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Deal on joining 2021-27 EU research and innovation programme expected to be signed this year
A deal has been agreed on Japan joining the 2021‑27 version of the EU’s research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.
Announced by the European Commission late last year, the deal is expected to be signed off in 2026 but is already effective through transitional arrangements.
Association to Horizon Europe enables a country’s researchers to win funding from the programme and to lead collaborative projects, in exchange for a budget contribution.
The current version of the programme is the first to permit the association of countries far outside the European region. However, this participation is limited to Horizon’s second pillar, focused on collaborative R&I related to industrial competitiveness and societal challenges.
“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,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, the EU’s R&I commissioner.
“I look forward to strengthening our partnership as Japan joins the 22 countries already associated to Horizon.”
Japan’s association follows South Korea joining Horizon last year and Switzerland finally associating at the end of 2025.
The Commission said Japan is a “key strategic partner” for Europe, and the association builds on a 2011 Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between the two parties.
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