Chennai stands at the crossroads of a rich cultural heritage and a dynamic future-oriented economy. With its world class universities, leading research institutions, and strong industrial base in sectors such as IT, engineering, manufacturing, and healthcare, the region offers an inspiring ecosystem for international academic collaboration.

Ms. Vibhuti Sukhramani, Head - FUB India & South Asia, started the year 2026 with a visit to Chennai and Vellore, and to understand the Region. From revisiting trusted collaborations to identifying new possibilities for research partnerships, academic exchange, and institutional cooperation, the visit offered fresh perspectives on the growing academic landscape in southern India. The visit also offered an introduction to Chennai’s rich cultural and intellectual diversity — a city where history, language, science, and contemporary research ecosystems intersect seamlessly.

The visit included meaningful engagements with Anna University, IIT Madras, VIT Vellore, Pondicherry University and interactions with key German and academic stakeholders such as Goethe-Institut, DAAD Chennai and Saxon Science Liaison Office India.

We thank Ms. Kavita Somasundaram & Antoinette Stephen for their insights and meaningful exchanges regarding universities in the Region, Mr. Bibhu Mishra for discussions on what the Saxony office does in Chennai and for local support and cultural insights.