India and the European Union Finalize Terms for Participation in the €93.5 Billion Horizon Europe Program

Scientific cooperation between India and the European Union is based on an Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation signed in 2001. The parties extended this agreement through 2030. Research and innovation anchor the Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda towards 2030, which was adopted at the EU-India Summit.

The parties launched exploratory discussions regarding association with the "Horizon Europe" programme on February 6, 2026. They commenced formal negotiations on July 17, 2026.

1. The European Commission and India formal negotiations began on July 17, 2026, regarding India's entry into the "Horizon Europe" research program. The program holds a total budget of €93.5 billion. Indian researchers and organizations will receive direct funding. They will also lead collaborative projects under Pillar II of the program.

2. "Horizon Europe" programme targets global challenges and industrial competitiveness. The programme funds multinational research in health, digital technologies, space, climate change, energy, and the bioeconomy. Indian researchers and organizations gain eligibility to lead collaborative projects in these sectors once the association agreement takes effect.

3. The association aligns with the Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda. Leaders adopted this agenda at the EU-India Summit. This partnership builds on the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

4. India and EU renewed the agreement to 2030. The Horizon Europe program currently includes 23 non-EU associated countries. India will begin its association in January 2027, contingent on the signing of a final agreement.

5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Brussels in mid-December 2026 for the formal signing of an India-EU free trade agreement.

1. Associated countries are required to make financial contributions to the Horizon Europe programme. This condition applies to all nations joining the €93.5 billion research and innovation initiative.

2. India’s association agreement focuses specifically on Pillar II, so Indian researchers cannot access funding or grants under Pillar I or Pillar III.

   ​This means Indian entities are excluded from major programs like European Research Council frontier grants, Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowships, and European Innovation Council startup accelerator funds.

3. ​Within Pillar Two, the European Union can still restrict India's access to specific sensitive calls involving strategic autonomy, quantum tech, space, or defense-adjacent research. Indian partners also generally don't hold voting governance rights over the broader program’s agenda and budget.