Dagmar Möbius

Dr. Avinash Chekuru has been working as a consultant for TU Dresden's strategic partnerships in the Global South since 2023. His scientific expertise is complemented by his active leadership role in the Indian Association Dresden. The Saxon Liaison Office for Science in India, based in Chennai, supports all 15 Saxon universities.

Since when have you been in this position and how did it come about?

I have been serving as an Advisor for TU Dresden’s strategic partnerships in the Global South since October 2023. My journey with TUD began in 2008 with a Master’s in Molecular Bioengineering, followed by a PhD in Regenerative Medicine through the Max Planck PhD program. I later worked as a postdoctoral scientist at TUD.

Over time, I became increasingly engaged at the intersection of science, innovation ecosystems, and international collaboration—particularly between Germany and India. My active leadership role at the Indian Association Dresden e.V., which is composed primarily of students and scientists, has also contributed to fostering past collaborations. These experiences, along with my long-standing relationship with TU Dresden, led to my current role, where I help shape and expand strategic partnerships that promote research, innovation, and technology transfer across the Global South.

Which specific projects do you consider particularly important, and why?

Several initiatives stand out as strategically important—especially those that integrate joint research, education, and technology transfer.

A key highlight is the transCampus partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), which represents the highest level of university-to-university cooperation. It provides a long-term framework for collaboration in research, education, and innovation.

Equally significant is the establishment of the Saxon Science Liaison Office India, based in Chennai. This first-of-its-kind initiative supports all 15 higher education institutions in Saxony and serves as a strategic interface with India’s dynamic academic and innovation ecosystem.

Another impactful project is the development of a joint startup exchange framework that facilitates the internationalization of deep-tech ventures. While the transCampus fosters academic collaboration, the startup exchange promotes bi-directional technology transfer, and the Liaison Office serves as the structural backbone enabling long-term strategic engagement.

What has already been achieved, and what should alumni know about your work?

In just one year in my role, we’ve reached several important milestones:

• The transCampus Memorandum of Agreement with IIT Madras was signed on October 2024, to formalize collaboration in key areas such as microelectronics, sustainable engineering, transportation, medicine, and entrepreneurship. The partnership gained high-level recognition during the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations between Germany and India, where it was mentioned by the Indian Prime Minister in his official remarks—marking a historic moment for TUD, as this gave citation in a G2G document for the first time.
   
• The Saxon Science Liaison Office India was established in record time, with recruitment, onboarding, and the official opening completed within six months. While Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have offices representing higher education institutions in India—and states like NRW, Hamburg, and Hesse operate economic cooperation offices—Saxony became the third German federal state with a dedicated science office in India, officially inaugurated on October 23rd in Chennai. It now serves as a central hub connecting Saxony’s 15 higher education institutions with Indian academic, governmental, and innovation stakeholders.
   
• In the area of startup and technology transfer, there has historically been limited centralized collaboration between India and Germany. Under the direction of Prof. Andreas Pinkwart (TUD|excite), we developed a comprehensive framework and launched a flagship joint startup exchange initiative in August 2024, titled “Global Leadership in Assistive Technology.” The event was inaugurated by the Saxony State Secretary, the Indian Ambassador to Germany (now India’s representative to the UN), and the TUD Rector. It brought together over 70 entrepreneurs, startups, and policymakers from both countries to co-create inclusive technology solutions. A key outcome was the signing of a formal MoU with the IIT Madras Research Park—the first international startup agreement for both TUD and IITMRP.
  
  Since then, our engagement has continued to grow. Most recently, we co-hosted a joint Indo-German startup pavilion at GITEX Europe in Berlin, showcasing 10 top startups from India and Germany (with valuations ranging from €20 to €800 million). This led to two startups signing Letters of Intent for mutual incubation and access to each other’s innovation ecosystems—a major step toward bi-directional startup exchange.

I had the privilege of contributing to the German Federal Migration Strategy for India (pp. 31–32), approved by the Federal Cabinet in 2024. As Germany’s only country-specific migration strategy currently in place, it focuses on aligning talent mobility and innovation exchange with national strategic objectives. My contribution drew on TU Dresden’s international networks to help bridge policy and practice in the fields of academic cooperation and technological innovation.

Over the past 18 months, we’ve also facilitated more than 15 high-level delegations to and from Dresden. Notable visits include delegations from Saxony’s state ministries (SMWK, SMWA) to India, as well as visits by Indian officials—such as the Ambassador of India and the Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries—to TU Dresden, along with numerous workshops and strategic meetings.

Looking ahead, while we continue strengthening the transCampus partnership with IIT Madras, we are also actively developing new strategic collaborations in India, Africa, and across the Global South. Our aim is to contribute to TU Dresden’s Excellence Strategy through globally impactful work in microelectronics, health tech, sustainable innovation, and deep-tech entrepreneurship.

References

• Joint Statement: 7th India–Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC)
  Federal Government of Germany, October 2024
  Declaration Point 31 – Strategic cooperation with TU Dresden
• Video: Prime Minister of India – IGC Concluding Remarks
  Highlights on Dresden and Chennai-related agreements
  Watch from 09:30
• Skilled Migration Strategy for India
  Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), 2024
  Saxony’s contribution featured on pp. 31–32
  Download PDF (BMAS)
• Official Inauguration: Saxony State Office India (Chennai)
  Medienservice Sachsen, October 2024
  Press Release (German)
• Minister Dulig’s Official Visit to India
  Saxony’s Ministry for Economics, Labour and Transport (SMWA), October 2024
  Visit report (German)
• Launch of transCampus Partnership (TU Dresden – IIT Madras)
  TU Dresden News Portal, October 2024
  Article in English
• TU Dresden Intensifies Technology Transfer with India
  Faculty of Engineering, TU Dresden, 2024
  Read the article
• TUD–transCampus–IITM Showcases DeepTech Innovation at GITEX Europe
  TU Dresden International Cooperation Office, 2024
  Event recap and highlights
• TU Dresden Leads in Promoting Indo–German Medical Innovation in AI, XR, and Robotics
  TU Dresden News Portal, 2024
  Read more (German)
• Saxony and Indian State of Tamil Nadu Agree on Scientific and Technological Cooperation
  Saxony Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK), November 2023
  Press Release (German)
• New Indian Ambassador Chooses TU Dresden for First University Visit in Germany
  TU Dresden News Portal, December 2024
  Read the article

Contact:
Dr. Avinash Chekuru
Advisor Impact Partnerships
TUD, International Office

E-Mail:

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