EU-India International Collaboration

The EU-India International Collaboration call under the HORIZON-JU topic aims to promote cooperation in advanced connectivity research, focusing specifically on 6G technology. With a budget of €1 million, the project is designed as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) and is part of the Horizon Europe program. The opening date for applications is January 29, 2026, with a submission deadline of April 29, 2026, where proposals will be evaluated in a single submission stage. Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, OECD countries, Mercosur countries, and India, but there are specific exclusions for entities from Russia, Belarus, non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine, and high-risk suppliers of mobile networking equipment. Funding rates vary, with 100% for non-profit organizations and 90% for profit organizations. The primary focus of the call is to facilitate structured cooperation between European and Indian stakeholders in the 6G sector. It encourages collaboration on various activities, including information exchanges, researcher visits, joint workshops, and developing technological roadmaps. The intention is to conduct comprehensive analysis in areas such as industrial policies, supply chain cooperation, and technological dependencies, fostering a deeper understanding of the 6G landscape in both regions. Deliverables are expected to include detailed analyses, prioritized cooperation opportunities, and alignment with international standardization initiatives. The outcome should also support the strategic objectives set forth by the SNS Joint Undertaking and the European Commission regarding Europe's technological positioning and collaboration in the global 6G ecosystem. The proposal limit is set to 50 pages, and while there is no formal co-funding requirement, contributions from stakeholders may be beneficial. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate extensive knowledge of the Indian 6G ecosystem and show how they will engage with relevant organizations, especially in terms of standardization and collaborative activities. The overall goal of this opportunity is to leverage EU-India collaboration in shaping the future of 6G technology, enhancing the capabilities and value chains of both regions in this critical field.

This is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically the HORIZON-JU topic, which falls under the HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-JU-CSA). The call aims to foster international collaboration between the EU and India in the realm of 6G advanced connectivity research. The planned opening date is January 29, 2026, with a deadline of April 29, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The total budget allocated to this topic is €1,000,000, and it is anticipated that one grant will be awarded.

The expected outcomes of projects funded under this call include:

In-depth analysis of the Indian 6G vision, encompassing Indian Standard Development Organizations (SDOs) like TSDSI, Indian government institutions, and stakeholders such as Bharat 6G. This analysis should highlight commonalities and differences between European and Indian perspectives, including industrial opportunities and risks. A prioritized list of cooperation opportunities, supported by factual data (e.g., supply chain mapping, technology analyses, economic and policy landscape assessments), is expected.

Comprehensive analysis of the industrial ecosystems in India and the EU concerning 6G, including opportunities for supply chain cooperation.

Support for the SNS Joint Undertaking (JU), the European Commission (EC), and the 6G Industry Association (6G-IA) in defining and implementing measures to strengthen the position of European industry within the Indian 6G value chain.

Detailed analysis of specific 6G requirements in India and the EU, and their potential impact on 6G specifications.

Support for future cooperation on 6G Vision, including enabling technologies, platforms, and testbeds for experimental research. This includes societal and economic aspects of 6G.

Identification of commonalities, differences, and lessons learned from EU and Indian trials and pilots, with proposals for future cooperation.

Identification of potential synergies, common research interests, and complementarities in 6G systems design.

Identification of shared approaches to ensuring the sustainability of 6G networks.

Engagement with vertical industries to develop and promote 6G use cases and business cases of mutual interest.

Bridging EU and Indian 6G research communities (including Bharat 6G) and supporting the SNS JU in research cooperation activities.

Alignment of views on future exploitation in international standardization, with contributions to standardization bodies and fora (ITU-T, ITU-R, 3GPP, etc.), promoting global views on open standards and interoperability.

Provision of factual elements (e.g., supply chain mapping, technology analyses) to aid the SNS JU in assessing potential cooperation areas.

The scope of this Coordination and Support Action (CSA) is to facilitate structured cooperation and exchanges between EU and Indian stakeholders in advanced connectivity research. Key areas include:

Analytical assessment of industrial policies and approaches in the 6G context, identifying opportunities and risks in India and the EU.

Comprehensive analysis of industrial ecosystems, focusing on 6G-related requirements, complementarities, and long-term cooperation areas to support future research or address technological dependencies (e.g., supply chains).

Identification of priority domains for 6G technological cooperation that can be stimulated by cooperative Research and Development (R&D), resulting in tangible benefits for Europe.

Joint exploratory work on 6G Vision, relevant technologies, platforms, testbeds, and societal and economic aspects.

Preparation of research-oriented roadmaps for future collaborations, including tools for experimentation, open-source software, prototyping, evaluation, data analytics, emulation, management, technology trials, pilots, workshops, and scientific exchanges.

Applicants are expected to describe how EU-India cooperation will be organized and how they will engage with Indian stakeholders, including standardization bodies (e.g., TSDSI), Indian institutions, and Bharat 6G. Proposals should detail specific cooperation activities such as information exchange, data sharing, methodological alignment, researcher exchanges, joint workshops, and joint testbeds. A strong understanding of the Indian 6G ecosystem is essential.

The general conditions for this call include:

Admissibility:The proposal is limited to 50 pages.

Eligible Countries:Participation is restricted to legal entities from Member States, Associated Countries, OECD and Mercosur countries, and India. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries are excluded.

Restrictions:Entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment are ineligible. Legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine are also ineligible, with limited exceptions.

Gender Equality:Applicants must adhere to gender equality plan requirements.

Evaluation and Award:The evaluation criteria and processes are detailed in the Work Programme General Annexes. In case of equally ranked proposals, SME participation and the level of International Knowledge Organisation Programme (IKOP) will be considered.

Legal and Financial Set-up:Participants must cooperate in the SNS JU Programme and agree to a collaboration agreement. AI/ML training datasets created in Streams B and C must be made available through a common repository.

Applicants must use a call-specific application form available in the Submission System. Additional guidance and documentation, including the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements, and the SNS R&I Work Programme 2026, are provided.

The budget overview indicates that the call will open on January 29, 2026, and close on April 29, 2026. The HORIZON-JU topic has a budget of €1,000,000, with one grant expected to be awarded.

There are partner search announcements available to help applicants find collaborators. The Funding & Tenders Portal provides various support resources, including an Online Manual, FAQs, a Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, and an IT Helpdesk.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to strengthen EU-India collaboration in 6G research. It seeks proposals that analyze the 6G landscape in both regions, identify cooperation opportunities, and develop roadmaps for future joint activities. The call emphasizes the importance of engaging with Indian stakeholders and contributing to global 6G standardization efforts. The funding supports coordination and support actions, with a focus on facilitating structured exchanges and building a shared vision for 6G technology.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types include legal entities established in Member States, Associated Countries, OECD and Mercosur countries, and India. Restrictions apply to entities controlled by non-eligible countries or those assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment. Public bodies, research organisations, and higher education establishments must have a gender equality plan.

Funding Type:The funding type is a HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-JU-CSA), which is a grant. The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, OECD countries, Mercosur countries, and India. However, there are restrictions on entities controlled by non-eligible countries and entities established in Russia, Belarus, or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine.

Target Sector:The target sector is advanced connectivity research, specifically focusing on 6G technology. This includes areas like industrial policies, industrial ecosystems, technology cooperation, 6G vision, enabling technologies, platforms, testbeds, societal and economic aspects of 6G, sustainability of 6G networks, standardization, AI/ML, and supply chain considerations.

Mentioned Countries:European Union member states, Associated Countries, OECD countries, Mercosur countries, India, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine.

Project Stage:The project stage is focused on analytical assessment, comprehensive analysis, identification of priority domains, joint exploratory work, and preparation of research-oriented roadmaps. This suggests a focus on research, development, and preparation for future collaborations rather than commercialization or scale-up.

Funding Amount:The budget for this specific topic HORIZON-JU is €1,000,000.

Application Type:The application type is a single-stage open call.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support coordination and support actions.

Application Stages:The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates:The indicative number of grants for this topic is 1.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity, HORIZON-JU, is a Horizon Europe call for proposals aimed at fostering structured cooperation between EU and Indian stakeholders in advanced connectivity research, specifically 6G technology. It is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a budget of €1,000,000. The call seeks to fund projects that will analyze industrial policies, ecosystems, and technological cooperation opportunities between the EU and India in the context of 6G. The projects should also support joint exploratory work on 6G vision, technologies, platforms, and roadmaps for future collaborations. Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, OECD and Mercosur countries, and India, with certain restrictions. The application process is a single-stage submission, and the selected project is expected to interact with relevant Indian organizations and contribute to standardization efforts. The overall goal is to strengthen Europe's position in the global 6G value chain through enhanced cooperation with India.