Arrival and reception in New Delhi
After departing from Leoben on 3 February 2026, our Focus India Project delegation arrived in New Delhi on 4 February. The official launch took place that evening with a reception at the Austrian Embassy. A concise introduction outlined the role and responsibilities of the embassy, as well as our responsibilities as an Austrian delegation in India – providing a valuable framework for the upcoming programme items and discussions.
PlastIndia 2026: Technology, Markets and Exchange
Over the following days, the focus was on the leading trade fair, PlastIndia. From Thursday to Tuesday, delegation members visited the exhibition, held technical discussions and explored opportunities for cooperation with companies and institutions. The trade fair offered a broad overview of innovations across the polymer value chain – from new materials and recycling solutions to processing technologies and simulation.
University collaborations: IIT Delhi, Manipal University, Christ University, University of Hyderabad, IIT Bombay
In parallel with the trade fair programme, strategic meetings took place with partner universities. At the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, research priorities and joint projects were discussed, and the next steps for student and researcher mobility were agreed. Further stops included Manipal University Jaipur, where an intensive exchange on cooperation took place, Christ University in Bangalore, and the University of Hyderabad. In addition, part of the delegation travelled to Mumbai to strengthen ties with IIT Bombay. The aim of these discussions was to expand existing relationships, build new bridges in research and teaching, and further refine our Focus India strategy.
Cultural and social programme
The programme was complemented by cultural visits, including a trip to the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi and an excursion to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. A guided tour of Jaipur rounded off the visit and offered further insights into history, culture and regional networks.
The trip yielded numerous concrete points of contact: planned bilateral research projects, deeper teaching collaborations with several partner universities, new contacts with industry partners, and operational improvements for mobility and recruitment. With the return of the main delegation on 14 February and the final sub-group on 17 February, an intensive and highly successful trip comes to an end, one that will strengthen our international activities in India in the long term.
About Focus India
The delegation trip took place as part of Focus India – an initiative by the Montanuniversität Leoben and TU Austria to train the skilled workers of tomorrow and strengthen Austria’s industrial competitiveness.
