27 Jan 2026
EU and India strengthen collaboration on emerging and critical technologies, innovation and research
On 27 January 2026, the European Union and India are holding their 16th EU-India Summit in New Delhi, opening a whole new chapter in the EU-India Strategic Partnership. The successful conclusion of an EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the launch of an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership underline the potential and determination of both partners to shape one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.
The EU and India will further strengthen collaboration on emerging and critical technologies, innovation, and research, including by creating EU–India Innovation Hubs and launching an EU–India Startup Partnership. In addition, leaders renew the EU-India Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation until 2030 and launch exploratory talks on the association of India to Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme.
At the Summit, leaders endorse the ‘Towards 2030: EU-India Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda', which guides cooperation on prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity, global issues, and people-to-people cooperation. It is also set to deliver a number of key outcomes.
The Summit allows the EU and India to reaffirm their intention to join forces to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, and to enhance cooperation on environmental issues, the clean transition, energy resilience and the circular economy, including the launch of a Green Hydrogen Task Force, in the framework of the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership.
The Summit will be followed on 6-7 February 2026 by the India-EU Forum, a premier Track 1.5 platform convening senior policymakers, industry leaders, experts and think tanks from all 27 EU Member States and India, to build trust and foster concrete initiatives for strategic cooperation.
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