India And The EU: Building A Shared Technological Future

Policy Update
Varisha Sharma

Introduction:

Over the past two decades, India and the European Union (EU) have developed a strong strategic partnership especially in the sphere of technology. Both partners view technological collaboration as crucial for economic growth, sustainable development and global governance of emerging technologies. Both India and the European Union are technological giants in their own capacity. India is home to some of the best minds in the IT sector and Europe has the most established industries in the technological sector.

Moreover, with China’s growing assertiveness in the technological sector, India and the European Union have strengthened their partnership even further to develop newer technologies at a rapid pace. Both India and the EU have reasons to be wary of China’s growing influence. India shares a volatile border with China and China emerges as the only competitor to India’s establishment as a regional superpower. The European Union has long held control over key technologies like automation , robotics and artificial intelligence.

In such a scenario , where China has developed extremely advanced technology that is heavily criticised for invading the rights and privacy of its users, India and the European Union came together to combat China’s growing influence. This collaboration is institutionalised through mechanisms such as the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) started in May 2023, the India-EU Connectivity Partnership, and the Strategic Agenda 2030.

Background: Evolution of India-EU Technology Cooperation

India-EU tech relations have evolved from foundational science pacts in the early 2000s to strategic high-tech collaborations today, driven by shared goals in innovation, digital infrastructure, and green technologies. In 2001, both signed an agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation focusing on joint research in areas like health, energy and ICT.

This agreement was renewed in 2007 and again in 2015 emphasising shared IPRs and joint investments that supported projects in water management, clean energy and biotechnology (Department of Science and Technology, n.d.). In 2004, India and EU elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership which led to deeper cooperation across all domains but especially technology with the rise of the digital economy.

The 15th India-EU summit held in July 2020, saw many agreements being signed to promote technological cooperation. The agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation was renewed till 2025. Another key initiative is the India-EU Connectivity Partnership, launched in 2021, which aims to enhance digital, transport, and energy connectivity between India and Europe. The partnership highlights the importance of secure digital infrastructure, technological innovation, and sustainable connectivity projects (MEA, 2021).

The most important and crucial development has been the development of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) which was announced in April 2022 by Prime Minister Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The TTC was launched formally on February 6, 2023 primarily to address the trade-tech-security nexus (European Parliamentary Research Service, 2024).

At the 16th EU-India Summit held in January, 2026, the Science and Technology agreement was renewed till 2030. The biggest achievement of this summit was the conclusion of the India-EU FTA which now aims to enhance digital trade, data flows and mobility for IT/ R & D professionals. It is expected to significantly improve access to advanced technologies, which will strengthen domestic manufacturing due to the reduction of non-tariff barriers. ( J Sarah, 2026).

The India-EU Strategic Agenda 2030 officially titled “Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda” was also adopted during this summit. This aims to strengthen trade, technology, particularly 6G, AI and semiconductors, green energy and security and defense cooperation (Ministry of External Affairs,2026). Towards 2030: A joint India–European Union comprehensive strategic agenda. Government of India. . It also aims at increasing joint research in AI, quantum, semiconductors, clean tech and biotech. Further it also led to the establishment of India-EU Innovation Hubs and Startup Partnership.

India-EU Trade and Technology Council

One of the most important developments in India–EU technological cooperation is the establishment of the India–EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in 2022. The TTC serves as a high-level platform for coordinating policies related to trade, trusted technology, and resilient supply chains (European Parliamentary Research Service, 2024). It represents a significant institutional mechanism that allows India and the EU to deepen cooperation in emerging technological domains.

The TTC operates through three specialised working groups:

Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance, and Digital Connectivity
Green and Clean Energy Technologies
Trade, Investment, and Resilient Supply Chains

These working groups facilitate collaboration on issues such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, telecommunications standards, and secure digital infrastructure (European Commission, 2023). The TTC also aims to strengthen innovation ecosystems by connecting researchers, technology companies, and policymakers from India and the EU.

The creation of the TTC reflects the growing importance of technological partnerships in the global political economy. It also highlights the desire of both India and the EU to reduce dependence on limited technology suppliers and strengthen resilient supply chains for critical technologies (European Parliamentary Research Service, 2024).

EC President Ursula von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Modi shaking hands.
Source: ET Government

Functioning and Performance

Research and Development:

With a joint investment of ₹391 crore (~ €41 million), the initiatives led by India and the EU in the field of research focus on two coordinated calls in the areas of Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) and Waste to Green Hydrogen (W2GH), co-funded by Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation framework programme along with the government of India that has a budget of approximately €95.5 billion (Press Information Bureau, 2024).

In 2026, there were also exploratory discussions on expanding India’s role in Horizon Europe. Recent initiatives like EU-India Innovation Hubs and a Startup Partnership have also focused on joint investment in research. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges, co-funded by the EU and India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) provide for research exchanges between India and EU research institutions and joint R & D projects (European Commission, 2024).

Both EU and India are committed to development of cleaner and greener technologies as according to H.E. Mr. Herve Delphin, the EU’s ambassador to India. Indian experts have participated in a training and mutual learning exercise on EV interoperability and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) E-Mobility Lab in Ispra, Italy in January 2024. Furthermore, a joint hybrid workshop on EV Charging Technologies (Standardisation and Testing) was organised at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune, India and online, to deepen the EU-Indian dialogue and the industry’s engagement in charging infrastructure standardisation processes with India. (MEA, 2025).

Digital Infrastructure:

In May 2018, Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) and the 5G Infrastructure Association (5G IA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster collaboration on Research, Standards, Regulations and Policies over the next 3 years at Brussels. Under this MoU collaboration opportunities such as Use cases of 5G, including mMTC (massive Machine Type Communications), eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband) and URLLC (Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications) have been explored.

Ericsson, which is a major private company based in Europe, is expanding its R&D efforts in India, focusing on Network APIs and AI technologies to enhance 5G capabilities. (EuropaWire, 2024). These APIs will allow developers and industries to leverage advanced 5G features like network slicing and quality on demand. Ericsson has partnered with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to offer these APIs globally. The company is also showcasing innovative demos on AI, Generative AI, and robotics at the India Mobile Congress, highlighting their role in future 6G networks.

Ericsson remains a key partner for Indian telecom providers, contributing to the rollout of 5G across the country. India and the EU have initiated joint research cooperation between India’s Bharat 6G Alliance and European industry alliances to coordinate research priorities and promote the development of interoperable global standards (Press Information Bureau, 2023).

While the Chinese government has made progress in implementing a strong digital infrastructure, it is heavily state controlled. India on the other hand is a pioneer in Digital Public Infrastructure and in February 2025, there were discussions for possible knowledge sharing and collaborations between India and the EU as the EU focuses on building its own digital sovereignty . India already has a collection of DPI’s – the India Stack(UPI, Aadhaar, DBT, Digilocker) and both countries can shape a future of democratic , human centric DPI’s (Doval, 2025).

Emerging Technologies

AI and Robotics:

Europe is currently home to some of the best automotive and robotics industries in the world with Germany leading from the top ranks. Europe has also made great strides in the regulation of AI through the EU AI act which is the world’s most comprehensive AI laws and sets global standards for safe and ethical use of AI. The EU aims to coordinate €1 billion per year in public AI investment through Horizon/Digital Europe and to mobilize further public/private funds to reach larger strategic targets for the digital decade.

India, while nascent in the technological field, boasts of significant human capital which has been useful in negotiating important deals like the India-Italy MoU on to advance initiatives in science and technology. The India-Italy MoU also focuses on collaborations in the areas of biotechnology and quantum technologies (The Economic Times, 2025). The AI Impact summit organised by India played a very important role in showcasing India’s commitment to becoming an AI superpower to the world.

At the India AI Impact summit organised in February 2026, Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen and Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar launched the European Legal Gateway Office, which aims at connecting European countries with the Indian ICT base (European Commission, 2024).

Quantum Technologies:

With China’s growth in the sphere of quantum technologies , The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) of the Government of India and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) of the European Commission signed an “Intent of Cooperation on High Performance Computing (HPC), Weather Extremes & Climate Modeling and Quantum Technologies” at a virtual ceremony held simultaneously on 21 November 2022 at MeitY, New Delhi and at DG CONNECT, Brussels. The India-Italy MoU has a specific section that focuses on quantum technologies (European Commission, 2023).

Semi-conductors:

In contemporary times, semi-conductors have become the most important unit of supply chains . Therefore under the framework of the Trade and Technology Council , on 21st November, 2023, the Government of Republic of India and the European Commission signed an MoU on Working Arrangements on Semiconductors Ecosystems. (Prime Minister’s Office, 2025). The purpose was toboost the resilience of the semiconductor supply chains and leverage complementary strengths to promote collaboration in the field of semiconductors.

There is a greater focus on R&D in chip design, advanced processes and heterogeneous integration. India is investing heavily in semiconductor manufacturing through its India Semiconductor Mission, India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, while the EU has launched the European Chips Act to strengthen domestic semiconductor production. (Press Information Bureau, 2025; European Commission, n.d)

High-performance Computing:

Another collaborative project that was launched in February 2025 to foster India-EU ties in the field of high-performance computing(HPC) is the GANANA project (EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, 2025). It is funded by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and supported by Horizon Europe. Three European HPC centres of excellence namely BioExcel, ChEESE, ESiWACE3, will collaborate with five Indian institutions including the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), India Meteorological Department, Institute for Seismological Research, NII, AIRAWAT.

It is coordinated by Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) and involves beneficiaries from seven European countries and India, GANANA will run from February 2025 to January 2028. The total budget of the project is €4,999,522.50 stemming from Horizon Europe funding programme. By combining computational resources and expertise, GANANA aims to improve predictive modelling for climate and weather, better simulate natural hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis), and support life sciences applications (e.g. genomics, health-related modelling). This has implications for disaster preparedness, health, and climate resilience.

Challenges

Despite the expansion of institutional frameworks such as the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), Horizon Europe collaborations, and joint initiatives in emerging technologies, several structural and policy-related challenges continue to limit the depth and effectiveness of India-EU technological cooperation.

Different Regulatory Frameworks-: One of the most significant challenges in India-EU technological cooperation arises from differences in regulatory frameworks, particularly in the domain of digital governance and data protection. The European Union has developed some of the world’s most comprehensive digital regulatory regimes, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act, which establish strict rules for data privacy, cross-border data flows, and platform governance (European Commission, 2022). While India also has strict regulatory frameworks like theDigital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, differences remain in how both sides regulate issues such as data localisation, cross-border data transfers, and digital competition policy. These regulatory divergences create obstacles for technology companies and research collaborations that operate across both jurisdictions.
Difference in Industrial and Technological Priorities-: Another challenge stems from the differing technological priorities and industrial strategies pursued by India and the EU. The European Union’s technology policy is strongly influenced by the concept of “digital sovereignty,” which emphasises reducing dependence on external technological powers and strengthening domestic technological capabilities (Wigell, Scholvin, & Aaltola, 2019). As a result, the EU often prioritises the development of indigenous technological ecosystems and regulatory frameworks designed to protect European industries. India, by contrast, focuses more heavily on technological expansion and digital inclusion, with policies aimed at scaling digital infrastructure, attracting foreign investment, and supporting rapid growth in its technology sector. These differing policy priorities can create mismatches in expectations regarding the scope and direction of technological collaboration.
Asymmetry in Innovation Ecosystems-: India and the EU also differ significantly in the structure and maturity of their innovation ecosystems. The European Union possesses well-established research funding programmes, such as Horizon Europe, and a dense network of research institutions, universities, and industrial innovation clusters. India, while rapidly expanding its innovation ecosystem, still faces challenges related to research funding levels, infrastructure, and industry–academia collaboration.
Trade and Intellectual Property Rights Concerns-: Trade and intellectual property issues also pose challenges for technological collaboration. Negotiations between India and the EU on trade agreements, including the long-standing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, were stalled for a long time due to disagreements over intellectual property protection, market access, and technology transfer (European Parliamentary Research Service, 2024).

While digital trade and mobility is promoted under the EU-India FTA, European companies have frequently advocated for stronger intellectual property protections in India, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing. India, however, tends to prioritise access to affordable technologies and the development of domestic industries. These differing perspectives create tensions when negotiating collaborative research projects, technology licensing arrangements, or industrial partnerships.

Conclusion

India and the European Union have made great strides in the sphere of technological cooperation. The Trade and Technology Council operationalised since 2023 remains the main institutional framework of this cooperation but recent developments particularly during the AI Impact summit have expanded the scope of cooperation. While challenges over regulatory differences and infrastructural shortcomings exist, this collaboration remains extremely relevant in this contentious and competitive geopolitical world order.

References

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European Commission. (2024). European Union endorses leaders’ declaration at the AI Summit in India. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/european-union-endorses-leaders-declaration-ai-summit-india

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About the Contributor

Varisha Sharma is a research intern at IMPRI and a final year student of Political Science Honours at Miranda House, University of Delhi. Intellectually driven and curious, her interest in International Relations stems from her love for traveling and learning about new cultures.