The EU and Japan committed to conclude negotiations on the association to Horizon Europe in 2025

The European Union and Japan reaffirm today their commitment to deepen cooperation in research and innovation (R&I). Meeting in the margins of the Science and Technology for Society Forum in Kyoto, Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation and Minoru Kiuchi, Japanese State Minister for Science and Technology Policy agreed on the shared importance of R&I for tackling global challenges and driving competitiveness.

Ekaterina Zaharieva European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation said:

"Europe and Japan have the talent and the technology, but we need to use them together. Horizon Europe association will make that possible, giving our researchers the chance to deliver breakthroughs that people will see in their hospitals, in their energy bills, and in the technologies they use every day. This is cooperation in action."

Horizon Europe association

Formal negotiations on Japan's association to Horizon Europe were launched on 29 November 2024. Today, both parties committed to conclude negotiations on Japan's association to Horizon Europe and related EU programmes by the end of 2025.

This would allow Japanese researchers and organisations to participate on equal footing with their EU counterparts in the 2026/2027 Work Programme. Participation will focus on Pillar II of Horizon Europe, the largest collaborative part, addressing global priorities such as climate, energy, mobility, digital, industry and space, and health.

Shared priorities on Advanced materials

On the same occasion, the two welcomed the release of the report by the Expert Group under the EU-Japan Enhanced Dialogue on Advanced Materials.

The independent Expert Group of 12 leading specialists identified shared critical needs and complementary strengths in five priority areas: construction, energy, mobility, electronics, and data-driven R&D.

The recommendations will be taken forward in upcoming EU-Japan cooperation initiatives, including joint projects and policy dialogues.

Background

Japan is a key strategic partner for the EU in research and innovation, with steadily deepening cooperation over the past two decades:

• A Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement has been in force since 2011, aimed at promoting research excellence, growth and industrial competitiveness.
• In 2015, a Joint Vision set out priority areas including ICT, aeronautics, materials (notably critical raw materials), health, environment, energy and high-energy physics. It also introduced joint funding mechanisms, researcher mobility schemes (e.g. ERC-JSPS), closer policy dialogue on open science, and measures to raise public visibility of cooperation.
• In 2020, a Letter of Intent reinforced EU-Japan collaboration in science, technology and innovation, creating synergies between Horizon Europe and Japan's Moonshot programme. It opened new opportunities for joint work on pressing global challenges such as health, climate change, digital transition, ageing societies, and pandemic response, including through open access to research data and results.
• In the Horizon Europe 2025 work programme, two topics with a total budget of 60 MEUR invite for cooperation with Japan. These address:
  • Innovative Advanced Materials for product monitoring, smart maintenance and repair strategies in the construction sector.
  • Innovative Advanced Materials for robust, fast curing sealants and coatings for manufacturing and final assembly.

More information

Horizon Europe

Europe's Global Approach to Research and Innovation

International cooperation with Japan

Recommendation of the Expert Group under the EU-Japan Enhanced Dialogue on Advanced Material