Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2025)128 - Renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and the Government of India - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2025)128 - Renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and the Government of India. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2025)128 |
| date | 26-03-2025 |
1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
The Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India1 ('the Agreement') was signed in New Delhi on 23 November 2001 and entered into force on 14 October 2002. Article 11(b) provides that This Agreement shall be concluded for an initial period of five years and may be renewed by mutual agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the last year of the aforementioned period. To date the Agreement has been renewed three times: in 20092, in 20153 and in 20204 for additional periods of 5 years each time.
The current Agreement is due to expire on 17 May 2025.
The Evaluation of the EU-India Science and Technology Agreement carried out by the Commission, published on 25 February 20255, clearly demonstrates that the Agreement continues to provide a crucial framework for facilitating cooperation between the EU and India in common science and technology (S&T) priority areas, resulting in mutual benefits. This is demonstrated by the three flagship joint calls focused on Water, Influenza Vaccine, and Integrated Local Energy Systems (Smart Grids) that led to 12 joint projects with a total funding of EUR 98 million under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. These projects involve 220 research entities from Europe and India, showcasing promising results and delivering innovative, sustainable, and affordable technologies.
A co-funding mechanism was established with three Indian ministries/departments (Department of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Earth Science), assuring funding to Indian entities successfully participating in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Since 2020, the Indian Government has earmarked around 15 calls falling within the scope of Horizon Europe Pillar II ‘Global Challenges and European Indutrial Competitiveness’ for co-funding, receiving over 50 proposals, with 10 successful proposals co-funded in areas such as AI, polar research, environment, and health.
In November 2020, the second Implementing Arrangement between the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the European Commission was signed to facilitate the mobility of Indian researchers to European Research Council (ERC) grantee teams in the field of social science and humanities. Additionally, in August 2024 the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) decided to set up a co-funding mechanism to support Indian entities successful in the MSCA-Staff Exchange scheme. Its objective will be to incentivise the participation of Indian organisations in MSCA and to set-up partnerships for staff exchanges, as a stepping-stone for the identification of more ambitious and strategic R&I partnerships between EU and Indian stakeholders.
An innovation platform, the Horizon 2020 project INNOCENTER was implemented between 2021 and 2023, resulting in 100 EU companies benefiting, with 63 undergoing market validation and 13 establishing a local presence in India. The initiative supported more than 160 startups, facilitated more than 320 EU-India business matches, and helped 13 European companies successfully enter the Indian market.
The cooperation under the S&T Agreement continues to develop also under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) launched in 2023. One of the three Working Groups established under the TTC focuses on the development of Green and Clean Energy Technologies. Under the scope of this Working Group 2, three coordinated calls with India on marine plastic litter, battery recycling, and waste-to-hydrogen are in preparation. The European Commission is committed to invest €30 million in these calls, with India expected to match the amount. In addition, in 2024 the EU and India joined forces to promote collaboration between start-ups on recycling of e-vehicles batteries and launched a similar initiative to promote solutions for marine plastic litter.
It is in the interest of the EU to renew the Agreement to continue engaging in scientific and technological cooperation in areas of mutual interest and leading to technological advances benefitting the EU scientific community and to increase market access to India through joint cooperation. This coperation also addresses global challenges such as climate change, health pandemics, and sustainable development. By leveraging complementary strengths, it fosters technological advancements, drives economic growth, and enhances competitiveness. Joint cooperation benefits the European scientific and business community, increases market access to India, and supports innovation ecosystems. This collaboration contributes to the overall well-being of societies in both regions through shared research initiatives and funding opportunities.
The Agreement is instrumental to understand each other's scientific and innovation landscape and establish together priority areas of mutual interest on international cooperation in research and innovation. It offers a legal and administrative framework in which the modalities of cooperation can be discussed ensuring a sound and fair allocation of research and innovation funding in areas that are in line with the EU's interests and policies and can be adapted and adjusted to India's interests and needs.
The Agreement also offers a useful forum to assess past cooperation and determine future actions, including on topics making the cooperation effective such as through the implementation of Open access and Open Innovation principles.
At the last India – EU Joint Steering Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation, meeting, established by Article 6 of the Agreement, held in Brussels on 25 September 2024, both Parties expressed their intention to renew the Agreement for another five-year period (2025-2030) in line with its Article 11(b) and following the above-mentioned evaluation carried out by the Commission. Both parties also confirmed that they would initiate their respective internal procedures to conclude the renewal before the expirty of the current Agreement in May 2025.
The substance of the renewed Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement, as discussed and agreed with the Indian counterparts. It will not create new rights and obligations for the EU, but instead it will extend in time the existing framework between the Parties under the Agreement.
• Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
This initiative is fully in line with the EU’s international cooperation strategy for R&I6. The EU’s strategy clearly states the importance of science and technology agreements as vehicles for defining and implementing multiannual roadmaps for cooperation with non-EU countries. The Agreement is also a means of implementing the EU’s international cooperation strategy for R&I, which calls for more internationalisation and openness in the EU’s R&I landscape. The Agreement is also in line with the aim of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC)7 as a high-level coordination platform allowing the EU and India to tackle strategic challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security, and to deepen their bilateral relationship.
• Consistency with other Union policies
The Agreement is instrumental in fulfilling the objectives of the EU Strategy on India8 to jointly tackling global challenges, supporting India’s sustainable modernisation, opening business opportunities and increasing scientific excellence and competitiveness.9 It is also in line with the Roadmap to 2025 of the EU-India Strategic Partnership10.
2. LEGAL BASIS AND SUBSIDIARITY
• Legal basis
The EU’s power to act internationally in research and technological development is based on Article 186 TFEU. The procedural legal basis for the proposal is Article 218(6) point (a)(v) of the TFEU.
• Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
The EU and its Members States have parallel shared competence in the area of research and technological development in accordance with Article 4(3) TFEU. Therefore EU's action cannot be replaced by an action of Member States.
3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
• Regulatory fitness and simplification
This initiative is not part of the REFIT agenda.
4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
The proposal does not require additional resources as set out in the Legislative Financial Statement. The human resources required will be met within the relevant heading by staff from the DG who are already assigned to the management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG or other Commission services.
- approves, on behalf of the Union, and with the consent of the European Parliament, the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India, for an additional period of five years (i.e.from 17.05.2025 until 16.05.2030).