EU and India conclude negotiations on association to Horizon Europe to push innovation ties

The European Commission and India have successfully concluded negotiations on India's association to Horizon Europe, the EU's €93.5 billion flagship research and innovation programme.

This marks an important step forward for EU-India relations, strengthening scientific cooperation, creating new opportunities in research, and deepening the EU–India strategic partnership.

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For researchers, businesses and research organisations across Europe, India's association will open up more opportunities to collaborate with Indian partners and build lasting scientific and technological links.

Once the agreement is signed and the necessary procedures are completed on both sides, researchers and organisations in India will be able to receive funding directly from Horizon Europe and lead collaborative projects under its Pillar II: ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness'. This is the largest part of the programme which funds collaborative, multi-national research and innovation projects tackling societal and technological issues, such as health, digital, industry, space, climate, energy, and bioeconomy.

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This will create new opportunities for European and Indian partners to pool expertise, develop technologies and address shared challenges.

Association is the closest form of cooperation offered by the EU to non-EU countries under Horizon Europe. It allows organisations in associated countries to participate on equal terms with their EU counterparts in the parts of the programme covered by the agreement. In return, associated countries contribute financially to the programme.

The successful conclusion of negotiations clears the way for the signature of the association agreement, subject to the completion of the necessary procedures on both sides. Association is envisaged for January 2027.