India-Israel Academic & Research Cooperation

1. As two knowledge-based economies, India and Israel have natural synergies in the field of education and research. Currently, around 900 Indian students are studying in various institutes and universities of Israel; a majority of them are pursuing doctoral and post-doctoral studies.

2. Ongoing bilateral efforts in deepening academic cooperation include promoting studies on India and Israel as disciplines at various universities, and promoting institutional linkages through joint research programmes, scholarships, student recruitment or faculty/student exchange programmes.  During the visit of the President of India to Israel in 2015, several MoUs were signed between various academic institutions of India and Israel. Since then, the momentum of establishing academic linkages has continued.

3. Currently, courses on India are offered in Israel’s Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University and Haifa University. In the recent past, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) short-term Chairs took courses on Indian history, culture and philosophy at Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities. In 2012, the Centre for Israel Studies was established at the Jindal School of International Affairs in India. Israel’s Tel Aviv University has established a Centre for Israel Studies in Mumbai in 2017. In 2020, Israel’s Ben Gurion University of the Negev established a Research Centre on Desert Agriculture in Chennai.

4. Under Government of India’s ‘Bharat EkParichay: Sharing knowledge with the world’initiative, the Embassy has created ‘India Corners’ in Tel Aviv University, Haifa University, Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University, and have provided books and quality resource material.

5. In recent years, Government of India has launched several initiatives to enhance linkages between researchers and institutions which has led to the strengthening of academic cooperation with Israel:

(a) SPARC: Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration run by Ministry of Human Resources Development; it aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian institutions and the best institutions from 28 nations (including Israel). Link for more details on SPARC: https://sparc.iitkgp.ac.in/partner_countries.php  

(b) VAJRA: Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty; the programme by Science & Engineering Research Board of India offers an opportunity for Israeli scientists to be associated as adjunct /visiting faculty with high quality Public funded Indian Institutions / Universities to undertake collaborative research. The link for VAJRA is https://www.indembassyisrael.gov.in/pdf/VAJRA%20Brochure.pdf .

6. University Grants Commission (UGC)-Israel Science Foundation (ISF) Fund: Since 2013, UGC-ISF funding program offers scholarships for joint academic research. Under the program, each government contributes USD 12.5 million for 5 academic years, starting from 2014-15. The programme provides support of up to USD 300,000 for an experimental project and USD 180,000 for a theoretical project for up to three years. 41 projects in areas ranging from humanities, life sciences, social sciences etc. have received funding under the programme so far. The two sides are currently engaged in discussions for the continuation of the funding programme .

7. The Embassy runs free yoga sessions and Hindi and Marathi language classes from time to time. The classes are being scheduled virtually.

8. For more details, please write to Ms. Rakhee Mayuri, First Secretary (Political & Education) at fs.telaviv@mea.gov.in 

August 9, 2022

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