Photo Credit: Embassy of India, Berlin
The German Indian Innovation Summit (GIIC) 2025 transformed Berlin’s AXICA Congress Center into a hub of ideas and partnerships, as more than 300 leaders from government, industry, academia, and research convened to advance a shared innovation agenda between India and Germany.
Themed “Forging an Indo-European Innovation Corridor for a Safe and Sustainable Future,” the summit showcased the growing strategic weight of Indo-European cooperation in AI, GreenTech, Digital Transformation, Industry 4.0, HealthTech, and Cybersecurity — marking the beginning of a new decade of collaborative growth.
Shared Vision, Strong Voices
The Summit opened with addresses by Ambassador Ajit Gupte, Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan, and Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, who each underscored the democratic and innovation-driven foundations of Indo-European ties.
Ambassador Gupte remarked that “Germany and India have shown that innovation and democracy can go hand in hand in building a sustainable global order.”
In his keynote, Dr. Chauthaiwale, Head of the Foreign Affairs Department, Bharatiya Janata Party, emphasized: “India and Europe share a common vision of leveraging innovation to address global challenges. From digital transformation to green technologies, our collaboration has the potential to set benchmarks for inclusive growth. The German Indian Innovation Summit reflects this spirit of partnership and action.”
He further added, as reported by The Economic Times: “Germany and India are demonstrating what forward-looking nations can achieve when they prioritise innovation as the cornerstone of progress. Together, these two innovation ecosystems have the potential to shape solutions that define how humanity lives, works, and connects in the decades ahead.”
Ms. Anandi Iyer Highlights the Indo-German Innovation Bridge
Among the featured speakers was Ms. Anandi Iyer, Director, Fraunhofer Office India and Founder of TheDialog, who brought her deep experience in advancing Indo-German collaboration in applied research, technology, and innovation diplomacy.
In a Spotlight Dialogue with Axel Deniz, CEO of Bosch Business Innovation, and a panel on Technology & Collaboration with Milind Phulse (JBM Group), Dr. Sina Sattler (Kärcher), and Dr. Ruth Shah (SAP), Ms. Iyer emphasized:“Indo-German partnerships must now evolve from exchange to execution — where applied research, sustainable technology, and co-innovation create measurable impact.”
She was joined by a diverse range of speakers including Dr. Gunter Gemmel (Volkswagen Group), Shoba Purushothaman (Happl), Kavikrut (Dreamscape), Vikram Gupta (IvyCap Ventures), Nick Barniville (European Academy of Innovation Diplomacy), Dr. Saravanan Kesavan (University of North Carolina), Dr. Manasi Aichmüller-Ratnaparkhe (Boehringer Ingelheim), Upasna Dash (Jajabor Brand Consultancy), Dirk Ramhorst (Wacker Chemie), Michael Peter (Siemens Mobility), and Dinesh Khara (State Bank of India) — representing the rich cross-section of policy, academia, and enterprise shaping the Indo-German innovation landscape.
Their collective insights reflected the Summit’s central vision — to transform collaboration into a structured, scalable innovation partnership across continents.
Major Announcements at GIIC 2025
The Summit unveiled five major initiatives that redefine the scope of Indo-European cooperation:
German Indian Open Innovation Initiative
A landmark platform linking 10 corporations from each country and over 500 startups to accelerate collaboration in emerging technologies, sustainability, and digital transformation — setting a new benchmark for structured cross-border innovation.
Partnership with NLND – Europe’s Largest Innovation Campus
GIIC will establish an India Desk at NLND, offering startups, corporates, and investors a permanent access point into European innovation ecosystems to boost R&D and technology partnerships.
Launch of the German Deep Tech House in Madhya Pradesh
A public–private partnership between the Government of Madhya Pradesh and leading German technology firms, coordinated by GIIC, focused on AI, industrial deep tech, and applied research collaboration.
Democratic AI Initiative
A joint Indo-European effort to develop a framework for ethical, transparent, and human-centred AI, ensuring that innovation remains grounded in democratic values, accountability, and trust.
Expanded Media Partnerships
GIIC announced new collaborations with major Indian and German media outlets to enhance cross-border visibility for stories of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability.
“Germany + India for the World” — A Ten-Year Vision
At the heart of the Summit stood Upen Barve, Founder and Executive Board Member of GIIC and former Vice President, Research & Innovation at SAP SE, who described the gathering as a new chapter in innovation diplomacy.
“When Germany and India work together as equal partners, our goal is simple yet profound — to create ‘Germany plus India for the world.’ What began as an idea has now gathered extraordinary momentum. This is not just a summit; it’s the start of a ten-year roadmap for collaborative innovation,” Barve said.
Jan Lachenmayer, Chair of the GIIC Executive Board, reinforced this message: “This Summit is more than a conference – it’s a milestone in Indo-European cooperation. Together, we can demonstrate how innovation drives prosperity and strengthens global stability.”
India’s Momentum, Europe’s Opportunity
The discussions highlighted India’s rapid transformation into a global innovation and manufacturing powerhouse, propelled by its USD 250 billion digital economy and policy drivers such as Make in India and PLI schemes.
Speakers noted that India’s leadership in semiconductors, electric mobility, green hydrogen, and defense technology presents a powerful opportunity for European companies to collaborate in next-generation sectors.
As one German participant aptly summarized: “India’s growth momentum is unstoppable — this is the decade to collaborate, invest, and innovate together. Waiting too long could mean missing one of the most promising global opportunities of our time.”
About GIIC
The German Indian Innovation Corridor (GIIC e.V.) is a non-profit, member-driven organization based in Berlin, dedicated to accelerating innovation exchange between Germany and India. GIIC connects decision-makers and builds pathways for digitalization, sustainability, and economic growth through strategic partnerships, summits, and innovation programs.
A Blueprint for a Decade of Innovation
The German Indian Innovation Summit 2025 concluded with a shared sense of momentum and purpose. With its new innovation platforms, deep-tech hubs, and democratic AI initiatives, the event marked the emergence of a resilient Indo-European partnership committed to sustainable progress and technological leadership.
As Berlin’s historic venue emptied, one theme resonated above all: Germany and India are no longer just partners in progress — they are co-architects of a global innovation future defined by technology, trust, and transformation.
