Joint first workshop with IIT Madras, Indian founders and Dresden companies offers an opportunity to explore future cooperation
The Technical University of Dresden (TUD) is intensifying its cooperation with the IIT Madras Research Park through an innovative “Startup Exchange Initiative” for the exchange between German and Indian start-ups. As part of an international joint start-up workshop “Global Leadership in Intelligent Assistive Technologies” at the TUD from August 12 to 14, 2024, representatives of 30 Indian entrepreneurs, including 14 start-ups, will meet with German companies such as ZEISS and Infineon, members of the TUD university management, representatives of the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK), top researchers as well as founders and transfer experts from the TUD.
The importance of these first steps to intensify future cooperation is also highlighted by the visit of the Indian ambassador to TUD at the start on August 12, 2024. HE Harish Parvathaneni, Ambassador of the Republic of India to Germany, pointed out, among other things, the special importance of academic cooperation between Saxony and India, including with regard to joint study programs and the exchange of students, but especially also to close cooperation in the areas of transfer, inventions and innovation. These areas are now being addressed by TUD together with IIT Madras. In addition, the ambassador emphasized the strong partnership between India, Germany and Saxony based on lived common values and, among other things, with the aim of advancing science and developing technologies for mutual benefit.
One example of such a cooperation is the internationalization project “Startup Exchange Initiative” led by Prof. Andreas Pinkwart, Director of the TUD|Excellence Center for Innovation, Transfer and Entrepreneurship (TUD|excite). It is intended to network TUD’s start-ups internationally, promote innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship and at the same time strategically link inventions with India: “This international workshop with Indian and Saxon representatives from science, industry and the start-up scene is an expression of the special cooperation between TUD |excite and the IIT Madras Research Park. With the current focus on intelligent assistance systems, we are addressing a topic that is becoming increasingly important for a growing number of people around the world. Together with our Indian partners, we want to provide impetus for the development of these technologies through innovative spin-offs towards affordable products for international markets,” explains Prof. Andreas Pinkwart.
“We have had a close cooperation with IIT Madras for years, so far in the field of teaching and research on ecological sustainability. Starting with our visit to Chennai last autumn, we decided to deepen the cooperation and put it on a broader content basis. So alongside research and teaching, technology transfer is now also taking place, and alongside environmental sciences, microelectronics and AI research as well as medical research,” says Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden. “A further step on this path to closer cooperation with India is the first joint start-up workshop that began today, which focuses on the important future topic of intelligent assistance systems. TUD|excite and IIT Madras Research Park will also work together on other topics with entrepreneurs from Chennai and Dresden in the future and develop solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.”
A further step to strengthen the links to India and in particular to intensify the cooperation with the IIT Madras is the planned establishment of a liaison office in the IIT Research Park. This liaison office between the two locations can significantly strengthen cooperation in the areas of research, student recruitment and technology transfer. “The TU Dresden and the IIT Madras Research Park see this initiative as the beginning of a long-term partnership that will lead to significant developments in the field of supporting technologies and beyond,” emphasizes Prof. Ronald Tetzlaff, Chief Officer Technology Transfer and Internationalization at the TUD.
Background: Startup Exchange Initiative
The “Startup Exchange Initiative” is an outstanding internationalization project of the TUD for technology transfer and aims to set new standards for international cooperation in technological innovations. The cooperation partners TUD|excite and the IIT Madras Research Park create ideal conditions for start-ups to find their way in the global markets by providing the necessary tools, support and networks. The initiative aims in particular to shape innovations and future technologies through cross-border cooperation and shared know-how – while taking into account the different requirements of the key international markets.
Background: IIT Madras Research Park
IIT Madras Research Park is one of India’s oldest and most dynamic innovation hubs, supporting more than 350 startups with an estimated combined revenue of $6 billion. This collaboration will tap into a rich talent pool and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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