The European Commission and Japan have successfully concluded negotiations on Japan's association to Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship €93.5 billion research and innovation funding programme. The agreement, expected to be signed in 2026, represents the closest form of collaboration offered by the EU to global partners in this field. It will enable Japanese researchers to lead and coordinate their own research and innovation projects under the programme, to apply and receive funding, and to seek closer collaboration with partners in the EU and other associated countries.
The agreement specifically targets Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which tackles societal challenges through multinational collaborative projects, such as the digital transition, food security and climate-neutral energy. Under transitional arrangements, Japanese entities can apply to Horizon Europe calls starting in 2026 and will be treated as 'eligible entities' from an associated country.
"Openness and international cooperation must guide the future of science and technology. We believe that scientific cooperation can build bridges, even in challenging geopolitical times. I look forward to strengthening our partnership as Japan joins the 22 countries already associated to Horizo said Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
This milestone follows the recent expansion of the programme to other major global partners and scientific powerhouses, including South Korea earlier this year and most recently, Switzerland, Egypt, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Japan is a key strategic partner for Europe. Bilateral relations in research and innovation have developed steadily over the past two decades, building on the 2011 Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, a joint vision adopted in 2015; and a Letter of Intent signed in May 2020.
The conclusion of these talks — building on exploratory discussions — marks a major milestone and paves the way for strong ties in research and innovation.
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