India-EU conclude negotiations to join Horizon Europe programme
PIB National (English) · Published 7 November 2026 · Last updated
India and the European Union have successfully concluded negotiations for India's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's €93.5-billion flagship research and innovation programme.
Key points
- India and the European Union successfully concluded negotiations for India's association with Horizon Europe on November 7, 2026.
- The initiative is the EU's €93.5-billion flagship research and innovation programme.
- Exploration of the association was launched following the India-EU Summit on January 27, 2026.
- Formal negotiations were initiated as an outcome of the ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council in Brussels on July 15, 2026.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Brussels in mid-December 2026 for the formal signing.
- The association is expected to take effect in January 2027 following the completion of formal procedures and ratification.
- The agreement enables Indian researchers, institutions, universities, and industry to participate in funding calls under Pillar II of the programme.
- Scientific cooperation builds on the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, originally signed in 2001 and renewed until 2030.
Background
- On 7 November 2026 India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for India’s association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s €93.5‑billion research and innovation programme.
- The announcement follows the historic India‑EU Summit held on 27 January 2026, where the idea of associating India with Horizon Europe was first explored.
- Horizon Europe, the successor to Horizon 2020, is the EU’s flagship programme covering health, digital technologies, industry, space, climate, energy, mobility, food and the bio‑economy.
- The association will allow Indian researchers, institutions and industry to participate on equal terms in Horizon Europe calls, access European consortia and research infrastructure, and contribute financially to the programme.
UPSC relevance, Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: PIB National (English)