How do India and Hungary cooperate in science and technology?

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, S&T cooperation runs through two agreements, INSA with the HAS and India's Department of S&T with NIH. The 11th Joint S&T Committee Meeting on 29 July 2020 identified seven joint projects.

What water management agreements do India and Hungary have?

An MoU on Cooperation in the field of Water Management was signed in October 2016, followed by an MoU between WAPCOS and Budapest Waterworks on 12 September 2019.

India and Hungary: science, water and energy cooperation

This article covers the sectoral cooperation between India and Hungary recorded by the Ministry of External Affairs, including science and technology, water management, energy, health and traditional medicine, defence, information technology, agriculture and sport. It is based on the MEA brief of July 2026.

Priority areas

During External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit to Hungary in August 2019, five main areas were identified for strengthening cooperation: film production, digitalization, water management, solar energy and pharmaceuticals. The two Ministers also agreed to intensify bilateral interaction in education, tourism and science.

Science and technology

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, cooperation in science and technology is a key focus area in India-Hungary relations. It is currently carried out through two agreements: one between the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the HAS, and one between India's Department of S&T and NIH, Ministry for National Economy.

The 11th India-Hungary Joint S&T Committee Meeting was held online on 29 July 2020, hosted by the NRDI Office in Hungary. Seven joint projects were identified in the fields of energy, environment, water, biotech and agriculture and food, and four other potential projects were discussed.

A Letter of Intent on a Strategic Research Fund between India and Hungary was signed in 2008, and a Letter of Intent on the Indo-Hungarian Strategic Research Fund was signed during Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to India in October 2013. The brief's list of agreements also includes a Letter of Intent for the Indo-Hungarian Strategic Research Fund with an enhanced contribution of Euro 2 million each for 2014-17. Most recently, an MoU between ACEDS India and the Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC) was signed on 22 June 2026.

Water management

An MoU on Cooperation in the field of Water Management was signed in October 2016. It was followed by an MoU between WAPCOS and Budapest Waterworks, signed in Budapest on 12 September 2019.

Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Jal Shakti, visited Budapest in October 2019 at the invitation of the Hungarian side. He took part in the Budapest Water Summit 2019 and delivered a keynote speech at its inaugural session. He met President of Hungary Mr. János Áder and the Ministers of Agriculture, Interior and Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Energy

An MoU between Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. and MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc. for Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Sector was signed in 2008. During his visit to India in May 2022, Foreign Minister Szijjártó met Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, then Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, and discussed energy cooperation.

During the August 2019 visit of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Hungarian side announced its decision to join the International Solar Alliance.

Health and traditional medicine

India and Hungary signed an Agreement on cooperation in the field of Health & Medicine in 2008, and an MoU on Traditional Systems of Medicine during Prime Minister Orban's visit in October 2013. In October 2017, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences and the University of Debrecen signed an MoU for the establishment of a European Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences.

Defence

An Agreement on Defence Cooperation was signed in 2003. During Prime Minister Orban's October 2013 visit, an MoU on Cooperation in the areas of Defensive Aspects of Microbiological and Radiological Detection and Protection was signed. Defence was one of the areas reviewed at the 11th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi in February 2026.

Information technology, agriculture and sport

Information technology: an MoU on IT Cooperation was signed in 2003.
Agriculture: an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors was signed in 2008.
Sport: an Agreement between Semmelweis University Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (TF), Hungary, and the Sport Authority of India was signed in 2011, and an MoU on Cooperation in the field of Sports in 2013.