About

Horizon Europe will continue to encourage and stimulate cooperation with non-EU countries and is also one of the key instruments to implement Europe’s strategy for international cooperation: the global approach to research and innovation.

Most Horizon Europe calls are open to participants from non-EU countries, also called Third Countries. However in some calls participation from non-EU countries can be limited in order to safeguard the EU’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security. Limitations or conditions may also be applicable to the participation of legal entities established in an eligible country but which are controlled directly or indirectly by an ineligible country [Horizon Europe regulation article 22(5)].

Collaboration with non-EU countries is possible through different ways and forms. This info sheet will provide you an overview of the main categories on how partners from non-EU Countries can participate in Horizon Europe projects.

Please note that this information sheet will be updated regularly and the list of countries divided into the different categories can always change over the period of Horizon Europe. If you are involving a partner from a non-EU country in your consortium please always check the status of this country in Horizon Europe at the moment of submission in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Depending on the status of this country, entities may or may not be eligible to be funded by the Horizon Europe Programme. In some call topics, participation from non-EU Countries are also explicitly excluded so always read the call text carefully.

For the 2023 and 2024 Horizon Europe calls legal entities established in China are no longer eligible to participate in Horizon Europe Innovation Actions in any capacity. This includes participation as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties (if any). However, exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for justified reasons. This restriction can be reviewed by the European Commission in the future in accordance with policy developments. More information can be found on page 6 of the Horizon Europe General Annexes.

Third Countries interested in association to Horizon Europe

Association to Horizon Europe is the closest form of international cooperation in Horizon Europe. Entities of associated countries can participate in the Horizon Europe calls under the same conditions as entities from the EU Member States and are therefore eligible for funding.

Not only EU neighbouring countries can apply for association, any country in the world with a strong research and innovation capacity that share common values with Europe can apply for association to Horizon Europe.

There are 4 categories of countries eligible for association with Horizon Europe:

• (a) European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA)
• (b) Acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates
• (c) European neighborhood policy countries
• (d) Non-EU countries  and territories that fulfil a set of criteria related to their economic, political and research and innovation systems

The current status of negotiations with non-EU Countries to obtain an agreement of association

(a) the association of Norway and Iceland was confirmed. Liechtenstein does not intend to associate.

Switzerland

The negotations between Switzerland and the European Commision regarding the association of Switzerland to Horizon Europe have resumed in March 2024. For 2024, the transitional arrangements only apply to the ERC Advanced Grants 2024 call. The transitional arrangements set out in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide do not apply to the other calls (such as calls under pillar 2). This is envisaged for 2025. For the latest updated information regarding the association of Switzerland or transitional measures please consult the website of the Swiss State Secretariat For Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). 

(b) and (c): association agreements with the following countries have been signed and have entered into force - Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunesia, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom (not including British Overseas Territories).

Morocco

With Morocco association negotiations are still in progress but as a low and middle income country Morocco is automatically eligible for Horizon Europe funding.

(d) The association agreement with the Faroe Island and New Zealand has been concluded and is applicable. The assocation negotiations with Canada and South Korea have been concluded. Exploratoy talks and informal talks have started with Japan, Singapore and Australia to define their interest in association.

New Zealand

The European Commission and New Zealand have signed the association agreement in July 2023. Entities from New Zealand can participate in Horizon Europe under the same terms as European Member States. Do note that New Zealand will only associate to pillar 2 of Horizon Europe so New Zealand partners can only receive funding from Horizon Europe for collaborative projects under pillar 2 of Horizon Europe.

European Commission Press Release

Canada

The European Commission and Canada have signed the association agreement. Canada will associate to Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe. This means that Canadian entities can receive funding as beneficiary and even coordinate projects in pillar 2 of Horizon Europe.

European Commission Press Release

South Korea

The European Commission and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) have concluded the association negotiations to Horizon Europe. The Association Agreement will allow South Korean researchers to  participate in pillar 2 of Horizon Europe on the same terms as Member States. The signing of the Association Agreement is expected to take place in the second half of 2024, pending the completion of all necessary ratification procedures on both sides. This will enable South Korea's participation in Horizon Europe as of 2025. See this press release for more information.

For the most updated list of the countries under the different categories, please always check the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Third Countries automatically eligible for funding in Horizon Europe

Participants from low and middle income countries are automatically eligible for funding.

A full list of the low and middle income countries can be found on  in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Be aware that the following countries were eligible for funding in Horizon 2020 but not anymore in Horizon Europe: American Samoa, Chile, Mauritius, Palau, Panama, Seychelles, St. Kitts and Nevis and Uruguay.

Horizon Europe will also target some particular regions in their international cooperation strategy. With the Africa initiative the European Commission will seek to strengthen the cooperation with Africa to promote actions targeted to finding locally adapted solutions to challenges that are global in nature, but which often hit Africa hardest. This initiative will include call for proposals that require or encourage participation of African entities. Topics range from climate change, rural innovation, sustainable food systems and sustainable energy to bringing European highly innovative SMEs to the forefront of African markets.

However be aware that a non-EU country can still be excluded from specific call topics.

Third Countries NOT automatically eligible for funding in Horizon Europe

Other third countries (e.g. USA, Japan, Australia, China, etc.) that are not associated to Horizon Europe or not listed as a third country eligible for funding can also participate in the Horizon Europe calls but participants from these countries will have to bring their own funding. They will not be funded directly by Horizon Europe. Participants from these countries will also need to explain in the proposal how their funding will be secured.

However, in some exceptional cases participants from third countries that are not automatically eligible for funding can be funded by Horizon Europe if some conditions are fulfilled. More detailed information can be found in the infosheet "Participation of Third Countries in Horizon Europe: implementation details".

Some third countries have created co-funding mechanisms which provide funding for the participants from their country in a successful submitted Horizon Europe proposal. In this document you will find an overview of the complementary funding that some third countries that are not automatically eligible to receive Horizon Europe funding, provide to their Horizon Europe participants.

Participation of Third Countries in Horizon Europe: implementation details

Detailed information on how to include non-EU countries in your Horizon Europe proposal, can be found in a separate infosheet "Participation of Third Countries in Horizon Europe: implementation details".