Canada joins Horizon Europe programme

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Canada is joining the growing group of non-EU countries who have associated to the EU’s research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe, and will work jointly on large-scale projects tackling our biggest challenges.

Today, Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, are signing the agreement that gives Canadian researchers and organisations the opportunity to participate in the programme on equal terms with their EU counterparts.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the conclusion of negotiations for Canada’s association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe at the EU-Canada Summit on 24 November 2023. Today, they welcomed the announcement through a joint statement.

Canada associates to the Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which funds collaborative research projects across a wide range of domains. Canadian entities can now join and lead research consortia with some of the world’s best research organisations to tackle global challenges together. They will get the opportunity to be funded directly from the programme, while Canada will contribute to its budget.

While awaiting the signature, a transitional arrangement had been in place for Canadian entities. This means that they were able to apply and be evaluated as prospective beneficiaries in Horizon Europe proposals for all calls implementing Pillar II already in the budget 2024 onwards.

Background

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €93.5 billion for 2021-27. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. Pillar II is the largest collaborative part of the programme with a budget of €52.4 billion that is focused on shared global challenges: climate, energy, digital economy and health.

The other Horizon Europe pillars, including Excellent Science and Innovative Europe, remain open to Canadian organisations and researchers. This is also the case of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), the EU’s reference programme for doctoral education, postdoctoral training and collaborative research, which accounts for half of the current projects between the EU and Canada under Horizon Europe.

Canadian entities currently participate in 155 Projects under Horizon Europe. Canadian institutions have received over €6 million from Horizon Europe so far. Of this, €2.3 million consists of European Research Council grants. Furthermore, €1.9 million has been granted to Canadian partners in projects under Pillar II and €1.8 million has been granted under Research Infrastructures.

As of today, 19 countries are associated, either based on their membership of the European Economic Area (EEA); or as acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates; as European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries; or as other third countries and territories that fulfil a set of criteria related to their economic, political and research and innovation systems. Formal negotiations to associate to Horizon Europe were recently concluded with the Republic of Korea. Negotiations are ongoing with Switzerland, while preparatory talks are taking place with Japan and Singapore.

For More Information

Joint Statement

Horizon Europe

EU-Canada international cooperation in R&I

Europe’s Global Approach to Research and Innovation

Quote(s)

The challenges that we face are global, and we must therefore work together to tackle them. I wholeheartedly welcome Canada in our Horizon Europe programme. With this step, we are strengthening the EU’s ties with trusted partners that have a solid scientific base and a robust track record in research and innovation. Now we can enable our brightest minds to come together and work on joint solutions for our future.

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

This new agreement between Canada and the European Union will deepen our collaboration through Horizon Europe and strengthen global relations. Canadian scientists, researchers and innovators will have new opportunities to work with international partners and play a bigger role in solving some of the world’s biggest challenges, like climate change. These kinds of collaborations are not just beneficial; they are essential in today’s interconnected world.

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada