Japan is set to sign an agreement to join the EU’s €93.5 billion Horizon Europe research and innovation programme by the end of the year. This move marks a significant step for Japan’s involvement in European scientific collaboration.
Although Japan is currently considered a third country in relation to Horizon Europe, Japanese researchers are no strangers to EU research initiatives. Typically, third countries are not eligible for funding but can participate in projects and even secure funding in a limited number of specific schemes. To date, 84 Japanese organisations have participated in Horizon Europe projects 169 times, receiving €1.25 million in funding.
The upcoming association agreement will allow Japanese researchers to collaborate with EU partners on equal terms during 2026 and 2027, the final two years of the current Horizon Europe programme. Formal negotiations on this association began in November 2024, although the EU has been courting Japan for years to strengthen this partnership.
Japan’s decision to open its doors to Horizon Europe comes as the country seeks to reconfigure its science and technology policy amid evolving global research landscapes. This new collaboration promises enhanced opportunities for innovation and joint scientific advancement between Japan and the European Union.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/horizon-europe/data-corner-japan-horizon-europe
