Montreal, 3 July 2024
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.
More information
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
Source – EU Commission
Joint Statement by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Trudeau on the association of Canada to Horizon Europe
We warmly welcome today’s association of Canada to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, the European Union’s framework programme for research and innovation. This is an important milestone in the long-standing strategic partnership between the European Union and Canada.
Canada’s association to Horizon Europe demonstrates our joint commitment to enhanced collaboration in research and innovation. And it also signals a new chapter for our researchers on both sides of the Atlantic. By combining the strengths of our research communities, we can accomplish greater scientific breakthroughs and technological progress, and become better equipped to meet today’s global challenges and succeed in the Green and Digital Transitions.
Canada’s association to Horizon Europe will allow us to build on our research and innovation cooperation in crucial areas such as oceans, health, raw materials, energy and bioeconomy, as well as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. Researchers in Canada will have access to the network of European researchers and beyond. This deeper relationship will also boost economic opportunities and contribute to job creation and growth in both regions.
The EU and Canada will continue open, transparent, and inclusive cooperation as we go forward, actively collaborating with our businesses, civil society, and academia. We will also ensure support for diversity and gender equality, as well as learning from the knowledge of Indigenous peoples.
Today’s signature reflects the European Union’s and Canada’s commitment to foster mutual collaboration in research and innovation and contributes to further deepening our strategic partnership.
Source – EU Commission