Between May and October 2021, a series of virtual launch events took place, celebrating and seeting in motion the new ABCD-Centre.
During an initial virtual kick-off meeting on May 19 th 2021, all project partners gathered to outline the strategy for the coming years.
On June 30 th 2021, the festive Launch Ceremony took place, involving high-ranking representatives from science, administration, politics and NGOs. The event celebrated the launch of the new ABCD-Centre with renowned international guests. It gathered over 150 stakeholders from international institutions with a strong interest in the ABCD-Centre’s agenda. Introductory remarks by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Stamm, Technische Universität Dresden, were followed by remarks from Dr. Katja Lasch for the DAAD and the German Consul General in Chennai, Ms Karin Stoll, for the German Federal Foreign Office.
The heads of the five involved institutions gave the inaugural remarks, including:

• Prof. Dr. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of Technische Universität Dresden;
• Prof. Dr. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director of IIT Madras;
• Dr. Eden Y Woon, President of AIT Bangkok;
• Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University,
• Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University,
• Prof. Dr. Taikan Oki, Vice-Rector of United Nations University.

After presentations by the involved scientists from all five institutions, the concluding remarks were made by Prof. Sundar, Professor Emeritus, Ocean Department, IIT Madras. The event helped creating the basis for the upcoming international outreach agenda of the ABCD-Centre.
Finally, on October 5 th 2021, the DAAD gathered all four Global Centres for Climate and Environment for a joint inaugural event. The ABCD-Centre identified possibilities for joint global activities with the three other DAAD-funded Centres in South America, Africa and West Asia.

Thematic Workshop Cluster I:
“Water Security, Water Resources Management, Secure Water Supply and Water Treatment”
Workshop concept
This first in a series of three ABCD-cluster-workshops aims at:

• Getting to know researchers from all five institutions through short thematic presentations
• Fine-tuning a joint scientific agenda for Cluster I under the headline: “Water Security, Water Resources Management, Secure Water Supply and Water Treatment”
• Establishing networks as a basis for further joint activities in the field of teaching, research and transfer under the umbrella of the ABCD-Centre

Thematic Workshop Cluster II:
“Ecosystem Resilience and Nature-Based Adaptation Measures”
Workshop concept
This second out of three ABCD-cluster-workshops aims at:

• Getting to know researchers from all five institutions (AIT Bangkok, IIT Madras, UNU FLORES, RWTH Aachen and TU Dresden) through short thematic presentations
• Fine-tuning a joint scientific agenda for Cluster II under the headline: “Ecosystem Resilience and Nature-Based Adaptation”
• Establishing networks as a basis for further joint activities in the field of teaching, research and transfer under the umbrella of the ABCD-Centre

Thematic Workshop Cluster III:
““Transfer Strategies for Global Water and Climate Adaptation: Traditional Knowledge, Local
Economies and Societal Acceptance”
Workshop concept
The third cluster workshop of the ABCD Centre aims at:

• Getting to know researchers from all five institutions (AIT Bangkok, IIT Madras, UNU FLORES, RWTH Aachen and TU Dresden) who are planning to contribute to Cluster III
• Fine-tuning a joint scientific agenda for Cluster III under the headline: “Ecosystem Resilience and Nature-Based Adaptation Measures”
• Establishing networks as a basis for further joint activities in the field of teaching, research and transfer under the umbrella of the ABCD-Centre

Thematic Workshop Cluster II:
“Ecosystem Resilience and Nature-Based Adaptation Measures”
Workshop concept
This second out of three ABCD-cluster-workshops aims at:

• Getting to know researchers from all five institutions (AIT Bangkok, IIT Madras, UNU FLORES, RWTH Aachen and TU Dresden) through short thematic presentations
• Fine-tuning a joint scientific agenda for Cluster II under the headline: “Ecosystem Resilience and Nature-Based Adaptation”
• Establishing networks as a basis for further joint activities in the field of teaching, research and transfer under the umbrella of the ABCD-Centre