South Korea will join the European Union’s Horizon Europe, the world’s largest multilateral research program, as an associate member starting next year. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced in last March that negotiations for South Korea’s associate membership in Horizon Europe have been successfully concluded. (The photo shows Iliana Ivanova, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, posing for a commemorative photo with Lee Jong-ho, South Korea’s Minister of Science and ICT)
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has become the first Asian nation to join the European Union’s Horizon Europe, the world’s largest multilateral research and innovation (R&I) program, as an associate member.
This historic move, effective from January 1, 2025, was announced on January 6 by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the European Commission.
Horizon Europe is a €95.5 billion ($140 billion) program running from 2021 to 2027, aimed at addressing global challenges and boosting industrial competitiveness through collaborative research.
South Korea’s participation is limited to “Pillar 2,” which focuses on solving global issues and enhancing industrial competitiveness. South Korean researchers will be eligible to participate in projects starting in 2025, with the first calls for proposals expected in March.
Equal Access for Korean Researchers
As an associate member, South Korean researchers will enjoy the same rights as EU counterparts, allowing them to act as consortium coordinators or participants in Horizon Europe projects.
They will also receive funding directly from the program without undergoing additional domestic evaluations.
South Korea joins the ranks of non-European associate members such as New Zealand and Canada, which were admitted in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The official signing ceremony for South Korea’s membership agreement is scheduled later in 2025.
Horizon Europe is a €95.5 billion ($140 billion) program running from 2021 to 2027, aimed at addressing global challenges and boosting industrial competitiveness through collaborative research. (EU)
Strategic Collaboration Opportunities
The Ministry of Science and ICT has been actively promoting Horizon Europe to Korean researchers since 2024, hosting informational sessions in collaboration with the EU Delegation to Korea and the Korea Research Foundation.
A “Korea-EU Research and Innovation Day” is planned for March 2025, offering opportunities for networking, sharing best practices, and introducing the 2025 work program.
Through its membership, South Korea will also gain observer status on the Horizon Europe Program Committee, allowing it to access advance information on upcoming projects and contribute to program planning discussions.
Expanding Research Horizons
Minister Yoo Sang-im emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “Joining Horizon Europe as an associate member is a crucial opportunity to deepen research collaboration with Europe and diversify South Korea’s global R&I partnerships. We will do our utmost to ensure Korean researchers can fully engage with Europe’s leading scientists through this program.”
Looking ahead, the EU is expected to launch a successor R&I program in 2028 under its next long-term budget framework. South Korea would need to renegotiate membership to continue its participation.
This landmark development is poised to strengthen South Korea’s global research presence and foster innovative solutions to global challenges in collaboration with Europe’s top researchers.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
