)228 3821-444
E-mail: lothar.mennicken@dlr.de

In India:
Dr. Shailja V. Gupta
Joint Director
Department of Biotechnology
Ministry of Science and Technology
Block – 2 ,CGO Complex, Lodi Road
New Delhi – 110 003, INDIA
Tel.: 2436 3748
Fax: 2436 2884
E-mail: shailja@dbt.nic.in