India and Italy to Launch Joint Research Program in AI and Clean Energy by 2027
India and Italy are set to strengthen their scientific partnership with a joint research program focusing on AI and clean energy, starting in 2027.
New Delhi, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : India and Italy are poised to enhance their long-standing collaboration in science and technology with the launch of a joint research program by 2027. This initiative aims to advance research and innovation in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), clean technology, and biotechnology. An official statement released on Friday confirmed the agreement reached during a bilateral meeting between India’s Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and Italy’s Minister for Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini.
During the meeting, the two ministers discussed transforming the India-Italy strategic partnership into practical scientific cooperation. They also explored opportunities for joint research in emerging technologies. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU), both countries have identified several priority areas for collaboration, including high-performance computing, big data, and renewable energy.
Biotechnology and biomedical research will also play a crucial role in this program, with a focus on advanced fields such as gene therapy and mRNA technology. Dr. Singh expressed optimism that both nations would leverage their strong frameworks in science, technology, and innovation to foster practical cooperation. He assured full support from India in this endeavor.
The first intergovernmental agreement between India and Italy in the field of science and technology was established in 1978, with a renewal occurring on November 28, 2003. In 2023, the two countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, followed by the announcement of a Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) for 2025-2029 by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni in November 2024.
In April 2025, a delegation led by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani visited New Delhi, which included Minister Bernini. During this visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed between India’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Italy’s Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR).
Joint activities under the science and technology agreement are being advanced through the Indo-Italian Executive Program of Cooperation (EPOC), which has successfully completed over 150 joint projects to date. The EPOC agreement for the period 2025-2027 was signed on April 10, 2025, allowing for financial support for 10 proposals related to researcher exchanges and significant research initiatives.
The first dialogue on science and innovation between India and Italy took place on April 11, 2025, in New Delhi. A second edition of this dialogue is scheduled for 2026, aiming to further enhance collaboration among scientific institutions, researchers, and innovation organizations in both countries.
