With 506 guest researchers, India makes up a sizable proportion of all visiting scientists at Max Planck Institutes and also at the International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS), Indians account for the second largest number of foreign doctoral students. 30 projects are presently ongoing between scientists from Max Planck Institutes and research partners in India. Presently a total of 12 Max Planck Partner Groups work in India. The Partner Groups are headed by former Indian guest scientists who have returned to their home institutions, where they maintain close research ties with their former hosts.

Under a special programme for travel grants, the Max Planck Indian Fellowships, 20 exceptionally qualified Indian junior scientists receive travel funding for a period of four years and can reside at a Max Planck Institute of their choice for at least one month each year. In so-called “Start up Workshops”, scientists from Max Planck Institutes have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with research conditions in India and to establish first contacts. Three such workshops are due to take place in 2008.

In October 2004, the Max Planck Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Department of Science & Technology which serves as the basis for expanding and further strengthening collaboration with Indian Partner Institutes.

A continually increasing number of innovative and cutting-edge Indian research institutes are working in areas in which Max Planck Institutes are looking for partners worldwide. Scientists from such institutes in India are therefore much sought after as partners. With its carefully targeted and strategic measures, the Max Planck Society seeks to provide fresh impetus to this collaboration with India.

On 30 October 2007. the "Science Express" was flagged off in Delhi by Prime Minister Manmohan Sing and Chancellor Dr. Angelika Merkel. This 400 meter long train features the very successful „Science Tunnel" of the Max-Planck Society and by early May 2008 it will have visited 57 cities throughout India on its 15,000 km tour. 2 mio visitors have seen the Science Express on its tour.

The aim of the "Science Express" is to interest more Indian youth in a professional career in Science and Technology and to educate the general public on the importance of education for the development of the country. This intention of the Indian government matches the promotion of the Germans under the motto "Research and Education in Germany" in order to further train and qualify gifted Indians in universities and research institutes in Germany.

The possibility of a stronger institutional engagement of the Max-Planck-Society in India is presently being examined in the context of the internationalization strategy of the Max Planck Society.