The Republic of Korea has officially become the first Asian nation to associate with Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme. This milestone grants Korean scientists and organisations equal footing with their EU counterparts in participating across the programme’s various funding opportunities.
The EU’s top R&I initiative
Horizon Europe is currently the world’s largest multilateral research and innovation initiative, with a €95.5 billion budget spanning from 2021 to 2027. Korea follows New Zealand (2023) and Canada (2024) as the third non-European country to join the initiative. It marks a significant step in the EU’s drive to foster international scientific cooperation.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, welcomed Korea’s accession, highlighting the global nature of today’s challenges.
“The challenges we face today, from climate change to digital transformation, are global in nature. This association brings together leading minds from Europe and Korea to drive progress and develop solutions that will benefit us all. I look forward to the outcomes of this strengthened partnership,” Commissioner Zaharieva said.
“The challenges we face today, from climate change to digital transformation, are global in nature.” – Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva
Horizon Europe supports collaboration across countries and scientific disciplines, providing funding for projects tackling urgent issues. Challenges tackled scientifically include: climate change, health crises, digital innovation, sustainable energy, and biodiversity preservation. Korea’s inclusion will deepen international research ties and accelerate efforts to find innovative solutions to these global challenges.
