Recently, the Times of India (Pune edition, July 4th, 2015) carried out a report on avenues of Indo-German partnership, especially in the field of startups and research. The article, titled “Indian startups, research ideas catch Germany’s eye” was written by Ms. Roli Srivastava, who was “in Germany on the ‘Media Ambassadors India ­ Germany’ fellowship programme of the International Media Centre and Robert Bosch Stiftung”. Ms. Srivastava paid CFI a visit and talked with Dr. Stephan Buse and Dr. Rajnish Tiwari on various aspects of Indo-German relations and especially on “frugal innovation”. One aspect of this talk centered on a partnership that CFI has forged with Prof. Aravind Chinchure, chair professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at Symbiosis International University in Pune (India). Her visit to CFI was preceded by a talk by Dr. Rajnish Tiwari to the group of “Media Ambassadors India Germany” at the International Media Centre of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, on the following theme “Partnering in the technical field: Current status and future scope for Indo-German relations”.

The following excerpts are from Ms. Srivastava’s report:

Another partnership shaping up falls in the `make in India’ category , but one that would eventually also cater to India or Indian needs.

 

The Hamburg University of Technology and Symbiosis International University (SIU), Pune have partnered on `frugal innovation’ ­ which officials say is affordable excellence, making products affordable and customized to local needs. “India has a distinct style of innovating that has to be understood,“ said Stephan Buse, deputy director at the university’s Institute for Technology and Innovation Management.

 

Rajnish Tiwari, senior research fellow at the institute, who has been scripting the frugal innovation programme, said the partnership aims to explore the challenges of frugal innovation and the chances of it doing well and also help companies with concrete projects.

 

Why Pune? “Pune is not only a hub of German firms, it also gives us access to several truly innovative Indian companies as well as expertise,“ Tiwari said. “Besides, there is a huge segment of an unserved market in India that is aspirational, which is an emerging market for frugal innovations,“ said Aravind Chinchure, chair professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at Symbiosis. He hopes the exchange of ideas and expertise at both academic and industry levels t would eventually reflect in the products that Indian companies come out with in the future.

We intend to take forward our partnership with the Symbiosis International University this autumn by paying them a visit.