The year 2025 came to a close with the formal announcement that the European Commission and the Japanese government had successfully concluded negotiations on Japan’s association with Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation framework programme. While the negotiations are now complete, the final agreement is expected to be officially signed in 2026, marking a new phase in EU–Japan scientific cooperation.
Once the association enters into force, Japanese researchers and research organisations will be able to participate in Horizon Europe on an equal footing with entities from EU Member States and other associated countries. This includes the possibility to lead and coordinate their own research and innovation projects, submit proposals directly to the programme, and apply for and receive EU funding. The agreement is also expected to facilitate closer and more structured collaboration between Japanese institutions and partners based in the EU and in other countries associated with Horizon Europe. To ensure continuity and avoid delays in participation, transitional arrangements have been put in place. These will allow Japanese entities to apply to Horizon Europe calls starting from 2026 onwards, with their status treated as that of “eligible entities” from an associated country, even before the formal signature of the agreement.
According to the European Commission, Japan’s association will be primarily focused on Pillar II of Horizon Europe. This pillar addresses major societal challenges through large-scale, multinational collaborative projects, covering strategic areas such as digital technologies, climate, energy, health, and industrial competitiveness. Japan’s entry into the programme aligns with a broader strategy to strengthen international cooperation in research and innovation with leading global partners. Japan thus joins a growing group of major scientific and technological powerhouses already associated with Horizon Europe, including South Korea, Switzerland, Egypt, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.