Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 27: A distinguished delegation from the European Union, led by Ekaterina Zaharieva, is currently visiting India and met today with Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh. The primary focus of their discussion was on cooperative efforts regarding startups and innovation.
This meeting, which involved Ekaterina, the European Union Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, and the Indian Minister, is seen as a pivotal moment in enhancing India-EU collaboration in the science and technology sectors.
Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated the enduring partnership between India and the European Union, a relationship that began with the signing of the India-EU Science and Technology Agreement in 2001, which was renewed in 2015 and 2020, and is now set for renewal again for the period from 2025-2030.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and consistent support, which have been crucial in driving India’s significant advancements in science and technology. The Minister highlighted that PM Modi has been key in positioning India as a leader in innovative research and transformative scientific initiatives.
During the talks, Dr. Singh outlined several critical areas for potential collaboration between India and the EU aimed at promoting innovation and sustainable development. Key areas identified include: Water Resource Management, Clean Energy & Smart Grids, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data & Robotics, Healthcare (including Vaccine Development and Pandemic Preparedness), and Climate Change & Polar Research.
The Minister stressed that partnerships in these domains would leverage the respective strengths of India and Europe, with a focus on enhancing synergy and sharing resources and knowledge.
Dr. Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing collaborative research projects with the EU, especially between 2020 and 2024. He referenced ongoing initiatives such as: the Department of Science and Technology (DST) projects focused on Water, Energy, AI, Data, and Robotics; the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) efforts on Water Resources and Vaccine Development; and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) research on Climate Change and Polar Research.
The Minister noted that India has significantly invested in these initiatives, contributing a total of €20.92 million. He also highlighted several remarkable achievements, including the Geospatial Mapping of Point/Non-Point Pollution Sources (SPRING), PAVITRA GANGA for innovative wastewater treatment technologies in Kanpur and Barapullah, New Delhi, and ENDFLU for developing an advanced influenza vaccine (Myn002) against emerging strains.
Furthermore, Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored India’s dedication to combating climate change through clean energy collaborations, particularly in offshore wind and solar energy projects, thereby aligning with the ambitious climate goals of both India and the EU.
He pointed out that India’s National AI Mission, supported by significant funding, is poised to be a vital area for collaboration with the EU, emphasizing the shared opportunity for both regions to lead in AI safety and security while fostering sustainable, equitable, and inclusive AI development.
The delegation also included Marc Lemaître, Director-General from the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation; Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit for Innovation, Prosperity, and International Cooperation; Sophie Alexandrova, Deputy Head of Cabinet from the Commissioner’s office; Ivan Dimov, member of the Cabinet; Pierrick Fillon-Ashida, First Counsellor & Head of the Research & Innovation Section; and Dr. Vivek Dham, Policy Officer for the Research & Innovation Section at the EU Delegation to India.
