Industrial Tech & Innovation
Accelerating TTC, semiconductor pipelines, and joint industrial R&D
The European Contribution
- World-class research
- Digital infrastructure
- Robust regulation
- Expertise in green and digital technologies
The Indian Contribution
- Skilled workforce
- Vast datasets
- Growing digital economy
- Vibrant startup ecosystem
- Expertise in frugal innovation
Domains of Cooperation
A comprehensive strategic framework bridging world-class research infrastructure with vast digital economies.
Flagship Innovation Pillars
Innovation & Startups
The Startup Partnership
Cross-border investment, co-creation, and deep-tech scale-ups
The EU and India are setting up dedicated platforms bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, startups, investors, and experts to identify shared priorities and catalyse innovation.
Key Actions & Initiatives
- Set up EU-India Innovation Hubs — bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, startups, investors, and experts
- Advance promising technologies from early-stage collaboration through Blue Valleys for industrial deployment
- Launch an EU-India Startup Partnership to promote cross-border investment and deep-tech ventures
- Collaboration with the European Innovation Council and Start-up India
Semiconductors & AI
The Intelligence Infrastructure
Joint R&D, design, and safe AI for public goods
Leveraging Indian chip design expertise and European research infrastructures under the Chips Act to establish a comprehensive semiconductor collaboration framework.
Key Actions & Initiatives
- Joint R&D, reciprocal talent exchanges, and strategic joint ventures on advanced semiconductors
- Leverage Indian chip design expertise and European research infrastructures under the Chips Act
- Comprehensive semiconductor framework covering R&D, manufacturing, and resilient supply chains
- Cooperate on large language models, NLP datasets, and AI solutions for public goods
Horizon Europe & Research Programmes
€500 Million and Counting
Equal footing for deep-tech collaboration
India participates in EU research consortia worth over €500 Mn under Horizon Europe. Since 2014, India has funded more MSCA researchers than any other country in the world.
Key Actions & Initiatives
- Deepen cooperation under Horizon Europe (digital, energy, water, agrifood, health, biotech)
- Explore association of India to Horizon Europe for equal footing participation
- Coordinated calls active on marine plastic litter and waste-to-renewable hydrogen
- New 'Choose Europe for Science' pilot and co-funding with India's CSIR
Cooperative Sectors Directory
Implementing the EU-India Administrative Arrangement on High-Performance Computing, advancing from proof-of-concept hybrid workflows to full production capabilities.
Key Mechanisms & Initiatives
- Implement the EU-India Administrative Arrangement on High-Performance Computing
- Expand to shared HPC capabilities and hybrid quantum-HPC systems
- Joint activities including reciprocal access, benchmarking standards, and co-developed applications
- Researcher exchanges, joint doctoral programmes, and co-funding to accelerate hybrid workflows
- Applications in biomedical research, weather modelling, and machine learning
Launching a formal Space Dialogue to advance cooperation on civil space initiatives and coordinate on transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space.
Key Mechanisms & Initiatives
- Launch a Space Dialogue to advance cooperation on earth observation, satellite navigation, and communications
- Explore space security cooperation and surveillance
- Coordinate on transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space via the UN Open Ended Working Group
Deepening cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the India-Euratom agreement and advancing global fusion research through the ITER project.
Key Mechanisms & Initiatives
- Promote collaboration on peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the India-Euratom agreement
- Cooperate on reactor safety, radioprotection, waste management, and nuclear security
- Deepen cooperation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
- Cooperation on radio-pharmaceuticals and non-power applications of atomic energy
Enabling technical interoperability between the European Digital Identity Wallet and India's Aadhaar system, while jointly promoting DPI solutions in third countries.
Key Mechanisms & Initiatives
- Collaborate on digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion and efficient public service delivery
- Enable technical interoperability between the European Digital Identity Wallet and India's Aadhaar system
- Implement the Administrative Arrangement on Advanced Electronic Signatures and Seals
- Jointly promote DPI solutions in third countries
Corporate-Academic Collaborations
Deep-dives into the flagship research partnerships bridging the EU’s industrial pioneers with India’s elite research institutes.
Sustainable Aviation & Advanced Materials
Joint development of hydrogen-powered propulsion systems, high-performance composite modeling, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) testing frameworks.
AI, IoT & Cyber-Physical Systems
Long-standing collaboration through the Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber-Physical Systems (RBCCPS) focusing on autonomous navigation, deep learning, and smart city infrastructure.
Smart Grids & Green Hydrogen Simulators
Establishment of advanced Centers of Excellence to co-develop smart grid simulation systems, digital twin modeling for factories, and clean energy optimization.
Technology Protection
The EU and India are implementing robust measures to prevent the unauthorised transfer or misuse of sensitive technologies and knowledge. Both partners are committed to ensuring responsible use in support of global stability, democratic values, and strategic autonomy.