Karnataka signs LoI with Germany’s Düsseldorf to boost startup, innovation collaboration

• Karnataka and Düsseldorf sign LoI to boost startup and tech collaboration
• Focus areas include Industry 4.0, health tech, and green technology
• LoI aims to support market access, mentorship, and sustainability projects

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Karnataka government on February 3 signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the City of Düsseldorf in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) region to strengthen cooperation in startups, innovation and technology-led growth.

The LoI was signed through Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, and is aimed at supporting startups and innovation-driven enterprises from Karnataka and Düsseldorf looking to enter or expand operations in each other’s markets.

Under the partnership, both sides will work towards creating structured pathways for startup market access, soft-landing opportunities, institutional linkages and deeper ecosystem integration, building on Karnataka’s Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) framework.

Germany a key global innovation partner

Karnataka’s Minister for Electronics, IT and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge said Germany continues to be one of the state’s most important global innovation partners. “This Letter of Intent with the City of Düsseldorf strengthens our efforts to create structured, outcome-driven global innovation corridors-enabling startups from Karnataka to access global markets while fostering long-term institutional and technology partnerships,” he said.

Düsseldorf mayor highlights city-to-city collaboration

Dr Stephan Keller, Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf, said Karnataka is among India’s most dynamic technology and startup ecosystems. “Through this Letter of Intent, Düsseldorf reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovation-led collaboration, enabling startups and institutions from both regions to connect, scale and create lasting value across borders,” he said.

Industry 4.0, health tech and green technology in focus

Under the LoI, the two sides will collaborate on startup market entry support, mentorship and ecosystem navigation, industry, investor and institutional linkages, networking platforms, soft-landing models, and strategic partnerships between companies and institutions. Priority sectors include Industry 4.0, health technology and green technology.

The agreement builds on Karnataka’s long-standing engagement with Germany under the GIA. Germany was among the first destinations under the GIA Market Access Programme in 2024, while a formal cooperation agreement between Karnataka and the City of Düsseldorf was signed in February 2023. The partnership has been supported by NRW Global Business, the foreign trade promotion agency of NRW, along with the German Consulate General in Bengaluru.

Mayor Keller outlines climate neutrality roadmap

The LoI is expected to pave the way for deeper innovation-led cooperation and future project-specific agreements between Karnataka and North Rhine-Westphalia. During his visit to Bengaluru, Dr Keller also participated in the Future ICT (FCT) Summit on Sustainable Cities, where he highlighted the importance of measurable and scalable sustainability solutions. In a fireside chat, he outlined Düsseldorf’s ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2035 and stressed the role of global city-to-city partnerships in addressing challenges such as climate resilience, water security, mobility and skilled workforce development.