Ajit Gupte, the recently appointed Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany, paid an official visit to TUD Dresden University of Technology on December 2, 2024. It was his first visit to a German university since his appointment in October, and coincided with Minister for Industries of Tamil Nadu (South India), Dr. T.R.B. Raaja’s visit to Dresden. TUD Rector Prof. Ursula Staudinger and Prof. Ronald Tetzlaff, Chief Officer for Technology Transfer and Internationalization (CTIO), along with other representatives of TUD, warmly welcomed the Ambassador, the Minister, and the delegation from India.

Ambassador Gupte applauded TU Dresden’s pivotal role in strengthening academic and industrial partnerships between India and Germany, and highlighted the university’s importance in supporting start-up collaborations and the global innovation ecosystem. The discussions also explored opportunities for joint research funding, government-backed initiatives, and further partnerships in areas such as microelectronics, AI, sustainability, and healthcare.

© André Wirsig

TUD-Rector Staudinger said: “The fact that the newly appointed Indian Ambassador to Germany, Ajit Gupte, is visiting TU Dresden so soon after his appointment is a strong signal of the close ties between TUD and its Indian partners, including the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year to establish a transCampus partnership between TUD and IIT Madras, and the opening of a liaison office in Chennai in cooperation with the Free State of Saxony, today's discussions build on this fruitful exchange to further strengthen the bridge between these high-tech hubs."

© André Wirsig

CTIO Prof. Ronald Tetzlaff explained: “We discussed the further development of the transCampus with IIT Madras and also the establishment of a partnership of TUD|excite with regard to start-ups and generally with companies in Tamil Nadu.”

During their visit, Ajit Gupte and T.R.B. Raaja toured the CeTIBar at TU Dresden. They explored groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and 6G communication technologies, witnessing how these advancements converge in the metaverse to tackle complex challenges, such as pioneering robotic surgeries of the future.

In addition to exchange, Ajit Gupte and Rector Staudinger also discussed upcoming joint research collaborations and the Start-Up Exchange Initiative of TUD|excite, a cornerstone of the growing partnership. This initiative, which featured a successful joint start-up workshop in Dresden earlier this year, aims to connect emerging companies from both countries, promoting innovation and technology transfer. The workshop resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding between TU Dresden, TUD|excite, and IITM Research Park, focusing on fostering entrepreneurial collaboration between Indian and German start-ups.

Contact:

Dr. Avinash Chekuru
International Office, TU Dresden
Tel.: +49 351 463-36121
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