Finance
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh stated on Tuesday that India and the EU are well-positioned to increase collaboration in a number of strategic areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, semiconductors, biotechnology, and advanced research.
The comments were made during a meeting with a delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE), which was headed by MEP Raffaele Stancanelli and Austrian Angelika Winzig.
The implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), enhancing scientific cooperation, and developing alliances in vital and cutting-edge technologies were the main topics of discussion.
According to Dr. Singh, science, technology, and innovation are major pillars of the India-EU strategic alliance, which offers substantial chances for deeper interaction in areas of shared interest.
He emphasized that the early signature and successful implementation of the planned free trade agreement should continue to be a shared goal. He added that the agreement would provide new momentum to the larger India-EU engagement while opening up new opportunities for consumers, firms, and skilled individuals.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Angelika Winzig stated that the visit was intended to better understand India’s industrial and technological policies while identifying opportunities for increased cooperation. She also identified India as a crucial strategic partner for the EU.
She highlighted shared interests in strengthening industrial competitiveness, building resilient supply chains and advancing green and digital transitions.
Emphasizing India’s innovation goals, Dr. Singh stated that research and innovation play a crucial role in the government’s vision for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
He mentioned that India is placing greater emphasis on impactful research, the commercialization of technology, and enhanced collaboration with industry.
He also highlighted the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the planned EUR 10 billion Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) initiative, which is designed to support high-risk, high-impact research and promote deep-tech startups.
The Minister called for increased collaboration with the EU on frontier technologies including AI, quantum computing, advanced materials, biotechnology, semiconductors, high-performance computing and next-generation telecommunications including 6G.
He said quantum technologies can offer big opportunities for joint research, skills development and ecosystem building, while AI collaboration could be on sectors like healthcare and scientific research with a strong focus on responsible and trustworthy adoption.
Source: IANS
