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EU-INDIA THINK TANKS TWINNING INITIATIVE 2022-24

Continuing to build on the successful dialogue and debates achieved through the previous editions of the EU-Indian Think Tanks Twinning Initiatives, the call for the 2022-24 was launched in November 2022. Think tanks, universities, research institutions and political foundations in both the regions were invited to undertake joint online research on the following topics:

• India is experiencing third-country interference from Russia and China, mainly in the fields of information, but also with regard to media, academia, research, think tanks, culture, etc. What is the extent of this interference, India’s response, and prospects for EU-India cooperation in countering it?
• Innovations in healthcare are currently driven by digital and mobile technologies, and data processing. What are the prospects, and what would be the requisites and conditions to develop a mutually profitable collaboration between EU and India in this field?

Four consortia were selected. The successful institutions included

• Università degli Studi di Milano and Bridge Policy Think Tank consortium which prepared a report on: Digital Health & Digital Therapeutics in Policy Pathways of the EU and India
• Pravesh Global Consulting, Hertie School, and The Dialogue consortium which prepared a report on: Exchange of knowledge across the lifecycle of digital health initiatives A cooperative knowledge transfer between India and the EU
• Universidad de Navarra and XKDR Forum consortium which prepared a report on: Concerns About Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI): An Indian perspective
• The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) and The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) consortium which prepared a report on: Risks, Resilience, Response (3R) – India-EU Cooperation on Russian and Chinese Disinformation and Propaganda
  

EU-INDIA THINK TANKS TWINNING INITIATIVE 2018 - 19

Under the EU-India Think Tanks Twinning Initiative 2018, following the launch of the Call in December 2017, consortiums of EU – India think tanks were invited to write three original research papers interspersed with three workshops to discuss those papers over 2018-19. The Call closed on 15 Feb 2018 and the following five proposals were selected:

• Clingendael - Netherlands Institute of International Relations with the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi, on "EU & India as continental partners: beyond bilateralism"
• Federal Trust UK (in collaboration with the Global Policy Institute, UK) with Jawaharlal Nehru University – Centre for Europe Studies, New Delhi, on “Developing EU and Indian Cooperative Responses to the Belt & Road Initiative.”
• Chatham House the Royal Institute of International Affairs, UK, in Association with European Union Institute for Security Studies, Brussels, with Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, on “The Indian Ocean: Opportunities for EU - India engagement.”
• Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin, with Carnegie India, New Delhi, on “Charting EU-India Cooperation on Connectivity.”
• Centre for International Relations, Warsaw, with Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, on “Cooperation between EU and India on China/ One Belt One Road Initiative - EU and Indian responses.”

EU-INDIA THINK TANKS TWINNING INITIATIVE 2015 - 16

Four consortia of think tanks from the EU and India were supported under the EU Public Diplomacy and Outreach in India and in the SAARC project during 2015-16, and they carried out the research work as follows:

1. ORF, Chatham House and EUISS produced three Background Papers coveringWest Asia, Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism and Countering Radicalisation. The consortium also held a Workshop and a Public Event in New Delhi in September 2016, as well as a final Public Event in Brussels in November. The public events were attended by a mix of officials, academics and think tank representatives.

2. GPPi and Carnegie India produced four policy papers charting EU-India cooperation on global governance and security, on Regional Connectivity in Asia, Securing Afghanistan, Global Conflict Management, and Securing the Indian Ocean. The consortium organized two policy dialogues in Brussels and New Delhi respectively, which brought together policy makers, academics and think tankers from Europe and India. Supported by structured facilitation, the participants mapped out challenges and opportunities for EU-India cooperation in selected policy fields. In order to disseminate these findings to a broader audience, the consortium organized a large public event in New Delhi attended by European ambassadors, Ministry of External Affairs, India, think tanks and media. Another public event was organized at Vrije University, Brussels. All four policy papers were also published as an edited monograph.

3. IAI and Gateway House delivered an Expert Discussion in Mumbai, a Seminar in Rome and a Concluding Presentation in Brussels between November and December. Publications were produced on “EU-India Defence Cooperation: A European Perspective”, “EU-India Cooperation on Cyber Issues: Towards Pragmatic Idealism?”, “EU-India: Starting a More Adventurous Conversation”, “Maritime Security and Freedom of Navigation from the South China Sea and Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean: Potential and Limits of EU-India Cooperation”, “EU-India Cooperation on Space and Security”, “Potential and Challenges of India-EU Space Cooperation”, “Maritime Security and Freedom of Navigation from the South China Sea and Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean”, “India-EU Cooperation on Cyber Security and Data Protection”, and “India-EU Defence Cooperation: The Role of Industry”.
4. GRF and FES India delivered a Seminar on “EU-India Cooperation on Sustainable Urbanisation” in Pune, India, in September 2016, and produced a Policy Brief on “Charting a Sustainable Future: EU-India Platforms on Energy and Climate Change and Urban Development”, as well as one on “India’s View on Human Security: Citizens First, Holistic Urbanisation and Cooperation with the European Union”.