India
For many years, the Leopoldina has worked with the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) to promote professional exchange between researchers from both countries. The focus is on joint scientific formats, dialogue on current research topics, and contributions to international policy advice.
Last edited: 15. June 2026
DThe connection with India goes back many years and is also reflected in the Academy’s membership: several Indian researchers are members of the Leopoldina.
Indian National Science Academym as the Principal Partner
The Leopoldina and the INSA promote exchange between the scientific communities of both countries and enhance the visibility of scientific topics in Germany and India. Their cooperation is based on a partnership agreement concluded in 2007, which has been continuously renewed ever since and provides an institutional and values-based framework for ongoing exchange between the two academies.
“Leopoldina–INSA Lecture” Series and Specialist Symposia
The two academies regularly organise high-level interdisciplinary symposia on topics such as medicine, neuroscience and evolutionary biology. They have also established the Leopoldina–INSA Lecture Series, in which members of both academies present their research findings to a wider audience.
International Policy Advice
In addition, the Leopoldina and the INSA work together in international policy advice, for example through statements in the run-up to G20 summits. During India’s G20 presidency in 2023, the INSA assumed a coordinating role in the Science20 process, in which the Leopoldina was actively involved and contributed scientific recommendations to the political consultation process.
events
Lectures & Discussions 23. April 2026 | 16:00 - 18:00 From Science to Policy Advice: Science Diplomacy and the Role of National Academies – Insights from India and Germany ▸
Embassy of India Berlin
Impressions
In 2007, the Leopoldina agreed on closer cooperation with the Indian National Science Academy in the field of science and technology. Leopoldina President Prof. Dr. Volker ter Meulen ML and INSA President Prof. Dr. M. Vijayan signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" in New Delhi, India. The first bilateral seminar of the Leopoldina and INSA focused on "Antimicrobial Drug Resistance and the Development of New Antibiotics".
Shekhar Mande, President of INSA, and Bettina Rockenbach, President of the Leopoldina, reflected on the role of science diplomacy and discussed how evidence-based expertise can contribute to sound policymaking and to tackling complex global challenges. The discussion was moderated by Ruth Narmann, Head of the International Relations Department at the Leopoldina.
This virtual panel discussion explored approaches to address challenges in COVID-19 vaccination from a scientific perspective. The event was jointly organized by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). Professor Gagandeep Kang, PhD, Chair of the Immunization Technical Advisory Group for the WHO South East Asian Region, Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) participated.
Shekhar Mande, President of INSA, visited the Leopoldina in Halle (Saale) in November 2025.
As part of India's G20 presidency in 2023, the Science20 consultations were held under the leadership of INSA. The G20 Chief Science Advisers Roundtable (G20-CSAR) was established in 2023, with Leopoldina President Gerald Haug representing Germany. India was represented by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and former President of INSA (both pictured). The consultations culminated in an official presentation of the Statement to the Government of India in Coimbatore in July 2023.
At the dialogue forum at the German National Academy of Science Leopoldina in Halle (Saale) on 22 March 2017 the science academies of the G20 States handed over recommendations to Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. The document was published in preparation of the G20 Summit consultations in July 2017 under the leadership of the Leopoldina and contains strategies and tools to improve global health. For the first time, the G20 science academies contribute to the Summit preparations with jointly developed recommendations.
Leopoldina-Lecture, Indian Embassy Berlin, 18.9.2018
The Leopoldina and INSA have worked closely together for many years, for example by jointly organising scientific conferences in India and Germany. Prof. Dr. Raghavendra Gadagkar, member of the Leopoldina and former president of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), gives a lecture at the Leopoldina headquarters in 2016.
Further information
Kontakt Dr. Saskia Steiger
