Berlin is preparing to welcome the future. On 6 October 2025, the city will host the German Indian Innovation Summit 2025, a one-day gathering at the Axica Convention Center under the banner of the German Indian Innovation Corridor (GIIC).
The summit will bring together 300 leaders — 150 from India and 150 from Germany — spanning government, research, startups, corporates, and investment. With official backing from Startup India, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the event aims to cement a cross-continental innovation corridor that blends German precision and Indian scale.
Discussions & Themes
The day-long program is packed with discussions across cutting-edge topics. Sessions will revolve around GreenTech and sustainability, fintech and digital systems, cyber and phygital security, space tech, startups and digital transformation, mobility and transport, AI and emerging technologies, as well as manufacturing and Industry 4.0.
The summit begins with the Grand Kickoff: “Germany + India for the World – Why are we relevant 10 years from now?” followed by Lightning Talks on Innovation Highlights, including “Road to India 2047” and breakthrough innovation updates from both nations.
Late morning brings Spotlight Dialogues on Emerging Models for Innovation Creation, with showcases of Indo-German partnerships, new stakeholder models, and a forward-looking conversation on “Where is innovation happening tomorrow?”
After a networking lunch, the Fusion Showcase will combine “The Humans, The Art and The Technology” in a unique session.
The afternoon deepens into Parallel Tracks, where participants will dive into industry-specific themes through action panels, workshops, and interviews. Areas of focus include Mobility & Transport, Health Tech, Cyber-Phygital Security, Open Innovation Ecosystems, Leadership, Skills & Education, AI & Technology, Digital Transformation, Industry 4.0, Policies, Frameworks & Geopolitics, Energy, and Venture Partnering.
The day concludes with a Closing Session on “How does a joint future in 2035 look?”, followed by a Networking Dinner at 20:00 (at a separate location, ticketed separately).
Speaker Lineup
The Summit features an expansive roster of speakers, reflecting both established leaders and next-generation innovators. Among those confirmed are Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, Chairman of Unify Energy, Avnish Chhabria, Founder of Wellbeing Nutrition, and Frederike Thöne, Director of German Accelerator India. From Germany’s startup ecosystem, Paul Westphal, Head of Startup Programs at the Digital Innovation Centre Rostock, will participate alongside René Giese, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, and Vera Futorjanski, CEO of Veritas Ventures.
India’s innovation voices will be represented by Abhishek Singh, CEO of Digital India Corporation, Kavikrut, Chief Growth Officer at OYO Rooms, and Ankit Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of ideaForge Technology, while the investment side is strengthened by Sandeep Farias, Founder of Elevar Equity, and Vikram Gupta, Founder and Managing Partner of IvyCap Ventures.
The Indo-German corporate sector will see leaders such as Ferdinand Gehringer, Innovation Lead at Lufthansa Group, Dr. Björn Bernhard, Senior Vice President at Lufthansa Cargo, Volker Ratzmann, Senior Vice President Public Affairs at Deutsche Post DHL Group, Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, Dr. Tapan Sahoo, Executive Director (Engineering) at Maruti Suzuki India, and Axel Deniz, Head of Business Development at Mercedes-Benz.
Diplomatic and institutional voices include Ajit Gupte, Ambassador of India to Germany, Stefan Halusa, Director General of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Sina Sattler, Head of the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC). Also featured are Anandi Iyer, Director of Fraunhofer Office India, Nick Barniville, Dean of Executive Education at ESMT Berlin, and Dr. Saravanan Kesavan, Professor at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
From the world of entrepreneurship and thought leadership, the stage will host Shoba Purushothaman, Co-Founder of Hardskills, Upasna Dash, Founder and CEO of Jajabor Brand Consultancy, Ali Aslan, international TV host and journalist, and Dr. Ruth Shah, Director of the Indo-German Young Leaders Forum.
The line-up also includes Markus Durstewitz of Airbus, Alexandra K. Mikityuk, Co-Founder and CEO of Staex, Dr. Manasi Aichmüller-Ratnaparkhe, Innovation Manager at BASF, Dr. PKC Bose, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Enercon India, Dirk Ramhorst, CIO and Chief Digital Officer at Wacker Chemie AG, and Dr. Gunter Gemmel, Chief Sustainability Officer at SwissRe.
Recent LinkedIn announcements further confirmed the participation of Jose Jacob K, Head of International Business at UST Global.
Among the highlights, Dinesh Khara, former Chairman of the State Bank of India, will deliver the keynote “Germany + India for the World – A 10 year mission.” Anandi Iyer will speak on turbocharging Indo-German technology collaboration, Paul Westphal will outline how German digital hubs attract Indian startups, and Shoba Purushothaman will explore the “Future of Work through an Educational Lens.”
Startup India’s Role
The Summit is officially listed as a challenge under Startup India, the flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.
This government-backed presence underscores how central India’s startup ecosystem is to the Indo-German innovation partnership. By integrating Startup India, the summit ensures that Indian entrepreneurs gain visibility and access to German markets, while German corporates tap into India’s fast-growing innovation base.
India–Germany Angle
The summit is backed at the highest political levels. The GIIC website highlights anchor quotes that capture its strategic intent:
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission: “The Indo-European partnership will define the 21st century. In India, Europe sees a trusted ally, a vibrant democracy, and a leader in shaping the digital and green transitions we all need.”
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India: “India and Germany are natural partners, connected by democratic values and a commitment to global prosperity. Our future lies in deeper cooperation across innovation, sustainability, and people-to-people engagement.”
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany: “Germany supports a strong trade partnership with India. In a shifting global economy, India is a dynamic, democratic ally — vital to strengthening Europe’s innovation networks and global resilience.”
These statements frame the summit not just as another bilateral dialogue, but as a strategic bet on innovation as the backbone of the Indo-European relationship.
Participation Details
The summit is strictly limited to 300 attendees. Tickets are priced at €450 for full access, with a limited number available to startups at a discounted €225. The Networking Dinner requires separate tickets. For more details, visit: https://giic.co/summit/
Conclusion
As Berlin prepares to welcome leaders on 6 October 2025, the German Indian Innovation Summit 2025 promises to be more than a conference — it is being cast as the launchpad of a new era in Indo-European cooperation. With the weight of Startup India, the German government, and the European Commission behind it, the summit signals that the future of global innovation may well be shaped on the Berlin stage.
