Czech Republic, Denmark, Bavaria, Italy, Switzerland and Israel highlight opportunities across sustainability, technology, resilient supply chains, healthcare, AI and cybersecurity

Bengaluru: Building sustainable and resilient economies will increasingly require countries to jointly address challenges ranging from climate change and healthcare to supply-chain disruptions, cybersecurity and responsible technology, international speakers said at the 10th edition of The India Advantage Summit (TIA Summit) 2026 in Bengaluru.

Speaking at the session “Global Collaborations for a Sustainable & Resilient Future,” representatives from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Bavaria, Italy, Switzerland and Israel highlighted the need to move beyond conventional cooperation towards co-creation — jointly developing technologies, businesses and solutions for global challenges. Mr. Josef Hrubec, Director, CzechTrade India, Bengaluru and Regional Director, Middle East & India, described India as a priority country for the Czech Republic, with opportunities across engineering, healthcare, AI and cybersecurity.

Calling for partnerships to move from “cooperation” to “cocreation,” he said global challenges require countries to create solutions together. Mr. Peter Winther-Schmidt, Consul General and Head of Innovation, Consulate General of Denmark in Bengaluru, highlighted the India–Denmark Green Strategic Partnership and cooperation in water, energy, life sciences, agriculture, marine and technology.

He said the next phase of the partnership would expand collaboration further, including into space and defence. Ms. Ulrike Müller, Member of the Bavarian State Parliament, highlighted opportunities to connect industrial capacity, research, digital innovation, sustainable technologies and skill development. She said around 500 Bavarian companies are working in India, including in Karnataka, with 300 joint ventures, while a new economic delegation is expected to visit India in February.

Mr. Giandomenico Milano, Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru, identified trust, resilience and connectivity as central to the India–Italy relationship. With supply chains, energy, technology and access to critical materials increasingly linked to geopolitical stability, he stressed the importance of building more diverse and reliable supply chains. He also highlighted the potential of IMEC to create new trade corridors and make economies more resilient to external shocks. Dr. Angela Honegger, Consul General of Swissnex in India, said challenges including climate change, pandemics and the ethical use of AI cannot be solved by individual countries.

She highlighted IndoSwiss collaboration around antimicrobial resistance, planetary health and quantum technology, stressing the need to bring governments, researchers, universities and industry together. Ms. Orli Weitzman, Consul General of Israel to South India, highlighted growing India–Israel cooperation in cybersecurity, AI and quantum technologies, alongside established partnerships in defence, agriculture and water.

She also referred to recent discussions with the Government of Karnataka on cybersecurity. Dr. Oliver Bär, District Governor, District Hof – Free State of Bavaria, highlighted growing trade with India and expressed confidence in the country’s future growth and the potential for deeper collaboration.

Key Takeaways from the session:

• Sustainability requires global collaboration: Climate change, planetary health, healthcare and responsible technology require solutions that cut across countries and sectors.

• Economic resilience is a growing priority: Reliable supply chains, energy, connectivity, cybersecurity and critical technologies are increasingly important to protecting economies from external shocks.

• Technology will be a key enabler: AI, cybersecurity, quantum and digital innovation can play an important role in addressing global challenges.

• Sustainable infrastructure matters: Water, energy, agriculture and sustainable technologies remain important areas for international collaboration.

• From cooperation to co-creation: Partnerships are increasingly moving towards countries, companies, universities and researchers developing solutions together.

The session formed part of Day One of The India Advantage Summit 2026, which is being held on 22–23 September at Conrad Bengaluru.

The wider Summit is examining how technology and international cooperation can translate into scalable economic, environmental and societal outcomes.