The European Union and India have launched exploratory talks on India’s potential association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s 93.5 billion euro flagship research and innovation programme, signalling a shared determination to swiftly expand bilateral cooperation.

The discussions, announced by the European Commission on Thursday 5 February, follow the 16th EU-India Summit, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic ties across trade, security, science, innovation and mobility. The EU and India had announced the conclusion of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement at the New Delhi summit held on 27 January, which was described as the "mother of all deals".

If the talks result in an association agreement, Indian researchers and institutions would be able to receive funding directly from Horizon Europe and to lead collaborative research projects, in return for a financial contribution from India.

The move would enable more structured, long-term collaboration between European and Indian research and innovation actors, facilitate joint projects under Horizon Europe, and reinforce cooperation on shared scientific and technological priorities, noted the European Commission in a statement.

Building Solutions With Global Relevance

The pace of engagement indicates that both sides are keen to lock in cooperation early, amid concerns that political or external spoilers could otherwise hinder the partnership’s expansion.

EU-India cooperation on research and innovation is anchored by the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, initially signed in 2001 and extended until 2030 in the EU-India Summit last month, highlighting the commitment to mutual advancement in scientific fields.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, said: “Science works best when borders do not get in the way of ideas. Exploring India's association to Horizon Europe is about connecting talent, ambition and trust, and building solutions together at global scale.”

EU and India share a long-standing and steadily deepening partnership in research and scientific cooperation, grounded in values of academic freedom, innovation, and sustainable development. Over the past two decades, this collaboration has evolved from project-based exchanges into a strategic partnership that supports joint knowledge creation, capacity building, and the translation of research into societal and economic impact on both populations. 

Cooperation spans a wide range of priority areas, including climate change and environmental sustainability, clean energy, health and pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, space, and advanced materials. Both sides place strong emphasis on addressing global challenges, such as climate resilience, public health preparedness, and the green and digital transitions, where joint research can deliver solutions with global relevance.

Deep-Tech Scale-Ups In Offing

Institutionally, the EU-India Science and Technology Agreement provides the overarching framework for cooperation, complemented by regular policy dialogues, joint steering committees, and thematic working groups. As global challenges become more complex, EU–India research and scientific cooperation is increasingly seen as a strategic asset—strengthening innovation ecosystems on both sides while contributing to inclusive growth, sustainable development, and a rules-based global knowledge order.

Research and scientific cooperation between the EU and India has reached a historic high, shifting from a collection of small-scale projects to a strategic alliance. As of early 2026, the relationship is centered on the "Towards 2030" Strategic Agenda, which positions science and innovation as the primary engines for economic and technological "strategic autonomy" for both regions.

The Trade and Technology Council (TTC) has become the main platform for coordinating high-tech research. In 2025 and 2026, it successfully launched massive joint calls for research in Green Hydrogen - Developing ways to turn biogenic waste into clean fuel; Circular Economy - Specifically focusing on battery recycling for electric vehicles; and Semiconductors - Jointly designing and prototyping chips for AI applications.

The cooperation is currently focused on "Deep Tech" and sustainability to reduce reliance on other global powers. This includes the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), where India’s "India Stack" (digital ID and payments) is being studied for interoperability with European systems. Additionally, the EU-India Startup Partnership was established to link the European Innovation Council with Start-up India, helping deep-tech scale-ups move between the two markets.

(The author is an Indian journalist who is a long time resident in Brussels and has been covering European and EU affairs for the past 40 years. Views expressed are personal . He can be reached at nawab_khan@hotmail.com X: @NawabKhan10)