India, EU Expand Cooperation in AI and Semiconductors

India and the European Union held the third Trade and Technology Council meeting in Brussels from 14 to 16 July 2026. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean technologies, high-performance computing, quantum technologies and 6G.

Trade and Technology Council

The Trade and Technology Council is a bilateral forum between India and the European Union for coordination on trade, technology and strategic issues. The third meeting was held in Brussels, which is the headquarters city of the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.

Research and Innovation Cooperation

India and the European Union agreed to begin formal negotiations for India’s association with Horizon Europe, the European Union’s €93.5 billion research and innovation programme. The two sides set a target of concluding the process before the end of 2026. They also reviewed joint research initiatives backed by €60 million over four years. The projects include waste-to-hydrogen, marine pollution monitoring using artificial intelligence and electric vehicle battery recycling.

Technology and Industrial Collaboration

The partners decided to establish their first Innovation Hub for electric vehicle charging technologies and testing. They also planned a new EU-India Startup Partnership for deep-tech clean technologies, with a focus on market access and commercialisation for startups. Cooperation in semiconductors will cover secure and resilient supply chains, advanced manufacturing and investment in semiconductor and electronics ecosystems. The collaboration will also explore links between India’s Semiconductor Mission design facilities and EU pilot lines under the EU Chips Act.

Important Facts for Exams

• Horizon Europe is the European Union’s main research and innovation funding programme for the period 2021 to 2027.
• The EU Chips Act is a European Union framework for strengthening semiconductor supply chains and chip manufacturing capacity.
• Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that enables machines to perform tasks linked to learning, reasoning and pattern recognition.
• 6G is the next-generation wireless communication standard after 5G and is under research in several countries and regional blocs.

Strategic Technology Areas

India and the European Union agreed to step up cooperation in responsible artificial intelligence, including applications in healthcare. They also discussed a Joint Artificial Intelligence Roadmap and expanded work in quantum technologies and high-performance computing. Clean technology cooperation includes electric vehicle charging systems, battery recycling and marine pollution monitoring using artificial intelligence.