India and the European Union (EU) have launched two major research and innovation initiatives under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
The initiative, established in 2022, aims to strengthen the bilateral partnership on trade and technology. With a joint investment of Rs 391 crore, the initiatives focus on two coordinated calls in the areas of marine plastic litter (MPL) and waste to green hydrogen (W2GH). The research calls are co-funded by Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation framework program, and the Government of India.
The first coordinated call focuses on combating marine pollution, particularly marine plastic litter, which threatens biodiversity, disrupts ecosystems, and impacts human health.
The research will support international commitments such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and contribute to the objectives of the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan and India’s National Marine Litter Policy.
The second coordinated call addresses the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions through the development of waste-to-green hydrogen technologies.
The research will align with the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy and India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, contributing to global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy security. The expected outcomes include new analytical tools for pollution assessment, scientific insights for policy support, strengthened EU-India cooperation on marine litter, and enhanced sustainability, safety, and affordability of hydrogen production.
