India-EU Boost Research Ties with Horizon Europe Negotiations and Innovation Push

India and the European Union have taken a significant step towards strengthening their strategic partnership by agreeing to begin formal negotiations for India's association with Horizon Europe , the EU's flagship EUR 93.5 billion research and innovation programme . The decision was announced during the third EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting held in Brussels.

The Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar , Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal , and Minister of State Jitin Prasada , while senior European Commissioners represented the EU.

According to the joint statement, both sides aim to conclude negotiations before the end of 2026 , enabling Indian researchers, universities, startups and innovators to fully participate in Horizon Europe from 2027 . The move is expected to create a long-term institutional framework for scientific collaboration and technology development.

Speaking after the meeting, Jaishankar highlighted ongoing joint research in green hydrogen from waste, marine pollution control and electric vehicle battery recycling , noting that several pilot projects have reached advanced validation stages and could soon expand further.

The two partners also launched an EU-India Startup Partnership focused on deep-tech clean technologies and agreed to establish the first EU-India Innovation Hub dedicated to electric vehicle charging technologies and testing . Cooperation will also intensify in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, high-performance computing and 6G communications .

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to building resilient supply chains in agri-food, active pharmaceutical ingredients and clean energy technologies , while supporting reforms to the World Trade Organization and strengthening the multilateral trading system.

European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva described the initiative as a partnership capable of transforming shared innovation into global impact, while Commissioner Henna Virkkunen emphasized continued collaboration on trusted and secure technologies.

Established in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , the EU-India TTC has emerged as a key platform for advancing cooperation in trade, technology, digital governance and economic resilience between the two strategic partners.