India, EU launch joint research calls on marine litter and green hydrogen

The TTC was set up in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen cooperation on trade and technology.

New Delhi: India and the European Union (EU) launched two coordinated research and innovation calls with a joint investment of ₹391 crore (approximately €41 million) under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The programmes target marine plastic litter and waste-to-green hydrogen technologies.The TTC was set up in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen cooperation on trade and technology.The marine pollution call, co-funded by the EU (€12 million or approximately ₹115 crore) and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences (₹90 crore), aims to monitor, assess, and mitigate cumulative impacts of pollutants, including microplastics, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.“Marine pollution is a global concern that requires collective action. This joint call will enable us to develop advanced tools and strategies to protect our marine ecosystems,” said Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.The waste-to-hydrogen call, supported by the EU (€10 million or approximately ₹96 crore) and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (₹90 crore), is focused on converting biogenic waste into hydrogen through cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods.

“Advancing waste-to-hydrogen technologies is crucial for our energy transition goals. This collaboration will accelerate the development of sustainable hydrogen production methods,” said Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

“Together the EU and India are putting forward €41 million for collaborative research,” said Marc Lemaître, Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission.The marine litter call opened on May 6, 2025, and the hydrogen call opened on May 15, 2025.“These research calls under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council demonstrate the dynamism of the EU India partnership, renewed by our leaders in Delhi last February,” said Hervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to India.“Collaborative research is the cornerstone of innovation. These initiatives will harness the strengths of both Indian and European researchers to develop solutions that address our shared environmental challenges,” said Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.“Undertaking collaborative efforts through the joint calls in areas like marine plastic pollution and waste to green hydrogen serves testament to our shared commitment for sustainable development,” said Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.The research calls are part of a broader push to strengthen EU-India ties in environmental sustainability and energy security. Both calls seek to bring together academic institutions, industry partners, and startups.