At GITEX Europe 2025, one of the continent’s premier tech exhibitions, Indo-German collaboration in deeptech innovation took centre stage. The Embassy of India in Berlin, in partnership with premier institutions—Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden) and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)—hosted a high-impact roundtable and startup showcase, highlighting the growing strength of the transCampus initiative and its role in accelerating bilateral research and entrepreneurship.
Strategic Focus on Technology Transfer and Innovation
Held on the sidelines of GITEX Europe on May 21, 2025, the India-Germany roundtable brought together startups and innovation leaders from both countries, catalyzing new partnerships in frontier technologies. The session coincided with the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, signaling a significant moment in the bilateral innovation dialogue.
Organised by the Embassy of India in Berlin, the roundtable featured participation from leading ecosystem figures including Dr. Dinesh Antil (First Secretary, Economic & Commerce), Dr. Banerjee (Science & Technology Counsellor), and Dr. Rainer Seider from the Senate Chancellery Berlin. Representing the academic and startup front were Prof. Andreas Pinkwart from TU Dresden’s TUD|excite and Mr. Madhav Narayan, CEO of IITM Global, alongside several founders and researchers.
Startup Agreements Mark Concrete Indo-German Outcomes
A defining feature of the event was the signing of two key Letters of Intent (LoIs), symbolizing real-time progress in Indo-German startup collaboration.
Flexora, a TU Dresden-incubated venture specializing in thin-film sensor technologies, signed an LoI with IIT Madras to scale product testing and deployment in Indian industrial markets.
TuTr Hyperloop, an IIT Madras-incubated startup developing high-speed transportation systems, entered into an LoI with German engineering giant Thyssenkrupp GmbH to accelerate technology transfer from Germany to India.
These agreements build upon the momentum initiated by the Indo-German Deeptech Exchange in 2024 and recent collaborations at India’s Startup Mahakumbh. The startups’ presence at GITEX underlined the tangible outcomes of this growing innovation corridor.
A Landmark Indo-German Showcase at GITEX
The TUD | transCampus IITM booth was a unique presence at GITEX Europe, located prominently opposite the European Innovation Council pavilion. It was the only university-led Indo-German showcase at the event, representing an alliance that bridges academic research and entrepreneurship.
Over 1,400 exhibitors, 750 startups, and 600 investors participated in GITEX Europe 2025, making the Indo-German joint booth a high-visibility platform for cross-border innovation.
The booth featured startups such as:
Agnikul Cosmos – Launch vehicles for small satellites
Solinas Integrity – Robotic inspection for water and sanitation
Wankel Energy – Compact rotary engines for clean energy
Detect Technologies – AI for industrial safety
Pruuve – UV dosimetry solutions
Sonojet – Acoustic jet printing for precision manufacturing
ExciteLab GmbH – Deeptech commercialization based on academic research
These ventures operate across sectors like aerospace, climate tech, AI, and advanced manufacturing—reflecting shared Indo-German priorities.
Thought Leadership and Science Diplomacy
The panel discussion hosted under the 10x Northstar Global platform delved into how deeptech research can translate into scalable business models. Highlighting the transCampus success, Prof. Pinkwart emphasized the pipeline from lab breakthroughs to market-ready innovation:
“With TUD|excite and our Indian partners, we’re enabling research with real-world impact.”
TU Dresden’s Rector, Prof. Ursula Staudinger, added that the initiative serves as a powerful tool for coding solutions to global challenges—not merely as an academic collaboration, but as a dynamic innovation engine.
Madhav Narayan of IITM Global noted, “The joint booth shows how academic R&D can evolve into global entrepreneurship. This partnership is about creating access—for technology, markets, and talent.”
What’s Next: Accelerators and Bilateral Innovation Tracks
Buoyed by the success of the GITEX engagement, both sides are exploring deeper institutionalization of the startup ecosystem. Upcoming plans include:
A dedicated Indo-German deeptech accelerator track
Bilateral investor showcases
Co-innovation labs leveraging infrastructure in Dresden and Chennai
These efforts are expected to significantly bolster India-Germany startup co-development and help translate research into scalable, market-ready solutions.
About TUD | transCampus IITM
TUD | transCampus IITM is a long-term Indo-German strategic partnership linking TU Dresden and IIT Madras. Through operational arms like TUD|excite and IITM Global, the platform supports joint research, academic exchange, and technology commercialization, enabling a sustainable innovation bridge between Europe and India.
