The European Union and India have officially commenced discussions regarding India's potential association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship program for research and innovation. The talks follow commitments made at the 16th EU-India Summit in New Delhi, where both parties affirmed their dedication to strengthening cooperation in areas like trade, security, science, innovation, and mobility.
Horizon Europe is the EU's key funding program for research and innovation, boasting a budget of €95.5 billion for the period between 2021 and 2027. The program aims to strengthen the EU's science and technology base, boost Europe's innovation capacity, and deliver on citizen's priorities.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in science. She stated that exploring India's association with Horizon Europe is about connecting talent, ambition, and trust to build solutions together on a global scale.
Currently, India operates under a Co-Funding Mechanism (CFM) that allows Indian researchers to participate in EU projects, provided they secure their own funding from Indian ministries. If the "Association" agreement is finalized, Indian institutions would receive grants directly from the European Commission. Indian scientists could also lead and coordinate international research consortia, participating in the program on equal terms with EU Member States, in exchange for a financial contribution to the program's budget.
Association with Horizon Europe is the closest form of international cooperation the EU offers to non-EU countries in the field of science and technology. Currently, 22 non-EU countries are associated with Horizon Europe, including countries like Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, Iceland, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
The EU-India cooperation in research and innovation is built upon the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, initially signed in 2001 and recently extended until 2030. Research and innovation also play a central role in the Joint EU–India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda Towards 2030.
The Horizon Europe program also integrates Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines to enhance the societal impact of research activities. The program addresses socio-economic challenges faced by healthcare systems and promotes responsible use of digital technologies to improve mental health.
The Eurostars program, co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe, supports innovative SMEs and project partners in international collaborative R&D and innovation projects. The Horizon Europe program has allocated €14 billion to support research and innovation that delivers on the EU's goals for a more sustainable, competitive, and resilient Europe.