• India and UK Launch Ramanujan Research Fellowship for Young Indian Scientists

New Delhi/London, October 2025: In a landmark step to strengthen scientific collaboration, India and the United Kingdom have jointly launched the Ramanujan Junior Researchers Programme, a new fellowship designed to support young Indian physicists and mathematicians in conducting advanced research at the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS).

The initiative, supported by India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST), was announced following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India. It pays homage to the legendary mathematical partnership between Srinivasa Ramanujan and G. H. Hardy, whose collaboration in 1913 remains one of the most inspiring examples of global scientific cooperation.

Programme Structure and Phased Implementation

The fellowship will be rolled out in two phases.

In the first phase, the DST will sponsor up to six Indian PhD students from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). These selected scholars, known as “Ramanujan Junior Visitors,” will spend several months at LIMS in London’s historic Mayfair district, participating in lectures, collaborative projects, and seminars with British researchers.

The second phase will introduce “Ramanujan Junior Fellowships,” opening the opportunity to early-career researchers across India. These fellows will undertake three-year research residencies at LIMS, engaging in high-level theoretical research alongside leading UK scientists.

A Tribute to Collaboration and Discovery

Dr. Thomas Fink, Director of LIMS, highlighted the programme’s significance, stating,

“The Ramanujan Junior Researchers Programme will act as a bridge for the exchange of ideas between two science superpowers. The work Ramanujan did with Hardy transformed mathematics — and this initiative continues that legacy.”

The fellowship was spearheaded by Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami, with strong backing from Professor Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan, former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

Doraiswami remarked,

“The story of Hardy and Ramanujan reminds us that science progresses not through isolation, but through collaboration and dialogue.”

Strengthening Indo-UK Scientific Cooperation

The London Institute for Mathematical Sciences, based at the Royal Institution, has been associated with some of the world’s most groundbreaking scientific discoveries — including the identification of ten chemical elements and the development of electromagnetic theory.

Through this partnership, young Indian researchers will gain access to a world-class research ecosystem, promoting intellectual exchange and enhancing India’s contribution to the global scientific community.

The programme not only honours Ramanujan’s enduring legacy but also underscores the importance of international cooperation in scientific progress. Participants will have the opportunity to bring back cutting-edge research insights to India, fostering innovation and excellence in the country’s academic institutions.

Future Outlook

The inaugural batch of Ramanujan Junior Visitors will serve as a proof-of-concept for this collaborative framework. As the initiative scales through Junior Fellowships, experts anticipate a deeper Indo-UK research network in theoretical physics and mathematics.

By nurturing next-generation talent, the Ramanujan Junior Researchers Programme aspires to elevate India’s global scientific standing while celebrating one of history’s most remarkable intellectual partnerships.

Ultimately, the initiative marks a strategic milestone in fostering mutual growth, innovation, and friendship between India and the UK — a modern reflection of the timeless Ramanujan–Hardy legacy.

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