EU-India Innocenter, a project funded by the European Union through the 'Horizon 2020' R&I framework program, is facilitating the 8th cohort of seven European startups. They are joining forces with over twenty investors and innovation hubs to explore potential collaborations with Indian startup counterparts. This initiative, serving as a global innovation hub and growth accelerator, bridges European and Indian innovation ecosystems. In Bangalore, six high-impact startups, including Anyline, Nano-tech, Cheesecake Energy, Enline, PVRmed, and Soula AI, are engaging in a week of immersive activities in India. These startups offer solutions in critical growth sectors such as health tech, cleantech, and deep technology.

The European startups seized the opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge technologies to key facilitators in the startup ecosystem, including venture capitalists, potential partners, and corporations from both India and various European nations. This presentation took place during the 'Blue Carpet Night' networking event held on November 8 at the Bangalore International Centre. Over the course of the week, the startups and investors will delve deep into the Indian startup ecosystem. Their itinerary includes a roundtable discussion at NASSCOM Future Forge, a visit to Tata Elxsi, an EU-India partnership roundtable focused on smart cities and cross-border innovation, a pitch session involving startups and venture capitalists from both the EU and India, organized by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM). They will also visit the DERBI Foundation and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), all within Bangalore.

During the Blue Carpet Night event, EU-India Innocenter announced an expansion of its market-entry services to cater to Indian startups interested in exploring the European market. This reciprocal mobility between European and Indian startups underscores the increasingly global nature of startup enterprises. Mr. Seppo Nurmi, the charge d’affaires of the European Union Delegation to India, congratulated EU-India Innocenter for successfully facilitating connections between European and Indian startup ventures. He emphasized the significance of startups as engines of innovation and sustainable development, expressing hope that this EU-funded initiative will unlock collaborative potential between the EU and Indian startup ecosystems, ultimately creating value for both economies and their citizens. Mr. Nurmi also noted that extending market-entry support to Indian startups would further enhance EU-India collaboration.