Unequal Partners or Powerful Alliances?
The Truth About Collaboration in Global Innovation
Interview with
Dr. Thomas Leiber and Chetan Maini
Dr. Thomas Leiber
LinkedinChetan Maini
LinkedinINTRODUCTION
As innovation stalls in traditionally dominant economies like Germany, a quiet revolution is taking place in emerging markets such as India, China, and Brazil. These fast-growing regions are no longer just sources of low-cost manufacturing—they're becoming engines of bold, agile innovation. In this new landscape, collaboration across borders, sectors, and company sizes is no longer a strategic choice; it’s a survival imperative.
In this in-depth conversation, two visionary leaders—Dr. Thomas Leiber, a prolific German innovator and entrepreneur, and Chetan Maini, the Indian pioneer behind the country’s first electric car, shed light on what it takes to thrive in today’s global innovation ecosystem. From the critical role of intellectual property in levelling the playing field to the cultural and structural shifts needed for true startup-corporate collaboration, Leiber and Maini challenge outdated assumptions and offer a roadmap for transformative partnerships.
Together, they explore a crucial question: Can established and emerging players move beyond unequal transactions to build equitable, trust-based alliances that drive real progress?
This series of articles on “Unequal Partners or Powerful Alliances? The Truth About Collaboration in Global Innovation” goes beyond theory to examine what innovation looks like in practice—from AI-enhanced IP strategies to frugal engineering in fast-moving markets—and reveals how smart partnerships can turn creative ideas into world-changing impact.
PART 4
From Data to Disruption: AI’s Role in Shaping Global Innovation Ecosystems
AI is rapidly reshaping industries, but the real power lies not just in the technology itself — it’s in how companies and countries harness it together.
Mr. Maini, who leads innovation in energy and mobility, paints a vivid picture of this transformation. “AI is going to drive a massive disruption across the energy and mobility sectors,” he says. His company constantly wrestles with questions like,
How can we make our stations more efficient? How do we better predict battery performance? How do we plan for the second life of batteries?”
AI, he explains, is becoming indispensable in solving these challenges.
But AI’s impact depends heavily on context. Mr. Maini points to a new energy trading protocol in India that promises to revolutionize the smart grid. “AI by itself is powerful, but without the right platform or structural ecosystem, it can be underutilized,” he stresses. The protocol creates the infrastructure to deploy AI effectively — for example, to optimize energy buying and selling in real time. This isn’t just a technical upgrade; it’s a “huge opportunity space” to rethink how energy flows globally.
He shares how his team uses 400 kilometers of real-world data to precisely define battery performance needs. “What used to take years — testing combinations, iterations — now takes 30 days using advanced algorithms.” The result? Faster innovation cycles, enabled by AI-powered simulations that bring chemists and physicists together in unprecedented ways. This shift has ripple effects throughout the supply chain, moving away from the traditional vertically integrated model toward a modular, collaborative approach to customization. “One company simulates materials, another manufactures the raw input, and a third integrates it into a final product,” he explains. AI is enabling rapid iteration, specialization, and decentralization.
Mr. Maini also highlights how AI is pushing improvements in motor technologies, which have already become five times more efficient over the past two decades. “AI algorithms are now being used to push that performance even further.” He believes this technology levels the playing field — “many players can now achieve 80% of the outcome. What will set organizations apart is the final 20% — and this is where collaboration becomes even more critical.” He foresees a future where mature markets bring infrastructure and capital, emerging markets bring adaptability and demand, and AI acts as the bridge enabling shared innovation across borders.
“AI is going to drive a massive disruption across the energy and mobility sectors”
Chetan Maini
On the other side of this ecosystem, Mr. Leiber focuses on AI’s role in intellectual property and innovation productivity. His recent immersion in AI, including an MIT course on AI for Business, deepened his conviction: “AI is overvalued in the short term but undervalued in the long term.”
He describes the staggering potential to unlock knowledge embedded in the world’s 160 million patents. His company, IPGATE AG in Switzerland, has already begun using AI to navigate patent databases in brake technology. “What once took days of manual research is now streamlined,” he shares. This not only speeds up prior art searches but also uncovers ideas buried in complexity. AI’s impact stretches beyond mechanical systems into software development, where it automates code generation, compressing weeks of work into hours or minutes.
For Mr. Leiber, AI is about more than automation; it’s “augmentation of human capability.” He points to the strategic advantage for countries building large, inclusive databases of scientific and societal knowledge.
“AI can unlock the value hidden in this data, driving innovation, preservation, and global collaboration in ways we’re only beginning to understand.”
Dr. Thomas Leiber
Yet, Mr. Maini urges caution, highlighting AI’s double-edged sword. While AI accelerates innovation, it also challenges the value of intellectual property. “If I want to develop a new brake system today, I can analyze all existing technologies and potentially design a workaround that avoids direct infringement,” he explains. This ability to circumvent patents raises ethical and economic questions — the original innovators may lose out if their IP isn’t carefully documented.
Still, he views AI as a tool to enhance innovation workflows:
“Our engineers already use AI to draft parts of patent applications. With the right prompts and oversight, this creates a significant boost in efficiency.”
He predicts dramatic improvements in innovation creation, protection, and scaling within the next few years.
Mr. Leiber agrees, emphasizing the delicate art of protecting know-how in an AI-driven world. “When it comes to AI, the model training and the connections you create — that’s the sensitive part. Once shared, there's almost no way to prevent that knowledge from being duplicated or reinterpreted.”
Navigating this complexity requires not just technical expertise but strategic foresight and sharp cognitive skills.
Looking beyond companies, both experts highlight the vital role of policy. Mr. Maini advocates for strong data privacy laws paired with flexible, forward-looking regulations. He recognizes the challenge: “Policy often lags behind technology.” India’s recent advances in data protection provide a hopeful example. He stresses the need for regulations that support local innovation using local data while avoiding over-regulation that could stifle progress.
Equally important, he argues, is collaborative governance: “Technologists, legal experts, industry leaders, and policymakers working together — not just bureaucrats.” Countries that get this balance right will maximize AI’s benefits while minimizing risks.
Mr. Leiber adds that political stability and cybersecurity are crucial for fostering innovation. Countries offering secure, sovereign data environments are poised to lead the next wave. “Stability and data protection are no longer just compliance issues — they are strategic advantages.”
“When it comes to AI, the model training and the connections you create — that’s the sensitive part. Once shared, there's almost no way to prevent that knowledge from being duplicated or reinterpreted.”
Dr. Thomas Leiber
In closing, Mr. Maini reflects on the critical balance between data sharing and protection: “When we share data, we can solve major problems—from public health to climate change. At the same time, we need mechanisms to protect data and define what should remain private or proprietary.” He envisions an ecosystem combining local data centers, in-company storage, and global collaboration — a system designed to deliver benefits for companies, governments, and society alike.
He leaves us with a hopeful note about the next five years:
“If we get the balance right, we can enter an era where innovation is both inclusive and responsible — and that’s something we should all be excited about.”
Unlocking AI and IP Success:
Actionable Tips for Startups, Innovators, Corporations, and Policymakers
For Startups and Innovators
1
Use AI to Fast-Track Patent Research
Leverage AI tools to quickly scan patent databases. This saves time and helps identify gaps or opportunities to innovate without infringing existing patents. Early insight can guide smarter product development.
2
Protect Your Innovations Strategically
Work with IP experts to draft strong patents that anticipate how others might try to design around your inventions. Use AI-assisted drafting tools to improve quality and efficiency.
3
Collaborate with AI, but Safeguard Core Know-How
Use AI to augment your creative process and speed innovation, but carefully protect sensitive training data and proprietary methods. Understand that once shared, AI models and data can be hard to control.
4
Use AI to Create Better, More Comprehensive IP Applications
Employ AI to help draft patent applications and refine claims, ensuring broad and robust protection. Pair AI assistance with expert oversight for the best results.
For Established Companies
1
Build Integrated Innovation Ecosystems Using AI
Use AI to collaborate modularly across R&D, manufacturing, and supply chains. Harness AI simulations to optimize materials and processes rapidly, and establish strong data tracking systems (like blockchain) for IP attribution and protection.
2
Develop Proactive IP Strategies that Leverage AI Insights
Anticipate design-arounds and continuously refine patent portfolios. Treat IP management as a strategic chess game, using AI to analyze competitor activity and market trends.
For Policymakers
1
Create Forward-Looking Data Privacy and IP Frameworks
Develop policies that balance innovation incentives with data ownership and attribution rights. Consider blockchain or similar technologies for transparent, secure data provenance.
2
Encourage Inclusive Innovation by Supporting Local Data and AI Ecosystems
Facilitate policies that allow regions to use local data to build AI solutions tailored to their needs, narrowing the innovation gap between mature and emerging markets.
3
Promote Cross-Disciplinary and Cross-Border AI Collaboration
Foster global partnerships that combine infrastructure, capital, and adaptability, enabling shared innovation ecosystems while maintaining robust protections against misuse,
Over the last four articles, we have reflected on innovation, Intellectual Property and collaboration between established and emerging markets and tried to answer the question whether they are “unequal partners or powerful alliances?” with two visionary leaders.
As the lines blur between established and emerging economies, one truth becomes clear: innovation no longer belongs to the few—it belongs to those who collaborate. In this evolving landscape, intellectual property is no longer just a shield; it’s a bridge. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool; it’s a force multiplier. And partnerships are no longer just strategic—they are essential.
The insights shared by Chetan Maini and Thomas Leiber reveal a new blueprint for global innovation—one built on equity, empathy, and execution. Emerging markets bring agility, ingenuity, and real-world urgency. Established players offer scale, infrastructure, and capital. Together, they can accelerate progress in ways neither could achieve alone.
But collaboration must be more than transactional. It must be rooted in trust, fairness, and the willingness to share both risk and reward. It must be supported by smart IP strategies, forward-looking policies, and an openness to constantly evolve.
The next wave of innovation won’t be defined by who owns the most patents or the biggest labs—it will be led by those who can connect the dots across borders, disciplines, and technologies. The companies and countries that embrace a win-win-win mindset will not only shape the future—they’ll own it.
About the Interviewees
Dr. Thomas Leiber
Entrepreneur & Innovator in Automotive and Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Thomas Leiber is a renowned entrepreneur and innovator with nearly 500 patents across electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, pioneering the fail-safe brake-by-wire technology now installed in 30% of new cars. With degrees from TU Berlin and from TU Graz (Ph.D) and post-doc studies from Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), he blends deep technical expertise with strategic insight from McKinsey & Company. Leiber has launched ten companies across five countries, including LSP Innovative Automotive Systems and ipgate AG. The son of ABS inventor Heinz Leiber, he continues the family legacy of breakthrough innovation. He is also an angel investor, startup mentor, and philanthropist supporting renewable energy, education, and medical research through the Leiber Family Foundation.
‘I grew up surrounded by innovation, and now my focus is on building bridges between companies and cultures—turning intellectual property into real-world impact through collaboration, strategy, and future technologies.’
Thomas Leiber
Chetan Maini
Co-founder of SUN Mobility & Pioneer of Electric Vehicles in India
Chetan Maini is a trailblazing entrepreneur best known for developing India’s first electric car, the REVA, in 1999. With degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and Stanford, he has spent over two decades advancing clean mobility. As founder of Reva Electric (now Mahindra Electric) and co-founder of SUN Mobility, Maini holds over 30 global patents in EV energy systems. He has also influenced national EV policy through his work with Indian government boards. Recognized by BBC Top Gear and Businessweek as one of India’s most influential innovators, Maini remains a driving force in global sustainable transport.
‘Innovation and climate have always been at the heart of what I do, and I truly believe that now is the time to make a difference.’
Chetan Maini