22 May 2023
EU and Republic of Korea launch formal negotiations on association to Horizon Europe
On 22 May 2023, the European Commission and the Republic of Korea (Korea) launched formal negotiations on Korea's association to Horizon Europe. Cooperation between the EU and the Republic of Korea in R&I is governed by the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which entered into force in 2007, and is monitored and guided by the Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Korea formally expressed its interest to associate to Horizon Europe by submitting a Letter of Intent during the 7th meeting of the Joint S&T Cooperation Committee that took place in Seoul on 14 February 2022. The launch of negotiations is the result of the subsequent exploratory talks and technical exchanges. An association would mark another milestone for the EU-Korea Strategic Partnership and support the implementation of the EU-Korea Digital and Green Partnerships.
An association to Horizon Europe would imply that Korean research and innovation entities would be able to participate in Horizon Europe's collaborative calls addressing global challenges on equal terms with entities from the EU Member States. In addition, they would have access to Horizon Europe funding and would be able to coordinate actions. Moreover, representatives from Korean authorities would have the right to act as observers in the Programme Committees that shape the content of the Work Programme of Horizon Europe. An association would also contribute to wider and stronger people-to-people networks.
Under the Horizon Europe programme, association is for the first time offered to EU strategic partners, sharing common values, and with a strong science, innovation and technology profile located beyond the EU’s geographic proximity. The negotiations will proceed in the coming months. Pending association, research entities from Korea can continue to participate in Horizon Europe, based on the programme’s ‘open to the world’ principle.
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