Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh held discussions with a delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) in New Delhi on Tuesday, focusing on the effective implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and strengthening cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
During the meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh said the India-EU strategic partnership provides significant opportunities for deeper collaboration in areas of mutual interest, with science and research forming an important pillar of the relationship. He emphasised that the early signing and effective implementation of the FTA should remain a shared priority.
The Minister said the trade agreement would create new opportunities for businesses, consumers and skilled professionals while giving further momentum to the broader India-EU strategic partnership. The European Commission has said negotiations on the agreement were concluded in January 2026, with the agreement now moving through the required European approval process.
The European Parliament delegation was led by Angelika Winzig of Austria. Winzig described India as an important strategic partner for the European Union and said the delegation sought a better understanding of India’s industrial and technology policies while identifying areas for closer cooperation. Discussions also covered industrial competitiveness, resilient supply chains and the green and digital transitions.
Dr Jitendra Singh invited greater India-EU cooperation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced materials, biotechnology, semiconductors, high-performance computing and next-generation telecommunications such as 6G. He highlighted opportunities for joint research, technology development, skills and innovation ecosystems.
Semiconductor cooperation was also discussed, with India’s expanding electronics and semiconductor ecosystem and the EU’s efforts to develop secure and resilient supply chains identified as areas with potential for greater collaboration. The two sides also discussed clean and green technologies, hydrogen, electric-vehicle charging technologies and recycling of electric-vehicle batteries.
The Minister further highlighted India’s research and innovation priorities and referred to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and the proposed Research, Development and Innovation initiative. He also discussed India’s association with the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme, which could expand opportunities for Indian and European researchers to collaborate on projects of mutual interest.
The meeting underlined the broad scope of India-EU cooperation beyond trade, covering research, emerging technologies, clean energy, innovation, critical supply chains and digital technologies. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen these a
