Report

Enhancing Indo-German SME Innovation and Technology Cooperation

This report, a joint publication of the DWIH New Delhi, DAAD and the Fraunhofer Office in India provides an overview of the innovation and research ecosystems in both countries, emphasising the role of SMEs. It also outlines funding mechanisms for technology transfer and industry–academia collaboration and presents key recommendations from the stakeholder dialogue to help shape a framework for Indo-German technology cooperation.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are considered the backbone of national economies and engines of economic growth. Agile and driven by entrepreneurship, innovation, and their ability to navigate turbulent times, SMEs have shown resilience and contributed significantly to national economies. However, in international technology collaborations, they often face structural deficits, such as limited personnel capacity and restricted access to innovation and research networks abroad. In the Indo-German context, various short-term support mechanisms exist, but there is a need for sustained platforms and long-term initiatives to enhance SME-to-SME and SME-to-academia collaborations internationally.

In 2022, DWIH New Delhi and Fraunhofer Office India launched an exploratory project to identify challenges in Indo-German SME collaboration in technology and research. Aimed at supporting SMEs in both countries and Indian research institutions engaged in R&D, the initiative gathered expert insights from Germany and India for several discussions. These were validated through a stakeholder dialogue in Berlin and New Delhi, forming the basis for this paper.

Recommendations at a glance

  • Ensuring targeted selection of SMEs for innovation cooperation
  • Establishing a robust framework for Collaboration
  • Facilitating knowledge sharing and market access for SME
  • Strengthening  cooperation between SMEs and research institutions
  • Developing a comprehensive digital platform

Main Authors:

  • Dr. Katja Lasch, Head of Transregional Scholarships at DAAD; Former Director, DAAD Regional Office New Delhi and German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New Delhi
  • Ms Anandi Iyer, Director, Fraunhofer Office India

Co-authors: 

  • Dr Jan-Helge Weidemann, Facilitator, Competence Hub for China & India , University of Bonn; Former DAAD Lecturer at Delhi University,
  • Aditya Fuke, Senior Manager – Strategic Projects, Smart Cities & IoT, Fraunhofer Office India

For questions or more information contact Aadishree Jamkhedkar, Head of Programmes, German Centre for Research and Innovation  (DWIH) New Delhi at jamkhedkar@dwih.org