EU and India conclude negotiations on association to Horizon Europe

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.

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.

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.

Next steps

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.

Background

Today's announcement follows the launch of exploratory discussions on 6 February 2026 and formal negotiations on 17 July 2026.

EU–India scientific cooperation builds on the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, signed in 2001 and renewed until 2030. Research and innovation also form an integral part of the Joint EU–India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda towards 2030, adopted at the EU–India Summit on 27 January 2026.

The partnership has been strengthened through the EU–India Trade and Technology Council, which facilitates collaboration on key digital areas such as artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, semiconductors, high-performance computing, digital skills and the sixth generation of wireless telecommunications.

The EU and India took a further step in collaboration on digital skills through the launch of the first-ever European Legal Gateway Office in India last February, aiming to facilitate safe, legal and well-informed mobility to the EU in the ICT sector.

Horizon Europe runs from 2021 to 2027, with a budget of €93.5 billion. International cooperation is central to the programme, bringing together expertise and resources to advance scientific excellence and innovation.

Currently, 23 non-EU countries are associated with Horizon Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, the Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Tunisia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Negotiations for association were successfully concluded with Australia, with the agreement to be signed shortly.

For more information

EU–India cooperation in research and innovation

Launch of exploratory talks on India's association to Horizon Europe

Association to Horizon Europe