India and the European Union are steadily expanding their partnership into future-facing domains such as space, advanced science, connectivity, and human mobility, reinforcing a relationship that now extends well beyond traditional diplomacy and trade.
Reaching for the Stars: Expanding Space and Scientific Cooperation
Science, technology, and space cooperation have added a distinctly forward-looking dimension to India-EU relations. Operational collaboration dates back several decades, beginning with the launch of Indian satellites using Europe’s Ariane rockets. In recent years, this partnership has deepened, highlighted by the successful launch of the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission aboard ISRO’s PSLV in December 2024.
Further strengthening institutional engagement, India and the EU held the inaugural India-EU Space Dialogue and signed a Joint Statement of Intent on human space exploration in 2025, marking an expansion of cooperation into long-term and frontier areas. Collaboration now spans Earth observation, satellite navigation, climate and polar research, and space situational awareness.
Beyond space, scientific cooperation is anchored in India’s association with CERN, where India has been an associate member since 2017, and collaboration with EURATOM on research and development in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. These partnerships place India and the EU among leading contributors to cutting-edge global scientific research while strengthening strategic trust in critical and emerging technologies.
Building New Pathways: Connectivity as a Strategic Enabler
Connectivity has emerged as a central pillar of the India-EU partnership, aimed at building resilient, transparent, and sustainable global infrastructure networks. The India–EU Connectivity Partnership, launched in 2021, focuses on transport corridors, digital infrastructure, energy networks, and the seamless flow of people, goods, services, data, and capital.
A landmark initiative in this domain is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. Envisioned as a transformative trade and logistics route, IMEC seeks to enhance economic integration across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, while offering a rules-based and sustainable model for global connectivity.
Complementing this effort, India and the EU have also agreed on trilateral development cooperation, enabling them to jointly implement development projects in third countries. This arrangement expands the partnership’s footprint beyond bilateral engagement, positioning India and the EU as collaborative contributors to global development and infrastructure building.
People at the Centre: Mobility, Migration and Education
People-to-people ties remain one of the strongest and most enduring pillars of India-EU relations. More than 9.3 lakh Indian nationals currently reside in the European Union, forming one of its largest migrant communities. Indian professionals also constitute the largest group of EU Blue Card holders, reflecting the growing role of Indian talent in Europe’s knowledge and technology-driven sectors.
Education and academic exchanges further reinforce these ties. Over the past two decades, more than 6,000 Indian students have received Erasmus Mundus scholarships, enabling them to study, research, and work at leading European institutions. These exchanges have helped create lasting academic and professional networks across continents.
Structured frameworks such as the Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility provide an institutional basis for cooperation on legal and orderly migration, social security coordination, and skills partnerships. Together, these initiatives support Europe’s demographic and labour market needs while strengthening India’s global talent footprint.
A Partnership Oriented Towards the Future
By integrating cooperation in advanced science, space exploration, global connectivity, and human mobility, India and the European Union are shaping a partnership designed for the challenges of the 21st century. These initiatives not only deepen mutual trust but also position India-EU relations as a model for collaborative, future-oriented international engagement.
