INDIA DESK Germany, a new platform aimed at supporting Indian startups, scaleups and innovation-driven companies entering Germany and Europe, was officially launched in Berlin on May 6, 2026, reflecting growing momentum in Indo-German cooperation across innovation, industrial transformation and startup ecosystems.
The initiative has been launched by GIIC e.V. German Indian Innovation Corridor and NLND Berlin with support from Berlin Partner. The platform is designed to provide Indian companies with structured market-entry support, physical landing infrastructure, prototyping access and integration into Berlin’s innovation ecosystem.
The launch event took place at NLND Neuland and brought together representatives from government, industry, corporates, innovation ecosystems and cross-border business networks.
Structured Gateway for Indian Companies
According to the organisers, INDIA DESK Germany has been conceived as a structured entry point for Indian companies seeking to explore, validate and scale operations in Germany and across Europe.
The initiative combines NLND Berlin’s physical innovation infrastructure, GIIC’s curated pipeline from India and market-entry programming, and Berlin Partner’s public business support, relocation, talent, workforce integration and funding guidance.
The official opening featured remarks from Abhishek Dubey, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India; Franziska Giffey, Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economics; and Jochen Neumeyer, Deputy Head of Division India, Bhutan, Regional Organisations South Asia at the Federal Foreign Office.
The INDIA DESK Germany platform was introduced by Martin Eyerer, General Lead NLND and CEO of Green City Development Berlin, Jobst Schumacher, Manager Strategic Projects and Public Affairs bei Philip Morris GmbH (PMI) and Siddharth Bhasin, Managing Director, GIIC e.V. German Indian Innovation Corridor.
Focus on Innovation and Startup-Corporate Partnerships
A panel discussion explored opportunities for Indo-German innovation collaboration, industrial transformation, market entry, and startup-corporate partnerships. The panel featured Upen Barve of GIIC, Martin Eyerer of NLND, Dr. Stefan Franzke of Berlin Partner, and Dr. Şilan Hun, Head of Startup Partnering bei Siemens Mobility, followed by closing remarks from Jan Lachenmayer Chair of the Executive Board of GIIC and Jobst Schumacher of PMI.
Speaking at the launch, Siddharth Bhasin said the initiative is intended to serve as a long-term bridge for bilateral business and innovation engagement between India and Germany.
“INDIA DESK Berlin is more than a launch platform — it is a long-term bridge for bilateral business, trade and innovation between India and Germany. We want it to become the first destination for Indian companies looking to enter Germany, and for German corporates and institutions seeking meaningful engagement with India’s innovation economy,” he said.
Martin Eyerer highlighted India’s growing importance for Germany’s economic and innovation ecosystem.
“India is one of the biggest opportunities Germany has right now, and can be a key partner for the years ahead. After joining Berlin Partner’s delegation to India last year, it was clear to me that NLND is perfectly placed as a landing pad for businesses and talent moving between Europe and India. GIIC is the right partner for this: our campus offering and physical infrastructure complement their strong industrial and innovation network,” he said.
Three-Layer Support Structure
According to the organisers, the INDIA DESK Germany initiative has been built around a three-layer support model aimed at helping companies move from market entry to pilot development and business validation.
The Soft-Landing Entry Layer provides workspace, onboarding, initial business development support and guided ecosystem navigation. The Market Entry Execution Layer offers a one-month structured cohort programme with access to corporates, partners and pilot opportunities. The Prototyping & Build Infrastructure Layer gives companies access to NLND makerspace, labs and pilot-development opportunities in Berlin.
Together, the framework is intended to support companies from arrival in Germany through prototyping, partner engagement, pilot development and market validation.
Growing India-Germany Innovation Ecosystem
The launch reflects broader efforts by India and Germany to deepen collaboration in areas such as AI, deep tech, industrial transformation, mobility and startup innovation, as German industry increasingly looks toward India as a strategic technology and innovation partner.
GIIC describes itself as a platform focused on building long-term innovation and industrial collaboration between Germany and India by connecting corporations, startups, investors, research institutions and public stakeholders. Its initiatives include market-access programmes, cross-border scaling support and the German Indian Innovation Summit.
NLND Berlin, meanwhile, operates a 150,000 sqm innovation district focused on industrial transformation, bringing together industry, startups, universities and government stakeholders. The district focuses on areas such as AI, deep tech, Industry 4.0 and future city technologies, and includes innovation hubs, prototyping facilities and accelerator programmes.
Following the launch, INDIA DESK Germany will begin engaging Indian companies, corporates, ecosystem partners and institutional stakeholders interested in market entry, pilot development and broader Indo-German innovation collaboration.
