Bengaluru is set to host Berlin’s first business liaison office in India, and its third worldwide, following New York and Beijing. This initiative, part of a formal declaration of intent between the State of Berlin and the Government of Karnataka, aims to strengthen international start-up and innovation ties.
Karnataka’s Minister for IT, Biotechnology, and Electronics, Priyank Kharge, announced that the partnership, under Karnataka’s Global Innovation Alliance, will foster start-up exchanges, provide soft-landing support for entrepreneurs, and build joint capacities in advanced technology and research. The collaboration will concentrate on high-growth sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, Life Sciences, and Digitalization, areas where both cities are recognized globally.
A joint steering committee will be established to institutionalize the partnership, track progress, co-create programs, and ensure outcome-based delivery. Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s Mayor and Senator for Economic Affairs, who led a 25-member trade delegation to Bengaluru and Delhi, confirmed Berlin’s plan to establish a formal business representation in the Karnataka capital, positioning Bengaluru as a key partner for Germany in South Asia.
The delegation, which included prominent leaders like Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, and Jeannine Koch, head of medianet berlinbrandenburg eV, visited key institutions in Bengaluru, including Infosys, RV College of Engineering, and IIM Bangalore, and engaged with industry bodies like NASSCOM.
