European Union and India step up cooperation on Research and Innovation on Green projects

New Delhi | Friday, September 25, 2020

The European Union and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, have agreed to join forces on five calls under the Horizon 2020 Green Deal Work Programme . This action is a follow-up to the priorities identified at the EU-India Summit held on 15 July 2020 to boost cooperation in transforming our economies into carbon-neutral economies.

These five calls are part of the last and largest call launched by the European Union under its research and innovation programme ‘Horizon 2020’, the European Green Deal Call - with a €1 billion budget. While a number of calls will respond to the climate crisis and protecting unique ecosystems and biodiversity, it also aims to spur recovery from the coronavirus crisis by turning green challenges into innovation opportunities. The programme has a strong international dimension

With an aim to strengthen the research & innovation collaboration between India and Europe, DBT will fund successful Indian participants in five calls for collaborative projects with European entities. This cooperation would also further strengthen India’s research capacity, and will contribute to its national missions on Sustainable Habitat, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the EU-India Partnership on Climate Change and Energy.

DBT will co-fund projects in the following areas:

  • Clean, affordable and secure energy: Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system.
  • Industry for a clean and circular economy: Closing the industrial carbon cycle to combat climate change - Industrial feasibility of catalytic routes for sustainable alternatives to fossil resources;
  • Farm to Fork: Testing and demonstrating systemic innovations in support of the Farm-to-Fork Strategy.
  • Biodiversity and ecosystem services: Restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services.
  • Zero-pollution, toxic free environment:  Innovative, systemic zero-pollution solutions to protect health, environment and natural resources from persistent and mobile chemicals.

The deadline for submissions is 26 January 2021, with selected projects expected to start in autumn 2021.

Welcoming the cooperation opportunity on research and innovation between the EU and India, Ambassador of the European Union to India, H.E. Mr. Ugo Astuto remarked, “Joining forces on research will further strengthen our partnership and help address many of the global challenges that the EU and India are facing.  We see immense potential in bringing together our scientific communities to foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem.”

“These research projects will work towards a green, resilient and sustainable tomorrow. This EU-India collaboration also highlights our strong commitment to support the Paris Agreement as well as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals,” He added.

At the 15th EU India summit held on 15th July this year, the two sides had also committed to undertake resolute and coordinated action to tackle the generational challenge of climate change and environmental degradation, while widening the scale and impact of its research cooperation on the basis of co-investment and co-funding. Both sides had agreed to strengthen R&I collaboration in the areas of mutual interest including climate change & energy, resources efficiency & circular economy.

 

Background

The European Green Deal is the European Commission's blueprint and roadmap to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050, with a sustainable economy that leaves no one behind. 

To reach this 2050 goal, action will be required by all sectors of our economy, including:

  • investing in environmentally-friendly technologies;
  • supporting industry to innovate;
  • rolling out cleaner, cheaper and healthier forms of private and public transport;
  • decarbonising the energy sector;
  • ensuring buildings are more energy efficient;
  • working with international partners to improve global environmental standards.

DBT(link is external) has selected five topics for co-funding under the Horizon 2020 Green Deal calls. The deadline for submissions is 26 January 2021, with selected projects expected to start in autumn 2021.  For the modalities of participation and funding of Indian entities by DBT, see DBT Web notice 

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