Lee Jong-ho – Photo © European Union 2024
(BRUSSELS) – South Korea is set join a growing group of countries associated to the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, following the conclusion Monday of negotiations on the country’s association.
The EU’s Research Commissioner Iliana Ivanova and Korean Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology Lee Jong Ho concluded negotiations on Korea’s association, marking a significant milestone in the EU’s commitment to foster mutual collaboration in research and innovation.
“I am happy to welcome Korea into the Horizon family. This is a milestone for our cooperation and great news for global science and innovation. Together, we will be able to tackle global challenges more effectively,” said Ms Ivanova.
Horizon Europe is the biggest EU’s research and innovation programme ever with a budget of 95.5 billion for the period 2021-27, complemented by the financial contributions from associated countries.
The signing of the Association Agreement is expected to take place in the second half of 2024, pending the completion of all necessary ratification procedures on both sides. This will enable Korea’s participation in Horizon Europe as of 2025. Association to Horizon Europe is the closest form of cooperation with non-EU countries, which allows entities of associated countries to participate in the programme.
Once signed, researchers and organisations in Korea will be able to receive funding under ‘Pillar II’ of the Horizon from 2025 onwards. Pillar II is the largest collaborative part of the programme, which is primarily focused on shared global challenges: climate, energy, digital economy, and health, with a budget of 53.5 billion.
The association to Horizon Europe is a key instrument of Europe’s global approach to cooperation in research and innovation in an increasingly changing and volatile world. Entities from associated countries have additional opportunities in collaborative projects and are treated on par with the entities of EU Member States regarding the access to funds.
