Korea Joins World's Largest 150 Trillion Multilateral Research 'Horizon Europe' as an Associate Member.. First in Asia

[Financial News] Korea has become the first in Asia to join 'Horizon Europe', the world's largest multilateral research and innovation program, as an associate member.
Horizon Europe will receive a total of 95.5 billion euros (approximately 150 trillion won) of EU funding from 2021 to 2027. Non-European associate members, including Korea, will participate in Pillar 2 (53.5 billion euros, approximately 85 trillion won), which addresses Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT held a signing ceremony on the 17th (local time) at the European Union (EU) headquarters in Belgium for the 'Agreement on Korea's Participation in EU Programs' and the 'Protocol on Korea's Associate Membership in the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Framework Program 2021-2027'.
The signing ceremony was held between Yoo Jung-hyun, Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, and Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
This agreement stipulates the general matters regarding Korea's participation in EU programs and includes Korea's participation as an associate member in Horizon Europe through the protocol.
Horizon Europe includes 27 EU member states and 19 associate countries such as the UK, Norway, Iceland, and Canada, and Korea has officially joined as the first associate member in Asia.
Korea began discussions for membership with the EU's proposal for associate membership in Horizon Europe in 2018, submitted a Letter of Intent in 2021, and concluded membership negotiations last year after exploratory and main negotiations. This May, both sides completed internal procedures for signing the agreement.
Korean researchers participating in Pillar 2 can apply for projects on equal terms with EU member state and Horizon Europe associate member researchers. According to EU procedures, they will receive research funding directly from the Horizon Europe budget without separate domestic selection evaluation after project selection.
Korean researchers can participate as associate member researchers through provisional application of the agreement. Various domestic researchers have already formed research consortia with European researchers and are applying for currently announced Horizon Europe projects.
The government is also promoting various support measures to activate domestic researchers' participation in Horizon Europe, such as supporting pre-planning projects, holding Horizon Europe briefings, establishing the Horizon Europe Multilateral Cooperation Team at the Korea Research Foundation, and holding Korea-Europe researcher networking forums.
Minister of Science and ICT, Bae Kyung-hoon, stated, "We expect substantial cooperation in various advanced science and technology fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and advanced biotechnology with the European region," and "The government will do its best to ensure active joint research between Korean and European researchers."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue efforts to deepen cooperative relations between Korea and EU countries in future-oriented fields, including advanced technology, and to jointly create international norms for advanced technology based on this agreement signing.
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter