Launch of Indo-German Max Planck Partner Group
A Max Planck Partner Group was established between the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU)-Varanasi and the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) in Potsdam. The inaugural session was held on 14th February 2017 at the Department of Chemistry, IIT (BHU)-Varanasi in India.
The Indo-German Max Planck Partner group is focusing on the use of carbohydrate synthesis to unravel the potency of carbohydrate marine natural products as materials and for medical uses. The partner group is led by Assistant Professor Dr. Jeyakumar Kandasamy at the IIT BHU in Varanasi, a former postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biomolecular Systems at MPICI in Potsdam. Together with Prof. Seeberger the partners are planning to continue their close collaboration in the Glycosciences: “We are looking forward to work with our Indian partners at using glycobiology to address important medical needs in India” said Professor Seeberger.
In celebration of the opening of the new partner group, a three day Indo-German workshop on “Recent applications of Carbohydrates in Chemistry and Biology” (RACCB-2017) was organized on the campus of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The international workshop brought together scientists from India, Germany and Israel who are working in the area of Glycochemistry and Glycobiology. The meeting was attended by more than 170 scientists and provided a multi-disciplinary forum for the presentation and for critical discussions of the newest ideas and emerging concepts in carbohydrate sciences. A special focus was put on recent developments in the synthesis and biomedical applications of carbohydrates.
Max Planck Partner Groups in India
Partner Groups are aimed at Indian post docs up to 38 years of age who, having spent at least twelve months at a Max Planck Institute, are returning or have already returned to an Indian research institute. This is a way for both Indian scientists and the Max Planck institutes to maintain close ties.
Partner Groups are normally sponsored for a maximum of five years with MPS basic financing of € 20,000 a year, which can be used to finance for example travel, workshops, doctoral students and post docs, as well as smaller items of equipment.
Since 2005, 38 Max Planck Partner Groups have been established in India, 19 of which are still active.
