In addition to their participation in the India AI Impact Expo & Summit 2026, representatives of the CLARA Centre of Excellence, together with colleagues from INDRC and CIIRC CTU, held a series of additional meetings with Indian academic institutions, healthcare experts, and industrial partners. These meetings provided further opportunities to present Czech research activities and explore potential areas for future collaboration.
On 21 February 2026, representatives of INDRC and CIIRC CTU visited two manufacturing companies in Chandigarh, the capital of the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana – Ramani Precision Machines Private Limited and Labat Asia Private Limited. The discussions focused on possible cooperation in the field of manufacturing automation, where CIIRC CTU and its research infrastructure have extensive experience.
During the stay in Chandigarh, meetings also took place with representatives of two local Rotary Clubs, whose members include medical professionals and other experts. Discussions addressed topics related to care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the possibilities of working with anonymised patient data for scientific research, an area closely connected with the research focus of the CLARA Centre of Excellence. The programme concluded on 23 February 2026 with a meeting with Dr. Rita Kalra, head of the medical department at Panchkula State Hospital and governor of the Indian International Rotary District 3080.
Further academic outreach took place at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, which invited Prof. Václav Snášel, Director of the CLARA Centre of Excellence, to deliver a lecture titled “Data Geometry.” The lecture, held on 24 February 2026, was hosted by this renowned interdisciplinary research institution that connects statistics with economics, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The CLARA and INDRC team, led by Dr. Vít Dočkal, also visited the NMIMS campus (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies) in Mumbai on 25 February 2026. During the meeting with representatives of NMIMS, led by Prof. Dr. Nazim Munshi, discussions focused on potential scientific and research cooperation, including future joint projects, publications in scientific journals, student exchange programmes, and opportunities for doctoral studies.
The discussions also touched upon broader themes of EU–India cooperation, particularly in areas related to AI ethics, data security, and responsible innovation. Representatives of NMIMS expressed interest in exploring potential collaboration with INDRC and the CLARA Centre of Excellence, including possible benefits for both academic and business partnerships in India.
On the same day, strategic discussions were held with representatives of the Government of Goa, led by Shri Kabir Shirgaonkare, Director of the ITE&C Department. The meeting focused on potential future cooperation in artificial intelligence, ethics, data governance, and innovation ecosystems.
In line with the Goa AI Mission 2027 and the rapidly expanding digital ecosystem of the state, the discussions explored how collaboration with Czech partners could contribute to building a connected, creative, and competitive innovation environment in Goa, involving both Indian and European experts.
Through its Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), the Government of Goa currently supports more than 700 startups registered with DPIIT through 12 targeted programmes, ranging from early-stage funding and research support to skills development and initiatives promoting women’s entrepreneurship.
In this context, the CLARA Centre of Excellence and its spin-off company CLAIRIS could contribute to these activities by organising joint workshops, expert consultations, and collaborative initiatives focused on responsible and trustworthy AI, as well as by strengthening EU–India cooperation in research and innovation, particularly following the recently signed cooperation framework between the European Union and India.
