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 marks a significant step in deepening scientific collaboration between Japan and the European Union.

Although Japan has not yet been an official member, the country’s researchers are already familiar with EU research projects. Typically, third countries like Japan are not eligible for funding but can still participate in projects and secure funding in select schemes. To date, 84 Japanese organisations have participated in Horizon Europe 169 times, receiving €1.25 million in funding.

The forthcoming association agreement will allow Japanese researchers to join EU partners on equal terms during 2026 and 2027, the final two years of the current Horizon Europe programme. Formal negotiations on the association began in November 2024, but the EU has been courting Japan’s involvement for several years.

This move comes as Japan seeks to reconfigure its science and technology policy, opening new doors for collaboration and innovation on the global stage.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/horizon-europe/data-corner-japan-horizon-europe