"On July 30, Mr. HAMADA Takashi, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Mission of Japan to the European Union, and Ms. Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, signed the Agreement for the association of the Government of Japan to Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation, in Brussels, Belgium." "It is expected that this association will promote the participation of Japanese companies, universities, and research institutions in international collaborative research networks, particularly in Europe, thereby strengthening Japan's science and technology capabilities."

"On 22 December 2025, The European Commission and Japan successfully concluded negotiations on Japan's association to Horizon Europe." "The agreement, expected to be signed in 2026, represents the closest form of collaboration offered by the EU to global partners in this field." "Under transitional arrangements, Japanese entities can apply to Horizon Europe calls starting from January 2026."

"COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/1081 of 15 May 2023 authorising the opening of negotiations with Japan for an Agreement on the general principles for the participation of Japan in Union programmes and on the association of Japan to Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027)." "Article 1 The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations with Japan, on behalf of the Union, for an agreement on the general principles for the participation of Japan in Union programmes and on the association of Japan to Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027)."

"Association to Horizon Europe is governed by the Horizon Europe Regulation 2021/695." Under the section on imminent associations it lists: "1. Japan (applicable to Pillar II ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’, including for the institutionalised European partnerships, for award procedures implementing Union budget for the year 2026 and onwards)." A note states: "01.01.2026 Added Japan to the list of countries to which transitional arrangements may apply."

On 1 April 2022, Japan formally expressed its interest to associate to Horizon Europe by submitting a Letter of Intent. The negotiations have been completed, and the Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part, on the participation of the Japan in Union programmes (‘the Agreement’) was initialled on 22 December 2025. The Agreement provides for its provisional application as of 1 January 2026, in order to enable legal entities from Japan to reap benefits from Pillar II calls under the Horizon Europe Programme… The Agreement shall be applied on a provisional basis, in accordance with its Article 17(2), pending its entry into force.

"The Government of Japan has been negotiating with the European Commission on an Agreement for Japan's association to Horizon Europe since December 2024." "As a result of the negotiations, an agreement in principle was reached on the Agreement on December 22." "Both sides will continue to work on necessary procedures, such as finalizing the draft text of the Agreement, for the signing of the Agreement."

The European Commission announced that Japan officially became the 23rd country associated to Horizon Europe. Japan’s association covers Horizon Europe Pillar II, which has a budget of €52.4 billion. The agreement allows Japanese researchers and organisations to take part in Horizon Europe on equal terms with those from EU Member States and other associated countries.

As of October 2025, there are 22 third countries associated to Horizon Europe… Official negotiations with Japan were launched on 3 December 2024. On 17 July 2025, the Republic of Korea became the first Asian country to associate to Horizon Europe. Singapore expressed its interest to launch exploratory discussions on association in April 2024.

The European Commission and the Government of Japan have reached an agreement in principle on Japan’s association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. The agreement on Japan’s association is expected to be signed in 2026 and will enter into force following the completion of relevant procedures by both sides. From 2026 onwards, Japanese entities will be able to participate in Pillar II calls with the status of legal entities from an associated country under the programme, benefiting from related funding.

"The Japanese government on Thursday signed an agreement to become an associated country of the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program." "Japanese entities were previously able to participate in Horizon Europe projects as third-country participants, but they often faced funding limitations and difficulties taking leading roles." "As an associated country, Japanese entities will be able to apply for EU funding for eligible projects and act as project coordinators if their proposals are selected."

Association to Horizon Europe is the closest form of cooperation with non-EU countries, which allows entities of associated countries to participate in programme actions on equal terms with entities of EU countries. Countries Associated to Horizon Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Korea, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

"Since 2026, Japan is an associated third country for the Horizon Europe project." "Japanese researchers can now also apply for funding through the Horizon project in all projects of Pillar II (Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness)." "Since Japan’s association with Horizon Europe, they can participate in the project accordingly and be included in the application."

To be deemed a Horizon Europe Associated Member is to engage in "the closest form of cooperation in research and innovation for non-EU countries, by providing, as far as possible, the same rights and obligations to these countries' research and innovation entities as those accorded to entities of EU Member States." In addition, the following countries are interested in exploring the concept of association to Horizon Europe… Japan – negotiations concluded. Agreement is expected to be signed in 2026.

"Formal negotiations on Japan’s association to Horizon Europe were launched on 29 November 2024." "Today, both parties committed to conclude negotiations on Japan’s association to Horizon Europe and related EU programmes by the end of 2025." "This would allow Japanese researchers and organisations to participate on equal footing with their EU counterparts in the 2026/2027 Work Programme. Participation will focus on Pillar II of Horizon Europe, the largest collaborative part, addressing global priorities such as climate, energy, mobility, digital, industry and space, and health."

"Japan Joins Horizon Europe | EU Signs Landmark Research ..." The video description states: "The European Union and Japan have officially signed the agreement marking Japan's accession to Horizon Europe, the world's largest research and innovation programme." During the ceremony, a speaker says: "we are gathered here today to sign and to celebrate the association of Japan to Horizon Europe, more precisely the collaborative research pillar, pillar two of Horizon Europe, the world's biggest R&I program."

"Japan signed an agreement with the EU for its association to Horizon Europe." "This association is expected to boost Japan's participation in international research collaborations, and to strengthen its science and technology capabilities."

"Japan signed an agreement with the EU for its association to Horizon Europe." "This association is expected to boost Japan's participation in international research collaborations, and to strengthen its science and technology capabilities."

"We have successfully concluded negotiations on Japan’s association to Horizon Europe!" "From 2026, under transitional arrangements, researchers and organisations will begin cooperating, opening a new phase of ambitious and impactful collaboration with our Japanese partners."

"As of today, Japan is formally part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research programme." "It is by far the largest of the programme’s 23 associated countries, bringing 123 million people into Europe’s scientific network." "Japan’s association covers Pillar II of the programme, worth €52.4bn and dedicated to joint projects on climate, energy, health and the digital economy."

"Japan has agreed to join #HorizonEurope, becoming the biggest country yet to associate to the EU’s €93.5 billion research and innovation programme." "The deal, announced on December 22, is to be signed off officially in 2026, but Japanese researchers and companies can already apply for calls starting in January and join projects on an equal footing with partners in the EU and other associated countries."

"Japan has successfully concluded negotiations to become an associated country of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme." "This agreement - finalised in December 2025 - marks the closest level of scientific collaboration the EU offers to non-member states." "While the formal agreement is expected to be signed later in 2026, 'transitional arrangements' allow Japanese entities to apply for calls starting in January of the same year."

Building on this political momentum, the two sides announced at the EU-Japan Summit in May 2022 that they had started exploratory talks on a possible association of Japan to Horizon Europe. These exploratory talks were followed by more formal negotiations launched in 2024 on Japan’s potential association to the EU’s research and innovation framework programme.

Japan has officially become an associated country to Horizon Europe, opening the door for Japanese institutions and researchers to participate on equal footing with EU counterparts in collaborative research and innovation projects - with eligibility to apply to Horizon Europe calls already in effect. This milestone marks a major step in strengthening EU–Japan science and innovation ties.

"Horizon Europe also emphasizes international cooperation, and Japanese legal entities can participate." "Japanese researchers can apply to programmes targeted at individuals such as MSCA and ERC, while Japanese organisations can apply to research projects (RIA/IA), exchange activities (MSCA) or support actions (CSA)." "As National Contact Point (NCP) in Japan we support Japanese researchers to participate in Horizon programme."

Japan has agreed to join Horizon Europe, becoming the biggest country yet to associate to the EU's €93.5 billion research and innovation programme. Commenters discuss that Japan will be an associated country, similar to other non-EU participants, under the Horizon Europe framework.

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship framework programme for research and innovation (2021–2027). Association status allows non-EU countries to participate in the programme with rights and obligations similar to those of EU member states in specific parts of the programme, especially collaborative research pillars. Japan’s association, as documented by EU and Japanese government sources, concerns participation mainly in Pillar II (“Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness”).