A landmark collaboration between India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS) has led to the launch of the Ramanujan Junior Researchers Programme — an initiative designed to bring some of India’s brightest young theoretical physicists and mathematicians to the UK for joint research. Announced following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India, this pioneering scheme celebrates the enduring legacy of the legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and his historic collaboration with British mathematician G. H. Hardy.
The partnership between Ramanujan and Hardy, which began in 1913, revolutionized the field of mathematics and continues to influence number theory, infinite series, and mathematical analysis. The newly launched programme seeks to recreate that same spirit of international scientific collaboration, uniting the mathematical strengths of India and the United Kingdom.
A Bridge Between Two Scientific Powerhouses
Dr. Thomas Fink, Director of LIMS, described the Ramanujan Junior Researchers Programme as a “bridge for the exchange of talents between two science superpowers.” He emphasized that just as the work of Hardy and Ramanujan transformed mathematics in the early 20th century, this new initiative will empower a new generation of thinkers to pursue transformative discoveries.
“This programme, inspired by Ramanujan’s legacy and the success of our existing fellowships for theorists from Russia and Ukraine, aims to welcome India’s brightest scientific minds to our historic rooms at the Royal Institution,” said Dr. Fink.
The campaign to establish the programme was spearheaded by Vikram Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, with key support from Professor Krishnaswamy Vijayraghavan, former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. Doraiswami stated, “The story of Hardy and Ramanujan reminds us that science advances not through isolation, but through friendship and dialogue. This programme will give young Indian scientists the same chance Ramanujan once had — to test their ideas in the world’s most stimulating environments.”
Structure of the Ramanujan Junior Researchers Scheme
The DST-funded phase one of the programme will introduce Ramanujan Junior Visitors — a select group of Indian PhD students from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). These scholars will spend several months at LIMS, attending lectures and participating in collaborative research at the Royal Institution in London’s Mayfair.
Initially, up to six PhD students from JNCASR will be chosen for this phase, with plans to expand in the coming years to include top theoretical physics and mathematics students from universities across India.
In phase two, the initiative will evolve into the Ramanujan Junior Fellowships, targeting early-career researchers in the initial years after completing their PhDs. These three-year fellowships will allow India’s most promising physicists and mathematicians to conduct research at LIMS and forge long-term partnerships with British counterparts.
LIMS: A Legacy of Scientific Discovery
The London Institute for Mathematical Sciences, headquartered within the Royal Institution, is a research hub dedicated to accelerating scientific discovery. The Royal Institution itself has been home to ten chemical element discoveries, the formulation of electromagnetism, and several Nobel Prize-winning breakthroughs. The collaboration with India marks a significant step in its mission to foster global excellence in theoretical sciences.
The Ramanujan Junior Researchers Programme represents a visionary step in strengthening Indo-UK scientific ties. By providing Indian researchers access to one of the world’s most intellectually stimulating environments, the initiative pays homage to Ramanujan’s legacy while nurturing the next generation of global scientific leaders.
