India and the European Union have successfully completed negotiations for India's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme. This association represents a strategic move into a long-term institutional framework of research cooperation between both sides, building on existing R&D projects and cooperation under the India-EU Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation and the India-EU Trade and Technology Council.
The association will facilitate Indian researchers, institutions, and industry to participate in calls for funding under the Programme through collaborative research projects, providing access to European consortia and cutting-edge research infrastructure. It is expected to deepen talent mobility and lead to co-development of critical technologies, standards, and solutions at scale.
The thematic clusters of Pillar II of Horizon Europe include health, digital technologies, industry and space, climate, energy and mobility, food and the bioeconomy, which align closely with India's research priorities and can build on its scientific strengths. The association adds significant value to India's innovation ecosystem as the country progresses toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
The exploration of possible association was launched after the historic India-EU Summit on January 27, 2026, with formal negotiations initiated as an outcome of the ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council held in Brussels on July 15, 2026.