“Science works best when borders do not get in the way of ideas.” With that message, EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva signalled a new phase in Brussels–New Delhi relations as the European Union and India opened talks, bringing the world’s largest democracy into Horizon Europe, the bloc’s flagship multibillion-euro research programme.
Brussels and New Delhi began exploratory discussions on Friday, 6 February, on India’s potential association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s €95.5bn framework for research and innovation collaboration. The move builds on momentum from the recent EU-India Summit in New Delhi, where leaders on both sides pledged to deepen cooperation across trade, security, science, technology and mobility.
New opportunity
Association would give Indian universities, laboratories and companies the ability to access Horizon Europe funding directly and even coordinate multinational projects, in return for a financial contribution to the programme. More broadly, it would formalise long-term collaboration between European and Indian research ecosystems and create a structured pipeline for joint work in priority scientific and technological fields.
“Science works best when borders do not get in the way of ideas,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. “Exploring India’s association to Horizon Europe is about connecting talent, ambition and trust, and building solutions together at global scale.”
Already strong scientific ties
Cooperation is not starting from scratch. EU-India scientific ties are underpinned by a bilateral agreement first signed in 2001 and recently extended to 2030, signalling a sustained commitment to joint innovation and knowledge exchange.
Horizon Europe already links the EU with partner countries beyond its borders, making it one of the most integrated international research networks in the world. Current participants range from European neighbours to global innovation leaders, and Brussels concluded negotiations with Japan late last year — underscoring how it is steadily expanding the programme’s geopolitical reach through science diplomacy.
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Beneficiaries
European universities and school-level research networks are among the biggest beneficiaries of Horizon Europe’s collaborative model, which funds cross-border consortia, mobility schemes and joint innovation hubs linking academia, industry and public institutions. The programme supports university alliances, shared doctoral training, open research infrastructures and partnerships that allow students, early-career researchers and faculty to work across multiple countries and disciplines.
With a fresh push for cooperation, expanding participation to major partners such as India would further widen these networks—giving European campuses access to new talent pools, research sites and industry links. At the same time, it would reinforce international degree pathways and deepen long-term institutional alliances built around shared scientific priorities.
