The European Union (EU) is involving India at a strategic level in the 20 billion euro research and technology development (RTD) program. The budget of the EU RTD programme will increase to 40 billion euros for a four-year period from 2006-2010.

“EU-India science and technology agreement’s first joint committee meeting was recently held in Brussels, as a result of which five thematic priorities were identified: life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health; nanotechnology and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials; information societies technologies; surface transport with emphasis on automotive issues; and sustainable development, global change and ecosystems.”

Both the EU are India are doing a great deal of work with biofuels and biomass feedstock for energy.