Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation

Subject: IR

Context:

India and European Union have renewed its Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the next five years (2020-2025) at the 15th India-EU Summit, a virtual one.

Concept:

• The Agreement was initially signed in on 23 November 2001 and renewed two times in past in 2007 and 2015.
• This will expand the cooperation in scientific and technological research; strengthen the conduct of cooperative activities in areas of common interest and application of the results of such cooperation to their economic and social benefit.
• India and European Union have strong research and innovation cooperation under the framework of said “Agreement,” and it has grown steadily over the years.
• In the last 5 years, the level of co-investment on India-EU Research Technology Development Projects for addressing societal challenges such as affordable healthcare, water, energy, food & nutrition has been stepped up resulted in several technologies, patents development, their gainful utilization, joint research publications, sharing of research facility and, exchange of scientists and students from both sides.
• The cooperation has been focused on water, green transport, e-mobility, clean energy, circular economy, bio-economy, health, and ICT.
• Additional areas, such as climate change, sustainable urban development, manufacturing, advanced materials, nanotechnologies and biotechnology, food processing, and ocean research may also be considered in future endeavours.
• The EU and India are at the forefront of human development and innovation.
• For India, addressing the basic needs of its people, including through frugal innovation, and excelling in high-tech markets are twin objectives.
• Both areas offer mutually beneficial opportunities for EU-India cooperation. Increased exchanges between students, researchers, and professionals would benefit both sides. India and the EU share a mutual interest in reciprocal mobility of talent.