EU and Japan to strengthen research ties with Horizon Europe deal by end-2025

During their meeting in Kyoto, Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva and Japanese State Minister for Science and Technology Policy, Minoru Kiuchi, have agreed to deepen cooperation in research and innovation, with negotiations on Japan's association to Horizon Europe set to concluded by the end of 2025. The agreement would open the door for Japanese researchers to join EU partners on equal terms in the 2026/2027 Horizon Europe Work Programme, especially under Pillar II.

The two sides also welcomed a new report from the EU-Japan Expert Group on Advanced Materials, highlighting shared needs in construction, energy, mobility, electronics, and data-driven research. These priorities will guide future projects and policy dialogues.

Japan has been a strategic partner for the EU in science and innovation for more than two decades. Formal negotiations on Horizon Europe association began in November 2024.

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