On 20 and 21 April 2026, the Ambassador of Italy to India, Antonio Bartoli, carried out a two-day mission to Hyderabad, Telangana, accompanied by the Consul General of Italy in Bangalore, Giandomenico Milano, and the Science Attaché, Prof. Marco Re. The mission provided an opportunity to highlight the growing momentum of Italy–India cooperation, with a particular focus on innovation, research, industry and culture.
A central moment of the programme was the meeting with Sridhar Babu Duddilla, Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs of the Government of Telangana. Discussions focused on strengthening investment opportunities, fostering innovation-driven partnerships and identifying new avenues for collaboration across high-impact sectors.
The visits to T-Hub, T-Works and Genome Valley enabled the Italian delegation to gain a first-hand view of one of India’s most dynamic ecosystems in technology, applied research, start-ups and life sciences. T-Hub, one India’s leading innovation centers, provides access to a network of over 10,000 start-ups and an active community of more than 2,000 innovative ventures. T-Works provides start-ups, companies and innovators with spaces, tools and expertise to develop new products and technological solutions. Genome Valley, Hyderabad’s flagship life sciences district, hosts over 200 companies from 18 countries across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and biomedical research, with an estimated workforce of around 25,000 people. The exchanges with institutional representatives, innovators and local stakeholders confirmed Hyderabad’s growing role as a global hub for science, technology and innovative entrepreneurship.
The mission also included significant cultural, institutional and academic engagements, reflecting the depth and diversity of Italy–India relations. The visit to the Salar Jung Museum, one of India’s leading museum institutions, with 39 galleries and approximately 14,000 objects on display, highlighted a shared appreciation for historical and artistic heritage. The meeting with H.E. Cardinal Anthony Poola at the Archbishop’s House offered an occasion for cordial dialogue. The programme concluded with an exchange with Prof. N. Nagaraju, Vice Chancellor of the English and Foreign Languages University, which offers a degree programme in Italian language and culture, focused on exploring opportunities for academic cooperation and strengthening people-to-people ties.
