With an aim to implement the German model of Innovation and technology transfer and help the MSME sector grow in India , Steinbeis Centre for Technology Transfer , Germany  signed MoUs with UKSDM (Uttarakhand Skill Development Mission) for setting up Dual TVET Studies Centre in Uttarakhand, Indo-German Energy Forum Support Office and GE India Industrial Private to take up joint projects nationally/internationally and imparting trainings in the field of Grid Management and Smart Grids (Solar Energy sector).

“Steinbeis Academy is successfully running over 11  Centres of Technology & Innovation in various parts of the country since the past one decade of its presence in India. It  has trained more than 3,000 students in Solar energy, placed 80% of them in the industries and facilitated 20% to become solar entrepreneurs”, Prof. Dr. Michael Auer, Chairman of the Governing Board,  Steinbeis Centre for Technology Transfer, Germany.

“Steinbeis Academy  is the training partner of  Telangana Academy of Skills and Knowledge (TASK) for Solar training Programs in Rural areas. Also, a training Partner of National Skill Development Corporation of India (NSDC) through Electronics Skill Sector Council of India. Steinbeis Academy is today one of the most reputed Training Centres for Engineers in India.  It is a European Energy Centre (UK) approved Centre of Excellence and is also a National Level Training Organization under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) & Solar Energy Training Network (SETNET), approved by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy of India (MNRE), and National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)”, addedVineet Goyal, MD, Steinbeis India.

The MoU Signing was followed by a Panel Discussion on Innovation & Technology Transfer- Learning & Implementing the German Model. The speakers included  Mr. Prashant, JS to Government of India (Formerly OSd to Govt of Telangana, PS to Misiter of Transport, GOI), Dr. Jan Bandera, Director, Steinbeis-Transfercenter Economic and Technology Policy Dialogue, Prof. Dr. Michael Auer, Chairman of the Governing Board,  Steinbeis Centre for Technology Transfer, Germany, Dr Ravi Segal, Business Leader, Energy Consulting South Asia, ASIAN, China, GE Power  and Mr. Tobias Winter, Director, Indo-German Energy Forum.

There are various mechanisms for promoting Innovatios in India for SME/MSME’s from Government schemes and also development organisations like NSIC, Research Organisations like Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Universities, financing organisations like SIDBI etc. – to make available and upscale and commercialise new innovations and technologies. However there are a few takers for such systems. It has been observed that many Indian SMEs are interested in adopting new technologies and innovations, very often they are not able to take advantage of these facilities from Government and development and financial Institutions. While there are some inherent weaknesses in the SME/MSME sector itself, one of the reasons for this weak linkage is also the availability of a suitable mechanism for supporting industry – mainly SME’s, for connecting with theses Institutions and then establishing linkages and affecting successful knowledge transfer between Institutions and industry.

In this backdrop, one of the most successful models which needs to be adopted in India is that from the German Innovation System, which comprises of establishing links between Institutes and Industry through a Network of Transfer Organisations and Centres. The Panel Discussion with the German Experts helped understand the German Model of “Transfer Organisations / Centres”. Also, it presented the model for implementation in India and specially in the light of past experiences in India.