• India and Italy envisage a new joint research call for 2027.
• Cooperation to cover AI, clean energy and advanced biotechnology.
• More than 150 joint projects implemented under the bilateral programme.
• Current 2025–27 programme supports researcher mobility and joint research.

GG News Bureau
Rome, 13th Nov: India and Italy are planning a new joint research call for 2027 to deepen scientific cooperation under their Strategic Partnership, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said after holding bilateral talks with Italy’s Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini.

The proposed research areas include artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and big data, clean technologies, hydrogen, renewable energy, advanced biotechnology and biomedical research, including gene therapy, mRNA technologies and biomanufacturing.

The meeting focused on turning the India-Italy Strategic Partnership into practical research initiatives, strengthening institutional mechanisms and expanding cooperation in emerging technologies.

Singh highlighted the longstanding scientific ties between the two countries, noting that their first Inter-governmental Agreement on Science and Technology was signed in 1978 and renewed in 2003.

India and Italy elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni subsequently announced the Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025–2029 in November 2024.

As part of the follow-up, an MoU was signed between India’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Italy’s Ministry of University and Research during the Italian delegation’s visit to New Delhi in April 2025.

Under the Indo-Italian Executive Programme of Cooperation, more than 150 joint projects have been implemented. The current programme, covering 2025–2027, provides for joint funding of 10 researcher mobility proposals and 10 significant research proposals.

Both countries are also working through the India-Italy Joint Scientific Council to implement cooperation initiatives under the bilateral MoU.

The Second India-Italy Science and Innovation Dialogue 2026 is being held as part of efforts to connect research institutions, universities, incubators and technology hubs. The first edition took place in New Delhi in April 2025.

Singh expressed India’s commitment to supporting mutually agreed research projects and programmes, saying both countries should make greater use of their respective science, technology and innovation ecosystems.

The bilateral meeting forms part of Singh’s official visit to Italy from November 11 to 15, 2026, aimed at strengthening the scientific and technological dimension of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.