'Horizon Europe' Membership Negotiations Concluded... EU Research Funding Available from Next Year

Korean researchers can now directly secure research projects in the European Union (EU)'s 'Horizon Europe,' the world's largest multilateral research program.

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT (right) and Iliana Ivanova, European Commission Member, are taking a commemorative photo on the 25th after concluding negotiations for South Korea's associate membership in Horizon Europe. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT

On the 25th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that South Korea's negotiations to join Horizon Europe as an associate member had been finalized. Horizon Europe is a massive research initiative providing 99.5 billion euros (approximately 138 trillion KRW) in funding over seven years starting from 2021.

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT met with Iliana Ivanova, Executive Director of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, to complete the negotiations for joining Horizon Europe.

Since 1984, Europe has promoted research and innovation projects at the EU level that individual member states find difficult to pursue alone. The latest program, Horizon Europe, has offered associate membership to six non-European countries including South Korea, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.

New Zealand joined as an associate member last year, Canada this year, and South Korea will become an associate member starting next year. Associate members who pay financial contributions can allow their researchers to directly utilize Horizon Europe's research funds.

South Korea will join as an associate member limited to Pillar 2, which focuses on joint research to solve global challenges and strengthen industrial competitiveness. Pillar 2 has a budget of 53.5 billion euros (approximately 78 trillion KRW).

The government expects this membership to yield effects such as ▲ expansion of multilateral science and technology research cooperation networks ▲ strengthening research collaboration with the EU ▲ acquisition of advanced EU R&D systems ▲ and increased openness of the national innovation system, while planning to expand various supports such as pre-planning of projects with EU researchers to promote Korean researchers' participation in Horizon Europe.

Minister Lee said, "With the full-scale participation in Horizon Europe, the world's largest multilateral research and innovation program, an opportunity has been created to enhance the research capabilities of both Korea and the EU through joint research."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.