Are you a young researcher interested in startup creation or an early-stage startup founder looking to explore the India-Germany innovation ecosystem? Innovators Connect – Tandem 2026, organised by DWIH New Delhi with partner incubators in India and Germany, is a two-week immersion programme bringing together young researchers and early-stage startup founders from both countries.
Quick Eligibility: Innovators Connect – Tandem 2026
- Opportunity Type: Indo-German Entrepreneurship & Immersion Programme
- Applicant Profile: Young researchers interested in founding startups and early-stage startup founders
- Eligible Participants: Participants from India and Germany who meet the programme’s partner-incubator eligibility requirements
- Age Limit: No specific age limit stated
- Education Requirement: Relevant affiliation with a participating research institution, university or incubator
- Work Experience: Relevant research or early-stage startup experience
- Nomination Required: No — application-based selection
- University Admission: Not required
- Funding: Programme support and participant arrangements should be checked in the current call for applications
- Application Fee: No application fee stated on the official programme page
- Location: Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar, India
- Format: Two-week in-person immersion programme
- Programme Dates: November 16–27, 2026
- Deadline: September 5, 2026
- Application Method: Online application through the official DWIH New Delhi call for applications
⚠️ Important Eligibility Requirement
For applicants in India, this is not an open application for every Indian founder or researcher.
The official DWIH page states that participants in India, the program is only open to participants incubated on-site or registered and are present on-site at the Host and Main Partners and Associate Partners.
The listed Indian partners include:
- C-CAMP
- FSID–IISc
- KIIT-TBI
- SIIC–IIT Kanpur
- iTIC–IIT Hyderabad
What the Programme Includes
The two-week immersion takes place from November 16 to 27, 2026, in Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar. Around 30 participants will be hosted at partner incubators and will work in teams on problem-solving, idea development and technology development. The programme also includes workshops, mentoring, networking, ecosystem visits and intercultural training.
Winning teams receive further support from DWIH New Delhi and its network to develop their ideas.
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