Photos’ Credit: German Indian Innovation Corridor — GIIC
Germany and India took another step towards strengthening their innovation partnership through a week-long series of high-level engagements across Bengaluru and New Delhi, bringing together industry leaders, startups, investors, researchers and policymakers to explore collaboration in mobility, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and deep technology.
The programme, organised by the German Indian Innovation Corridor (GIIC) in partnership with leading academic and industry institutions, featured the inaugural German Indian Mobility Summit 2026 at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) on May 26 and the German Indian Innovation Summit at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on May 29.
Together, the two events formed the centrepiece of the German Indian Innovation Week, an initiative aimed at strengthening long-term collaboration between India, Germany and the wider European innovation ecosystem across strategic sectors including mobility, industrial AI, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, climate technology and deep tech.
Bengaluru Summit Focuses on Future of Mobility
Hosted by NSRCEL, the startup incubator of IIM Bangalore, in partnership with GIIC, the German Indian Mobility Summit brought together more than 300 founders, investors, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the future of transportation and sustainable mobility.
Representatives from Mercedes-Benz, Maruti Suzuki, Siemens Mobility, Fraunhofer, Indian Railways, FlixBus India, Ather Energy, Euler Motors, Exponent Energy, Agnikul Cosmos, GIZ and several venture capital firms participated in discussions on electric mobility, AI-enabled transportation, smart infrastructure, logistics and climate technology.
Speaking at the summit, Jan Lachenmayer, Chair of the Executive Board of GIIC e.V. – German Indian Innovation Corridor, said: “The first German Indian Mobility Summit at IIM Bangalore marks an important step toward a deeper Germany-India innovation partnership. At a time of industrial transformation and geopolitical uncertainty, Germany and India must step up and build together for the world, creating shared value by combining industrial excellence, technological innovation and entrepreneurial scale. Our vision at GIIC is to help shape a strong European-Indian axis of innovation leadership that drives global impact, resilience and geopolitical stability.”
Throughout the day, speakers highlighted how mobility is evolving beyond vehicles to encompass software, data, energy systems and urban infrastructure. Experts argued that Germany’s engineering excellence and industrial capabilities, combined with India’s scale, entrepreneurial ecosystem and skilled workforce, could create globally competitive mobility solutions.
Delhi Summit Turns Spotlight on AI for Industries
The innovation week continued on May 29 at IIT Delhi, where GIIC partnered with IvyCap Ventures to host the German Indian Innovation Summit under the theme “AI for Industries.”
The summit focused on how artificial intelligence is transforming industrial production, manufacturing, infrastructure and business operations across Europe and India. Discussions explored opportunities for collaboration in industrial AI deployment, digital transformation, advanced manufacturing and cross-border technology partnerships.
Participants examined how AI-driven solutions can improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability while supporting the next phase of industrial transformation. The event also served as a platform for startups, investors, corporations and research institutions to explore commercial partnerships and technology transfer opportunities.
Trust, Sustainability and Collaboration Emerge as Key Themes
Across both Bengaluru and Delhi, a common message emerged: innovation ecosystems thrive through collaboration rather than competition.
Speakers repeatedly stressed the importance of building partnerships between startups and corporations, universities and industry, and policymakers and innovators. Trust, long-term relationships and shared purpose were identified as critical ingredients for successful international cooperation.
Discussions also highlighted the need for sustainable value chains, climate technology adoption, digital infrastructure development and inclusive growth as India and Europe navigate industrial and technological transitions.
Participants noted that mobility, AI and climate technologies are increasingly interconnected, requiring coordinated approaches that combine innovation, investment and policy support.
Building a Long-Term Innovation Corridor
According to organisers, the German Indian Innovation Corridor seeks to create structured pathways for market access, co-development, investment, technology transfer and cross-border scaling.
Beyond the public summits, German Indian Innovation Week also included CXO roundtables, leadership dinners, curated business meetings and institutional visits designed to foster deeper engagement between stakeholders from both countries.
The initiative aims to connect corporations, startups, investors, research institutions and public-sector organisations to accelerate cooperation across strategic sectors.
Organisers announced that the next German Indian Innovation Summit will be held in Berlin in September 2026, continuing efforts to strengthen what participants described as an emerging innovation corridor linking India, Germany and the broader European ecosystem.
The overarching message from both Bengaluru and Delhi was that India and Germany are increasingly looking beyond traditional trade relationships towards deeper partnerships in innovation, technology development and industrial transformation, with mobility and artificial intelligence emerging as key areas of cooperation.
