ECCP EU-India Matchmaking

Pedro Rocha represented the PRODUTECH Production Technologies Cluster at ECCPMatchmaking EU-India, an initiative that involved 13 European clusters and 2 SMEs with the mission of creating connections, collaborating and exploring new opportunities.
This initiative that had its first stop at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 - India's largest tech conclave, where they got in touch with India's dynamic tech scene. This year's focus areas: Biotechnology, Digital, Green Technology, Advanced Manufacturing

The EU is India's largest trading partner, with trade in goods reaching €115 billion in 2022. Together they build bridges between key value chains such as aerospace, digital, energy, healthcare, mobility and textiles.

Pedro Rocha and the rest of the delegation were also at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, where the European delegation participated in panel discussions exploring topics such as AI and human collaboration that will shape industries in the coming years. The delegation that the Director General of PRODUTECH is part of visited the exhibition area where he made important contacts.

In a workshop led by Leena Pishe Thomas , gaps and opportunities for future EU-India collaboration were identified, addressing the strategic sectors that promise impactful partnerships.

There was also a visit to POSSPOLE where delegates were introduced to a showcase of cutting-edge innovations from startups and discussed tangible opportunities for future collaboration. 

PRODUTECH was one of the two clusters selected to participate in the meeting with the Minister of IT and Rural Development and present the cluster of national production technologies.

Pedro Rocha had the opportunity to meet with Priyank M Kharge, Minister of IT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Depts, Government of Karnataka, and Dr. Ekroop Caur Secretary of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, GoK, to explore strategic opportunities.

There was also a session entitled "Building bridges: strengthening EU-India collaboration", co-hosted by #ECCP and Global Business Inroads (GBI). This session provided a platform for EU delegates and Indian groups to present their expertise and establish new partnerships. Key sectors such as Agritech, Biotech, Healthcare, AI/ML, IoT and Greentech occupied the agenda and opportunities for innovation and trade between the EU and India were presented.
Wrapping up the mission that aimed to promote EU-India cluster cooperation, the European representatives were introduced to Bangalore's innovation hubs through a series of site visits: The first was at nasscom – Centre of Excellence for IoT and AI, liaising with the government's Digital India campaign leveraging India's IT strengths in action. The center aims to develop IoT, AI ecosystems, and critical technologies in India. After lunch, participants set off on personalized tours to explore the innovative solutions emerging from Karnataka's strong culture of collaboration between academia and industry:
At the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), they have come into contact with efforts to bring life science innovations to practical uses through deep collaboration with academia! It was clear that Bengaluru is home to one of the most advanced life science ecosystems in the world, championing research and innovation! A visit to the ELCITA-Electronics City Industrial Township Authority provided a remarkable transformation into a modern municipality and a future-ready smart city, exemplifying dynamic governance, community-driven growth, and visionary leadership. The city was a clear example of how technologies can be harnessed to meet the needs of a growing population with sustainability in mind.
At the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore, they were treated to an inside look at the fields of research and start-ups. This gave an inside look at the successes that public-private partnerships can bring to regional research and innovation initiatives.
This mission laid the foundation for a bright future of new opportunities for collaboration between India and Europe!