The Commission has published the evaluation of the EU-India Science and Technology Agreement of the EU-India Science and Technology Agreement for the period 2020-2025. The report confirms its vital role in fostering collaboration in key research and innovation areas. It also provides a legal and political framework for advancing joint research in energy, health, water, ICT, and innovation. Notable initiatives include support to smart grids, vaccine development, wastewater treatment, and artificial intelligence.
Mobility and talent development remain key pillars of this collaboration. Over 600 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grants have been awarded to Indian researchers, making India the top-ranking non-EU country in this programme. Indian researchers also rank among the top five non-EU beneficiaries of European Research Council grants, highlighting the strength of EU-India academic and research exchanges.
This strong collaboration is further reflected in India’s participation in 88 Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects, which have significantly contributed to advancements in research and innovation.
Moreover, the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC), established on 6 February 2023, further reinforces cooperation on green technologies, digital governance, and trade.
Building on progress to date, this report recommends clearer budget allocations, better alignment with the TTC, and the strengthening of strategic partnerships. The renewal of the S&T Agreement will ensure continued progress in these areas, further strengthening EU-India cooperation for mutual and global benefit.
In this light, both sides will report on achievements and agree on deliverables for the next period (until 2030) at the upcoming TTC Ministerial Meeting in Delhi on 27 February 2025. Areas under discussion include joint research on marine plastic litter, waste-to-renewable hydrogen, battery recycling for electric vehicles, interoperability for electric vehicle recharging infrastructure, and wastewater treatment.
About the EU-India S&T Agreement and the EU-India Trade and Technology Council:
The ‘Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India’ was signed in New Delhi on 23 November 2001 and entered into force on 14 October 2002. it has been renewed three times: in 2009, in 2015 and in 2020 each for a period of 5 years.
In September 202, at the 14th India-EU Joint Steering Committee, established by the Agreement, both parties took note of their intention to renew the Agreement for another five-year period, based on a shared positive assessment, and following the evaluation, in line with Article 11 of the Agreement, published on 25 February The finding and results of the Evaluation clearly demonstrate that the Agreement is useful and necessary
The TTC is a key forum to deepen the strategic partnership on trade and technology between the two partners. Its Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies co-chaired by the Director-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission and the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India is making substantial progress on bilateral scientific and technological cooperation.
