India-EU Launch Rs 391 Cr Research Initiative On Marine Litter & Green Hydrogen

New Delhi, May 16 (KNN) India and the European Union have officially launched two research and innovation initiatives under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). 

The collaborative programs represent a joint investment of approximately Rs 391 crore (EUR 41 million) and will focus on addressing critical environmental challenges through coordinated research in Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) and Waste to Green Hydrogen (W2GH).

The TTC, established in 2022 by Prime Minister Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, serves as a strategic framework to strengthen bilateral partnerships on trade and technology. 

The newly announced initiatives will be co-funded by Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation framework program, and the Government of India.

Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, noted that these initiatives would leverage the combined expertise of Indian and European researchers to develop solutions for shared environmental challenges.

The EU Ambassador, India, Hervé Delphin, stressed that addressing issues such as marine pollution and sustainable energy production would drive innovation, promote circular economy principles, and enhance energy efficiency.

The first coordinated call targets marine pollution, particularly plastic litter, which continues to threaten biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and impact human health despite global mitigation efforts. 

This initiative is co-funded by the EU (EUR 12 million/Rs 115 crore) and India's Ministry of Earth Sciences (Rs 90 crore/EUR 9.3 million). 

The research will support international commitments such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development while contributing to the objectives of the EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan and India's National Marine Litter Policy.

Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, India's Ministry of Earth Sciences, underscored that marine pollution requires collective action, stating that this joint call would facilitate the development of advanced tools and strategies to protect marine ecosystems.

The second coordinated call addresses sustainable energy solutions through waste-to-green hydrogen technologies. 

With global momentum building toward clean energy alternatives, converting biogenic waste into hydrogen represents a promising approach. 

This research initiative is supported by the EU (EUR 10 million/Rs 96 crore) and India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Rs 90 crore/EUR 9.3 million). 

The program aligns with the EU's Hydrogen Strategy and India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, contributing to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy security.

(KNN Bureau)