More information about the panels can be found further down on this page.

Panel 1: Research Collaboration: Identifying the low-hanging fruits

Global sustainability challenges - from energy transition and climate resilience to circular resource use - require deeper international research collaboration. Technical universities play a crucial role in generating the knowledge, technologies, and skilled workforce needed to address these challenges. In this context, collaboration between Austrian and Indian technical universities offers significant opportunities to accelerate innovation in sustainable technologies by combining complementary strengths in engineering, applied research, and large-scale implementation.

This panel focuses on identifying the “low-hanging fruits” for academic research collaboration between Austria and India—areas where joint initiatives can be rapidly established, deliver early impact, and lay the foundation for long-term partnerships.

Our panelists will explore practical pathways for building effective research partnerships, such as joint research projects, models of co-supervision, researcher mobility, coordinated participation in international funding programs etc. Particular attention will be given to emerging research themes such as renewable energy systems, green hydrogen, circular economy technologies, etc.

Panel 2: Technology Development and Startups: Across the borders

Start-ups play an increasingly important role in the academic landscape for transforming research and technological innovations into scalable products, services, and business models. When supported by coordinated public and private funding mechanisms, these ventures can accelerate technology transfer and shorten the path from laboratory to market.

This panel explores how more cross-border collaboration between Austria and India could strengthen innovation ecosystems that connect universities, research institutions, industry partners, and funding agencies of the two countries. The panel aims to highlight practical pathways for strengthening binational innovation ecosystems and positioning start-ups as central actors in driving technology development and sustainable growth across borders. It will also highlight the importance of “localization” of technology for Indian markets and vice versa.

Panelists will discuss university spin-off support, binational accelerators, and possible blended funding models combining public research grants with venture and corporate capital.