India and the European Union’s expanded strategic framework raises a practical question: how can closer cooperation reduce technological and economic vulnerabilities without requiring geopolitical alignment? This paper advances resilient interdependence as a framework for integrating trade, research, industrial development, and security cooperation. It argues that the principal challenge is translating existing institutional commitments into capabilities that remain available during disruptions. Science and technology policy research can support this task by identifying dependencies, pinpointing capability gaps, and assessing barriers to deployment. The paper proposes five measures: technology-vulnerability assessments through the Trade and Technology Council, research funding linked to identified gaps, a joint science and technology policy observatory, evaluation based on capabilities rather than activities, and institutional interoperability. These measures would help direct cooperation toward specific vulnerabilities while accommodating differences in foreign policy and regulation. 

Authors: Swapnil Kumari & Abhijit Poddar, “India and the European Union: Building resilient interdependence through technology cooperation,” SSPC Issue Brief, October 28, 2026. (PDF)

• Tags:
• India, Technology, Trade, EU