The informal exploratory talks launched in July 2021 between DG Research and Innovation and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and in February 2022 between the European Commission, DG Research and Innovation, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, have reached a conclusion.
These exploratory talks have paved the way to move towards the next stage of the process, the formal negotiation of the association agreement. The Commission will now prepare recommendations to the Council to launch the two negotiation processes and seek negotiating directives. Once the Council adopts such directives, the formal negotiations could commence upon readiness of Canada and New Zealand. All parties expressed the hope that the two nations could be associated to Horizon Europe as from 2023.
With Horizon Europe, association, which offers the closest systemic form of international cooperation within the EU’s Research and Innovation Framework Program, is a possibility open for the first time to countries with a good capacity in science, technology, and innovation, and located beyond the EU’s geographic vicinity. Exploratory talks are also progressing with the Republic of Korea.