FAU Innovation Days 2026 • ZOLLHOF Nuremberg

Think beyond Platforms –
DPI the next Frontier

Insights from India for the Global North:
How Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and open protocols inaugurate a new era beyond dominant platform silos.

26 October 2026
•
14:30 – 18:00 CET
•
ZOLLHOF Nuremberg
•
English
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Strategic Collaboration of Leading Innovation Partners
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg Logo
ZOLLHOF Logo
Grundig Akademie Logo
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Strategic Rationale & European Context

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a Game Changer

While Western markets are dominated by closed platform silos, India has proven with UPI, DigiLocker, and open protocols like Beckn that interoperability and digital commons unleash enormous innovation forces.

Open Protocols instead of Monopolies

DPI unbundles the infrastructure rail (identity, transactions, payments) from the application and service layer. This establishes fair market access for startups, SMEs, and industry incumbents alike.

Responsible Transfer

India is not a blueprint to copy blindly: The guiding principle is "Learn, Adapt, Test". How can core principles harmonize with European data protection regulations (GDPR, eIDAS 2.0) and market values?

Concrete Pilot Initiatives

Not merely a theoretical conference: In four domain canvases, senior executives, researchers, and founders articulate actionable pilot statements for German-Indian collaboration.

Paradigm Shift

From Platform Lock-in to Open Digital Rails

Traditional platforms accumulate market power, proprietary data, and gatekeeper rents. DPI provides open digital rails where every enterprise and innovator can run modern trains.

From Platform Competition to Innovation Competition
Traditional Platforms
  • Proprietary walled gardens
  • Monopolistic gatekeeper take-rates
  • Data silos & vendor lock-in
  • High barrier for market newcomers
Digital Public Infrastructure
  • Open, interoperable protocols
  • Unbundled competition at service layer
  • Citizens retain data sovereignty (Consent)
  • Scalable utility rails with minimal friction
60-Minute Deep-Dive Canvases

The 4 Transformation Spaces

Choose your preferred breakout domain flexibly on-site at ZOLLHOF. In each space, we collaboratively define a concrete Europe–India pilot project.

Transformation Room Mobility – Multimodal Networks & Beckn Protocol
AI-Generated

Mobility

Beckn Protocol & Multimodal Networks
"How could open discovery and transaction protocols connect fragmented mobility providers without creating another dominant platform?"
Open Discovery & Booking
Kochi Open Mobility Network
Integration of Public Transit, Sharing & Fleets
Session Output Focus:

Regional multimodal discovery and booking demonstrator

Transformation Room Energy – Unified Energy Interface
AI-Generated

Energy

Unified Energy Interface (UEI)
"How could households, communities and distributed assets participate in interoperable energy services?"
Distributed Energy Participation
Interoperable P2P Transactions
EV Charging & Grid Flexibility
Session Output Focus:

Use case for an open local energy transaction layer

Transformation Room Health Care – Unified Health Interface
AI-Generated

Health Care

Unified Health Interface (UHI)
"How could patients discover and access services across providers while preserving consent, trust and professional accountability?"
Consent-based Access & GDPR
Connected Care Pathways
Cross-Provider Telemedicine & Appointments
Session Output Focus:

Cross-provider care-navigation or appointment pilot

Transformation Room Finance – UPI & Digital KYC
AI-Generated

Finance

UPI, DigiLocker & Digital KYC
"How can payments, KYC and trusted documents reduce friction for citizens, students, SMEs and cross-border services?"
Instant Payments & eIDAS 2.0
Verifiable Credentials & Attestations
Cross-Border Frictionless Banking
Session Output Focus:

Germany–India onboarding or credential use case

The breakout domain selection takes place flexibly on-site at ZOLLHOF.

Register for the Event (Free Admission)
Schedule • 26 October 2026

Structured Program at ZOLLHOF

3.5 intensive hours (14:30 – 18:00 CET): From high-level keynotes and parallel breakouts to plenary synthesis and actionable commitments.

14:30 – 14:45

Welcome & Framing

Plenary

Opening by Prof. Dr. Kathrin Möslein (FAU Vice President) and welcoming of guests of honor: Consul General of India in Munich and Mallik Rao (COO & CTIO, Telefónica). Thematic framing by IIM Bangalore and Grundig Akademie.

FAU & IIMB Framing Guest of Honor
14:45 – 15:40

Senior Panel: 4 Perspectives on DPI

Highlight

Four complementary lenses on population-scale Digital Public Infrastructure:

1. India & Society: Scale, inclusion & public value (Prof. Srinivasan R, IIMB)
2. Technology & Networks: Architecture, standards & Beckn Protocol
3. Europe & Governance: Transfer under European law, GDPR & data spaces
4. Implementation & Industry: Commercial adoption, investable use cases & C-level practice
Moderation: Jan Kuenne (CEO, Grundig Akademie)
15:40 – 16:00

Audience Dialogue & Topic Collection

Interactive

Moderated questions from the plenary. Structured collection of transfer opportunities, governance aspects, and key questions to feed directly into the working rooms.

16:00 – 17:00

Parallel Breakouts: The 4 Transformation Spaces

4 Canvases

Focused 60-minute co-creation in thematic breakout spaces (Mobility, Energy, Health Care, Finance). Each team applies a common canvas to formulate one user problem, one transferable principle, the European adaptation requirement, and one actionable pilot statement.

🚗 Mobility ⚡ Energy 🏥 Health Care 💳 Finance
17:00 – 17:40

Plenary Report Back & Synthesis

Results

Four 7-minute reports from each transformation space followed by 12 minutes of cross-domain synthesis led by Jan Kuenne and panel experts.

17:40 – 18:00

Commitment & Closing Remarks

Action

Naming initiative owners for follow-up, open invitation to the Europe–India DPI Working Group, and official adjournment of the program at 18:00 CET.

Leadership & Expertise

Distinguished Guests, Hosts & Catalysts

Decision-makers across diplomacy, global telecommunications, premier academic research, and ecosystem building.

FAU Host & Opening

Prof. Dr. Kathrin Möslein

Vice President
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
IIMB Perspective

Prof. Srinivasan R

Professor of Strategy & DPI Expert
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB)
Format Design & Moderation

Jan Kuenne

Chief Executive Officer
GRUNDIG AKADEMIE Group
Guest of Honor

Shatrughna Sinha

Consulate General of India, Munich
Indian Representation for Bavaria & Baden-Württemberg
Special Guest

Mallik Rao

Chief Technology & Information Officer
Telefónica Deutschland
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26 October 2026 | 14:30 – 18:00 CET | ZOLLHOF Nuremberg

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Event Venue

ZOLLHOF – Tech Incubator

ZOLLHOF is one of Germany’s fastest-growing technology and startup hubs, deeply connected with FAU. It provides the optimal environment for cross-disciplinary exchange between founders, enterprises, and scientific researchers.

Address: ZOLLHOF Tech Incubator
Zollhof 7, 90443 Nuremberg, Germany
Public Transit: By S-Bahn: S1 or S2 to Steinbühl
By Tram: Take lines 4 or 6 and get off at either Kohlenhof or Steinbühl.
By U-Bahn: Take lines U2 or U3 to Opernhaus. Walk west past the theater along the main road for about 7 minutes to reach the building.
Nuremberg Airport (NUE): Approx. 20–25 minutes via direct U-Bahn U2 connection.
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ZOLLHOF

ZOLLHOF Tech Incubator

Zollhof 7, 90443 Nuremberg

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Good to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

Key information regarding registration, target audience, and event structure.

Yes, participation in this event within the FAU Innovation Days is completely free of charge. Due to capacity limits at ZOLLHOF, prior binding registration is required.

The event is curated for C-level executives, innovation managers, technology strategists, researchers, founders, and Indian talent who wish to explore open transaction protocols and Digital Public Infrastructure for Europe.

Breakout allocation takes place flexibly on-site at ZOLLHOF following the opening keynotes and senior panel. You do not need to commit to a specific room during online registration.

No prior technical expertise is required. The first 75 minutes provide a concise, high-level introduction to the principles, architecture, and societal achievements of Indian DPI before we transition into application for Europe.