by Sebastien Goulard
India is expected to join the European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme in the near future. Formal negotiations between India and the European Union began on 15 July and are expected to continue until October, with India’s participation scheduled to start in January 2027.
Currently, only a limited number of non-European countries are associated with the Horizon Europe programme, namely Canada, Egypt, New Zealand, South Korea, Tunisia, and soon Australia.
The announcement was made during a meeting in Brussels between Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva. During his visit, the Indian Foreign Minister also held discussions with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela on the IMEEC, as well as with European Council President Antonio Costa and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
India’s association with the Horizon Europe programme had already been discussed in 2025, and the invitation was reiterated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last September. This partnership is expected to create new opportunities for cooperation between universities and researchers from both regions.
Towards Deeper Integration
This measure will enable the implementation of joint projects, particularly in innovative sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum technologies (India and the European Union are already cooperating in the field of hydrogen).
The Horizon Europe programme has the potential to finance projects involving dual-use and strategic technologies. The development of Indo-European initiatives in these areas should contribute to strengthening not only economic integration but also political ties between the two blocs.
The IMEEC initiative should therefore benefit from this enhanced scientific cooperation between India and the European Union. Brussels and New Delhi are moving towards a shared strategic agenda.
