INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

Their core work

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is India's premier research university, based in Bangalore, with deep strengths in physical sciences, engineering, and life sciences. In H2020, IISc contributed specialized expertise in organic electronics (TADF-OLED materials), influenza vaccine development, and renewable energy system design for carbon-neutral communities. Their role has consistently been as an international knowledge partner, bringing advanced research capabilities from outside Europe into EU-led consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IISc's early H2020 involvement (2018–2020) was spread across molecular functional materials (TADF-OLEDs) and vaccine research — two completely unrelated domains, reflecting the breadth of a large research university. From 2021 onward, their focus consolidated clearly around renewable energy systems, with both RE-EMPOWERED and SUSTENANCE targeting carbon-neutral community energy solutions. This shift suggests growing institutional interest in applied energy research with a community and sustainability angle.

IISc is moving toward applied energy research — particularly microgrids, multi-energy integration, and community-scale carbon-neutral systems — making them a strong candidate for future EU-India clean energy collaborations.

How they like to work

IISc has never coordinated an H2020 project, participating exclusively as a third party or partner — typical for a non-European institution in Horizon 2020. Despite only 4 projects, they have connected with 66 unique partners across 17 countries, indicating they join large, well-networked consortia rather than small focused teams. This makes them an accessible international partner: experienced in working within large EU project structures without seeking to lead them.

With 66 consortium partners across 17 countries from just 4 projects, IISc operates within large international consortia. Their network spans broadly across Europe and reflects their role as a valued non-EU knowledge contributor in major collaborative projects.

What sets them apart

IISc is India's top-ranked research university and one of the few Indian institutions with repeated H2020 participation, making them a natural bridge for EU-India research collaboration. Their combination of energy systems engineering, advanced materials, and life sciences expertise is unusually broad for a single institution in the H2020 landscape. For European coordinators seeking credible Indian partners — especially for energy or health projects with an international dimension — IISc is a proven, low-risk choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ENDFLU
  A major vaccine initiative running until 2026 that spans from preclinical development through Phase 1 clinical trials and controlled human infection models — unusually translational for an academic partner.
• RE-EMPOWERED
  Specifically designed to connect European and Indian communities on renewable energy, making it a flagship EU-India energy collaboration project.