Japan joins flagship EU R&D programme Horizon Europe

Japan has officially become the 23rd associated country of Horizon Europe, the European Union's €93.5bn flagship research and innovation programme. This agreement, finalized after negotiations concluded a year after Japan was first engaged in 2024, allows Japanese researchers and organizations to access EU funding and participate on equal footing with member states and other associated countries like the UK, Ukraine, Canada, and Israel.

Funded with €93.5bn over six years from 2021 to 2027, Horizon Europe focuses on addressing global challenges such as climate change, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and enhancing the bloc's competitiveness and growth. Japan's involvement covers the programme's third pillar, which allocates €52.4bn for multinational research and innovation projects tackling climate, energy, health, and digital economy issues.

An example of such a project is an international research expedition funded by Horizon Europe, which recently embarked on tracking chemical and biological changes in the North Atlantic Ocean. Japan will also contribute financially to the programme by supporting Japanese organizations participating in Horizon Europe.

The EU has a history of collaboration with Japan, notably in space research where the two countries agreed to share Earth observation data in early 2023 and launched an enhanced dialogue on advanced materials the following year. With a population of 123m, Japan is the most populous country associated with Horizon Europe.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, the EU Commissioner for Start-ups, Research, and Innovation, highlighted the significance of Japan's association, stating, "As Horizon Europe's 23rd associated country, Japan strengthens a growing global community that believes openness, excellence, and international cooperation are essential to turning research into innovation and innovation into prosperity. Science thrives when talent, ideas, and innovation cross borders."