New Delh, Nov. 6 -- India and the European Commission have successfully concluded negotiations on the country's association with Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship research and innovation programme with a budget of €93.5 billion.
The development is expected to strengthen scientific cooperation between India and the EU, create fresh opportunities for researchers and businesses, and deepen their strategic partnership.
Once the association agreement is signed and necessary procedures are completed on both sides, Indian
researchers and organisations will be eligible to receive funding directly from Horizon Europe and lead collaborative projects under its Pillar II, 'Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness'.
Pillar II is the programme's largest component and supports multinational research and innovation projects addressing societal and technological challenges in areas such as health, digital technology, industry, space, climate, energy and bioeconomy.
The association will enable Indian and European partners to pool expertise, develop technologies and work together on shared challenges.
It is the closest form of cooperation the EU offers to non-member countries under Horizon Europe, allowing organisations from associated countries to participate on equal terms
with their EU counterparts in the areas covered by the agreement.
Associated countries contribute financially to the programme.
The successful conclusion of negotiations has cleared the way for the signing of the association agreement, subject to completion of the required procedures.
India's association is envisaged to begin in January 2027.
Exploratory discussions were launched on February 6, 2026, followed by formal negotiations on July 17.
EU-India scientific cooperation is based on an Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation signed in 2001 and renewed
until 2030.
Research and innovation also form part of the Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda towards 2030, adopted at the EU-India Summit on January 27, 2026.
Horizon Europe runs from 2021 to 2027 and currently has 23 associated non-EU countries.
A total of 23 non-EU countries are currently associated with Horizon Europe, including Canada, Egypt, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine and the UK. Negotiations for association have also been concluded with Australia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Brussels in mid-December for the formal signing of the
India-EU free trade agreement, negotiations for which were concluded in January.
The trade deal is expected to enter into force next year after it is ratified by the European Parliament.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.