New Delhi: India and the European Union have launched two major research initiatives aimed at addressing marine plastic pollution and advancing green hydrogen production from waste. The projects fall under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), with a joint investment of ₹391 crore (approximately €41 million).

The TTC was set up in 2022 following a decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade and technology.

The two coordinated research calls focus on marine plastic litter and waste-to-green hydrogen, co-funded by Horizon Europe and the Government of 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 Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin added, “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. By tackling concrete issues like marine pollution and sustainable energy together, we’re driving innovation, circular economy and energy efficiency. Development of cutting-edge technologies in these areas makes both economic and environmental sense. We are committed to a cleaner, more sustainable future that will benefit both the EU and India.”

Scientific Secretary Parvinder Maini noted, "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."

Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, highlighted the scale of investment. “Together the EU and India are putting forward €41 million for collaborative research. Our cooperation in two coordinated research calls into marine pollution and waste-to-renewable hydrogen shows our commitment to invest in a shared sustainable future.”

The marine pollution research call, which opened on 6 May 2025, aims to monitor and mitigate the impact of marine plastic litter, microplastics, heavy metals and other pollutants. It has a budget of ₹90 crore from India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences and €12 million from the EU. Research outcomes are expected to inform policies under the UN Decade of Ocean Science, the EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan and India’s National Marine Litter Policy.

"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 M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The second call, launched on 15 May 2025, focuses on developing green hydrogen technologies using biogenic waste from agriculture, forestry, sewage, and industry. With a ₹90 crore investment from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and €10 million from the EU, the project aims to make hydrogen production more sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient.

"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.

Both calls aim to enhance the EU-India research partnership while addressing urgent environmental and energy-related challenges.

BI Bureau