This week, the European Commission and Japan successfully concluded negotiations on Japan's association to Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship €93.5 billion research and innovation funding program. 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 program, to apply and receive funding, and to seek closer collaboration with partners in the EU and other associated countries.
The agreement specifically targets Pillar 2 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.