Tamil Nadu Partners with Germany’s Fraunhofer IPT to Build Innovation Ecosystem

Photos: July 2024 — Visit of high-level delegation of Govt. of Tamil Nadu, jointly led by Special Secretary Industries Department and MD,  TIDCO to Fraunhofer IPT (Aachen), Fraunhofer FFB (Münster) and Fraunhofer Innovation Platform at University of Twente (Enschede) 

In a major development, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) from Aachen, Germany, has partnered with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to transform Tamil Nadu’s innovation and knowledge ecosystem. The project, officially launched online in September 2024, aims to position Tamil Nadu as a hub for advanced research, development, and manufacturing. 

The virtual event that happened on 23rd October, saw participation from senior officials, including Thiru Sandeep Nanduri, Managing Director of TIDCO, and Mr. Tim Latz, Head of Technology Management at Fraunhofer IPT. The initiative is led by Marc Schauss, Business Development Green Production, with support from experts at TIDCO, Fraunhofer, and Guidance Tamil Nadu. 

Building Tamil Nadu’s Innovation Clusters 

The partnership will focus on enhancing Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing and R&D landscape, drawing from Fraunhofer’s expertise to establish innovation clusters across the state. The project roadmap includes developing Industry 4.0 centers, University Research Parks, and Knowledge Cities. 

“Our collaboration with Fraunhofer will empower Tamil Nadu to become India’s knowledge capital. This is part of our government’s vision to create a sustainable, future-ready economy by fostering R&D, AI, and advanced manufacturing. We aim to attract global investments and create high-paying, knowledge-driven jobs,” said Dr. TRB Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries. The project builds on Tamil Nadu’s strengths, including a robust talent pool and industrial capabilities, aligning with the state’s strategic focus on education and research. 

Insights from Germany: A Vision for Sustainable Industrialization 

The partnership traces its origins to discussions at the 2023 World Economic Forum in Davos. “The mobility sector, a key focus in both Tamil Nadu and Germany, can be a model for sustainable industrialization. Through our learnings at RWTH Aachen Campus, we aim to help Tamil Nadu bridge the gap between academia and industry,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing Günther Schuh, Director at Fraunhofer IPT, reflecting on meetings with Tamil Nadu officials in Davos.

A Three-Phase Strategy to Implement Industry 4.0 

The first phase of the project involves analyzing Tamil Nadu’s industry sectors and identifying Industry 4.0 use cases. Potential operational models and locations for Industry 4.0 centers will also be explored. A Position Paper will provide guidelines for establishing knowledge and research parks across the state. TIDCO’s Managing Director, Sandeep Nanduri, expressed optimism: “We are excited about the collaboration with Fraunhofer in this pioneering initiative.” 

Fraunhofer’s project lead, Marc Schauss, emphasized the value of global partnerships: “We are delighted to bring our knowledge to Tamil Nadu and look forward to gaining new insights from India through this cooperation.”

Strengthening Collaboration through Global Exchange 

Before the project launch, a Tamil Nadu delegation, led by TIDCO, visited key Fraunhofer facilities in Germany and the Netherlands in July 2024. The delegation toured the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) in Aachen, the Battery Cell Production Center in Münster, and the Innovation Platform at the University of Twente. 

“This project is a shining example of how multiple stakeholders from industry, academia, and government can come together to drive innovation,” said Anandi Iyer, Director of Fraunhofer India.