EU-Japan negotiation concluded for Japan's association to Horizon Europe

The European Union (EU) and Japan issued the Japan-EU Joint Statement and Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance at the Japan–EU summit meeting held last July. With regard to these, the European Commission and Japan have successfully concluded negotiations on Japan’s association to Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship €93.5 billion research and innovation programme. This marks a major milestone in EU-Japan research and innovation cooperation, as the agreement paves the way for Japan to become one of the closest international partners to Horizon Europe and further deepen scientific collaboration between Europe and Japan.

Japan’s association is expected to be formalised with the signing of the agreement in 2026, following the conclusion of negotiations in December 2025. The agreement establishes that Japanese researchers and organisations will be able to participate on equal footing with their European and other associated counterparts in collaborative research and innovation projects under Horizon Europe. This includes eligibility to lead and coordinate projects, apply for funding, and engage in programmes targeting global societal challenges.
 
The association focuses particularly on Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which supports multinational collaborative projects addressing strategic areas such as the digital and green transitions, food security, climate-neutral energy, and other priorities of mutual interest. Under transitional arrangements, Japanese entities will be eligible to participate in Horizon Europe calls starting in 2026 and will benefit from the status of associated country entities. 
This development builds on decades of strong bilateral cooperation in science, technology and innovation between the EU and Japan. The partnership is built on the 2011 Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, with further strategic alignment through a joint vision adopted in 2015 and a Letter of Intent signed in 2020.

Japan’s association to Horizon Europe also follows a broader expansion of the programme’s international reach; in recent years, several major global partners have joined as associated countries, including South Korea, Switzerland, Egypt, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. This reflects the EU’s ambition to strengthen its global research partnerships and foster an open, international research and innovation ecosystem.
 
As Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva said, “Openness and international cooperation must guide the future of science and technology. We believe that scientific cooperation can build bridges, even in challenging geopolitical times. I look forward to strengthening our partnership as Japan joins the 22 countries already associated to Horizon.”
 
As Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Mission of Japan to the European Union Kazutoshi Aikawa said: “Recognizing the importance of international research cooperation in addressing global challenges, as Japan moves closer to association, we are actively working to expand our researcher networks and further strengthen our collaboration in sensitive technology areas and related fields.”

Overall, Japan’s upcoming association to Horizon Europe is expected to unlock new opportunities for joint research, foster innovation across continents, and reinforce the strategic EU-Japan partnership in addressing global challenges through science and technology.
Sources: European Commission and Mission of Japan to the European Union