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India and Italy plan a new joint research call in 2027 under their science cooperation framework, Dr. Jitendra Singh said on 13 November 2026 after talks with Italy's Minister Anna Maria Bernini.
Why in news
- On 13 November 2026 Dr. Jitendra Singh met Italy's Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini.
- The Second India-Italy Science and Innovation Dialogue 2026 concluded in Rome.
- Both sides are preparing a new call in 2027 under the Memorandum of Understanding.
What was discussed?
The talks aimed to turn the India-Italy Strategic Partnership into practical scientific work. Current fields of cooperation include infectious diseases, quantum technologies, renewable energies and green hydrogen, heritage preservation technologies and the Sustainable Blue Economy.
The Minister also stressed translational research, start-up incubation and technology validation, and referred to mission-mode programmes such as ANRF and RDI.
Fact table
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| First S&T agreement | Signed in 1978, renewed 28 November 2003 |
| Strategic Partnership | Elevated in 2023 |
| Joint Strategic Action Plan | 2025-2029, announced November 2024 |
| MoU signed | April 2025, between the two science ministries |
| EPOC 2025-27 | Signed 10 April 2025 |
| Joint projects so far | More than 150 under EPOC |
| Next call | Planned for 2027 |
Planned areas for the 2027 call are AI, high-performance computing and big data; clean technologies, hydrogen and renewable energy; and advanced biotechnology and biomedical research.
Static link-back
- EPOC is the Indo-Italian Executive Programme of Cooperation run by the Department of Science and Technology.
- The India-Italy Joint Scientific Council implements cooperation under the MoU.
- Science diplomacy supports GS-II international relations and GS-III technology.
- The India-Italy Joint Scientific Council oversees implementation of the MoU.
Why does it matter?
- Joint funding supports researcher mobility: 10 proposals each for mobility and significant research under EPOC 2025-27.
- The 2027 call covers AI, clean technologies and biotechnology, including gene therapy and mRNA.
- Linking labs, incubators and industry helps commercial use of research.
Uttar Pradesh angle
The Indian delegation came from academic institutions, research institutes, incubators and technology hubs. Uttar Pradesh has many such institutions, so the 2027 call can open options for researchers in the state. For GS-II and GS-III, treat this as a case of science diplomacy; verify institution-level details from the Department of Science and Technology.
Likely confusions
- The Strategic Partnership (2023) is not the Joint Strategic Action Plan (2025-2029).
- The 1978 agreement is not the April 2025 MoU.
Key Terms
- EPOC
- Indo-Italian Executive Programme of Cooperation.
- JSAP
- Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029.
- IIJSC
- India-Italy Joint Scientific Council.
- Translational research
- Research aimed at practical applications.
UPPSC syllabus: GS-II, GS-III
FAQs
When is the next India-Italy joint call?
Both sides are in the process of launching a new call in 2027.
Sources: PIB: India and Italy to strengthen scientific cooperation; PIB: Dr. Jitendra Singh calls for strengthening India-Italy collaborative research
Last verified: 2026-11-14
