The event brought together researchers, innovators, and students from Austrian and Indian research institutions. Discussions highlighted current research topics, emerging opportunities for collaboration, and new perspectives on deepening the scientific dialogue between the two countries.
A Strategic Framework for Joint Research and Innovation
India Science Day 2026 marked the launch of a strengthened cooperation strategy between TU Austria , opens an external URL in a new window ( TU Wien, TU Graz, Montanuniversität Leoben ) and leading Indian research institutions based on the TCSITAT framework (Technological Collaboration for Sustainability between Indian Technical Universities and TU Austria).
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Madras
- IIT (BHU) Varanasi
- IIT Kanpur
- IISc Bangalore
These partnerships provide a strategic foundation for joint research projects, mobility schemes, and innovation-oriented collaboration. The aim is to address global challenges - such as climate action, sustainable technologies, digital transformation, and resource efficiency - through bilateral interdisciplinary cooperation. In this connection, TU Wien introduced its vision for a binational innovation corridor designed to connect academia, industry, startups, and funding bodies in both countries.
Exchange, Networking, and New Impulses for Bilateral Cooperation
The India Science Day offered a rich programme featuring showcases of existing joint projects, insights into funding mechanisms, panels on research cooperation and innovation as well as networking sessions for researchers, students, and institutional representatives.
The event highlighted the breadth of already existing collaborations between TU Wien and India, ranging from engineering and materials science to environmental technologies and digitalisation and provided a platform for new contacts as well as inspiration for future projects.
Highlighting Women in Science: The WISSEN Awards
A special moment of India Science Day was the presentation of the WISSEN Awards - Women in Scientific Studies to Empower Nations, initiated by the Embassy of India.The awards honour outstanding women researchers who contribute to strengthening academic exchange between India and Austria and serve as role models for future generations. The winners are Dr Pallavi Deolal (Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna), Dr Susanne Feiel (Director of International Relations & European University, Montanuniversität Leoben ) and Dr Najat Mokhtar (Deputy Director General & Head, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)).
Looking Ahead
In Peter Ertl’s, Vice Rector Research, Innovation and International Affairs, words: "At TU Wien , we greatly value the personal relationships that underpin scientific cooperation, which are the foundation of strong, sustainable, and long-term collaborations with our Indian IIT partners. Together, we thrive to build an international research and innovation corridor that benefits both our institutions and future generations of researchers."
With its successful first edition, India Science Day is designated to become a central platform for bilateral scientific dialogue and will continue to support joint efforts to address global challenges through science, technology, and innovation.
