Japanese researchers can conduct funded projects through the European program Horizon Europe

Japan has officially joined the Horizon Europe program, allowing researchers, universities, institutes, and Japanese companies to participate in and coordinate international research projects funded by the European Union. The association covers Pillar II of the program, dedicated to joint projects on climate, energy, health, digital technologies, and other global challenges.

In short, Japanese organizations can participate in calls from Pillar II under conditions similar to those applicable to organizations from member states and other associated countries. Researchers and institutions from Japan can lead international consortia and receive direct funding from the Horizon Europe budget. Pillar II has a budget of 52.4 billion euros and funds multinational projects in areas such as health, climate, energy, and the digital economy. Japan will financially contribute to the part of the program's budget that covers the participation of Japanese organizations. Japanese entities could submit projects as early as January 2026 based on transitional measures, but the association is now official.

The association agreement allows organizations from Japan to participate in calls from Pillar II of Horizon Europe under conditions similar to those applicable to participants from member states and other associated countries. They can form consortia with European and international partners, coordinate projects, and receive funding from the program's budget.

Until the association, organizations from non-EU countries could participate in numerous Horizon Europe projects, but their access to funding and the ability to coordinate consortia depended on the rules of each call. The status of associated country provides a more stable framework and eliminates some of the eligibility differences for the areas covered by the agreement.

Japan's association is limited to Pillar II, the Horizon Europe component dedicated to international research and innovation projects addressing common economic and social issues. The pillar has a budget of 52.4 billion euros and includes six thematic groups on health; culture, creativity, and inclusive society; civil security; digital, industry, and space; climate, energy, and mobility; as well as food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and the environment.

Participation under associated conditions does not mean that Japanese organizations automatically receive funding. Projects must be submitted within the calls, evaluated, and selected in competition with other eligible proposals. The agreement provides them access to the funding mechanism and the possibility of taking on coordinating roles, without guaranteeing project approval.

Japan will financially contribute to the program's budget to cover the participation of its entities. The document published by the European Commission does not specify the amount of Japan's contribution or the number of projects or the value of funding that could go to organizations from this country.

Negotiations between the European Commission and the Japanese government were concluded in December 2025. From January 2026, transitional measures allowed Japanese entities to submit proposals to calls from Pillar II and to be evaluated as future beneficiaries from an associated country. The official entry into the program strengthens the legal and financial basis of this participation.

Japanese organizations also retain access to parts of Horizon Europe open to participants from third countries. These include opportunities from the "Excellent Science" Pillar, the "Innovative Europe" Pillar, and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions for doctoral education, postdoctoral training, and the international mobility of researchers. Access to these components continues to depend on the conditions set out in each call.

The European Commissioner for startups, research, and innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, stated that Japan's association expands the international community built around open research and scientific cooperation.

"Science thrives when talent, ideas, and innovation cross borders. As Horizon Europe's 23rd associated country, Japan strengthens a growing global community that believes openness, excellence, and international cooperation are essential to turning research into innovation and innovation into prosperity."

"Science prospers when talent, ideas, and innovation cross borders. As the 23rd associated country to Horizon Europe, Japan strengthens a growing global community that believes that openness, excellence, and international cooperation are essential for transforming research into innovation and innovation into prosperity," Zaharieva said.

Japan is the most populous country among those associated with the program, with approximately 123 million inhabitants. The association brings into the Horizon Europe network universities, public institutes, laboratories, and companies from one of the most developed research and innovation systems in the world.

The European Commission indicates that digital transition, health, and technologies supporting climate neutrality are among the areas where cooperation with Japan is expected to be expanded. However, the agreement does not reserve specific funding for these sectors and does not establish mandatory outcomes for future projects.

Horizon Europe is the EU's main program for research and innovation, with a total budget of 93.5 billion euros for the period 2021–2027. The program funds fundamental research, training and mobility of researchers, international projects for global challenges, technology development, and support for innovative enterprises.

Japan becomes the 23rd associated country of Horizon Europe. The list includes states from the European Economic Area, candidate and neighboring countries of the EU, as well as international partners such as Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. Some are associated with the entire program, while others, including Japan, only with certain components.

Formal cooperation between the EU and Japan in the field of science and technology dates back to 2011. The two parties have since developed collaborations in advanced materials research, electronics, mobility, construction, energy, and data-driven science. The association with Horizon Europe allows the integration of these relationships into multinational projects funded through the European program.