Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and India

SUMMARY OF:

Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India

Decision 2002/648/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Republic of India

Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India

Decision 2009/501/EC on the conclusion of an Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Republic of India

Decision (EU) 2015/1788 on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India

Decision (EU) 2020/789 on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE DECISIONS?

The agreement establishes a formal framework for cooperation aiming at encouraging and facilitating activities in science and technology fields of common interest between the EU and India.
The 4 decisions concerned respectively the conclusion of the agreement (Decision 2002/648/EC) by which the Council approved the conclusion of the agreement on behalf of the European Community (now the EU), and its successive extension in 2009 (Decision 2009/501/EC), in 2015 (Decision (EU) 2015/1788) and in 2020 (Decision (EU) 2020/789).

KEY POINTS

Activities conducted under the agreement are based on a number of principles:

mutual benefit;
reciprocal access to activities;
timely exchange of information;
appropriate protection of intellectual property rights.

Fields of cooperation

The agreement covers all areas of research, technological development and demonstration (RTD).

Activities

Cooperative activities may include the following:

participation of Indian research entities in RTD projects under the EU Framework Programmes for research and innovation and reciprocal participation of EU-based entities in Indian projects in similar sectors;
joint RTD projects;
visits and exchanges of scientists and technical experts;
joint organisation of scientific seminars, conferences, symposia and workshops, as well as participation of experts in those activities;
concerted actions for dissemination of results/exchange of experience on joint RTD projects;
exchanges and sharing of equipment and materials including shared use of advanced research facilities;
exchanges of information on practices, laws, regulations and programmes relevant to cooperation under this agreement.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The agreement entered into force on 14 October 2002 for an initial period of 5 years. It has been renewed three times, most recently in 2020 for an additional period of 5 years.

BACKGROUND

The basis of broader political cooperation between the EU and India is the 1994 Cooperation Agreement which first took relations beyond trade and economic cooperation.

For more information, see:

EU-India relations — fact sheet (European Union External Action Service)

For more information about Research & Innovation (R&I) cooperation with India, see:

International R&I cooperation with India (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 213, 9.8.2002, pp. 30-37)

Council Decision 2002/648/EC of 25 June 2002 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 213, 9.8.2002, p. 29)

Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 171, 1.7.2009, pp. 19-26)

Council Decision 2009/501/EC of 19 January 2009 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 171, 1.7.2009, pp. 17-18)

Council Decision (EU) 2015/1788 of 1 October 2015 concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 260, 7.10.2015, pp. 18-19)

Council Decision (EU) 2020/789 of 9 June 2020 on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 193, 17.6.2020, pp. 3-4)