India and the European Union have successfully concluded negotiations for India’s association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. This creates a long-term institutional framework for deeper scientific and technological cooperation.
What the Association Enables
- Indian researchers, academic institutions, and industry can participate in Horizon Europe funding calls through collaborative research projects.
- Access to European research consortia and advanced research infrastructure.
- Strengthened talent mobility and joint work on critical technologies, standards, and solutions.
Priority Areas (Horizon Europe Pillar II)
The programme’s thematic clusters closely match India’s priorities:
- Health
- Digital technologies, industry and space
- Climate, energy and mobility
- Food and the bioeconomy
Strategic Context
- Builds on the existing India–EU Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation and the India-EU Trade and Technology Council.
- Supports India’s innovation ecosystem and the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
- Process began after the India-EU Summit (27 January 2026); formal negotiations started following the Trade and Technology Council ministerial meeting in Brussels (15 July 2026).
This association opens a broader platform for joint projects, knowledge exchange, and technology development in priority sectors between India and the EU.
