The Technical University of Dortmund (TU Dortmund) and IIT Bombay have entered into a strategic academic partnership to strengthen student exchange, research, and entrepreneurship initiatives. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Milind Atrey, deputy director (academics, research, and translation) at IIT Bombay, and Dr. Tessa Flatten, vice president of TU Dortmund
“This partnership marks a vital step for TU Dortmund’s internationalization efforts, focusing on student mobility, collaborative research, and entrepreneurship cooperation,” Flatten said during the announcement.
The MoU was formalized during a visit by TU Dortmund officials and students from its interdisciplinary entrepreneurial program, Dlab, to IIT Bombay’s Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship. Dlab students participated in a seminar emphasizing interdisciplinary problem-solving and entrepreneurial innovation. TU Dortmund’s executive assistant for international affairs, Thomas Oeldemann, expressed enthusiasm for making this seminar an annual event to enhance collaboration and innovation.
In addition to academic sessions, TU Dortmund students explored local entrepreneurial ecosystems through visits to Atomberg Technologies and the German Consulate in Mumbai. The partnership aims to increase PhD student mobility, foster joint publications, and promote short-term exchanges, internships, and entrepreneurial programs like Dlab.
Students from IIT Bombay will also gain access to TU Dortmund’s International Summer Program, which offers a blend of academic and cultural experiences. Meanwhile, German students will benefit from entrepreneurial opportunities and hands-on engagement with Indian startups.
Priya Nayar, executive director of University Alliance Ruhr, emphasized the trilateral potential of collaborations involving Germany, India, and the United States. Nayar highlighted the opportunity to foster research that transcends borders and addresses global challenges.
Leveraging its experience in transforming Germany’s Ruhr region into a hub of innovation, TU Dortmund will assist IIT Bombay in fostering university-driven entrepreneurship. This includes sharing best practices in startup support, building university-industry linkages, and integrating innovation into global markets.
The partnership builds on TU Dortmund’s past collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) through the EU-funded SI-Drive project. Both institutions are eager to expand their work in social innovation, further enhancing their collaboration.
This alliance comes amid growing student mobility between India and Germany, supported by the 2022 migration agreement. With nearly 50,000 Indian students studying in Germany—60% in engineering—the partnership reflects broader trends in academic and workforce collaboration. Germany’s commitment to increase skilled worker visas for Indians from 20,000 to 90,000 annually underscores the importance of such collaborations for addressing labor shortages in healthcare and IT.
