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Infosheet


International Cooperation in Horizon Europe

This infosheet on international cooperation in Horizon Europe will provide you an overview of the different forms and ways on how you can involve partners from non-EU countries in a Horizon Europe project.

Programmes Horizon Europe   HorizonEU L+F  

Published on | 2 years ago

Last updated on | 1 day ago

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Man Hei To

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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 7 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

Switzerland has expressed their formal interest to be associated to Horizon Europe but currently negotiations have been put on hold. Until further notice legal entities established in Switzerland are to be treated as entities from a non-associated third country and will not be funded by Horizon Europe. Please note that the Swiss government is providing back-up funding for Swiss entities for their participation in collaborative projects in Horizon Europe. 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 and Ukraine.

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.

United Kingdom

The European Commission and the UK have reached an agreement on 7 September 2023 that will allow the UK to participate as associated country in Horizon Europe as of 1 January 2024. As participants from an associated country UK researchers will be able to participate in the Horizon Europe calls under the same terms as Member States. Please note that the British Overseas Territories will not be covered by the Horizon Europe association agreement of the UK, entities from the British Overseas Territories are therefore considered as non-associated third countries and are not eligible for Horizon Europe funding.

For more practical details regarding the participation of UK partners in Horizon Europe have a look at our implementation infosheet.

 

(d) The association agreement with the Faroe Island has been concluded and is applicable. The negotiations with New Zealand and Canada have been concluded. Exploratoy talks and informal talks have started with Japan, South Korea, 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 concluded negotiations on the association to Horizon Europe. The signing of the association agreement is expected to take place mid 2024, pending the completion of all necessary validations on both sides. Once the association agreement has entered into force, entities from Canada will be able to receive funding from Horizon Europe under pillar 2 of Horizon Europe.

Until the association agreement is signed and finalised, the transitional arrangements for countries in view of association will apply which allow Canadian entities requesting EU funding to be included as beneficiaries in proposals of Pillar 2 calls from the 2024 Work Programme onwards. It is expected that by the time of the grant agreement signature of the project that the association agreement will be completed. In the unlikely event that the association agreement of Canada has not been finalised yet at the grant agreement signature phase then the status of the Canadian partner will need to be changed to associated partner and cannot be funded through Horizon Europe. In this case the Canadian partner will need to secure their own funding. In this latter case the consortium will be contacted and the possibility will be offered to rearrange the consortium before the planned date of the signature of the grant agreement. (Source: European Commission)

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 (following the World Bank classification of 2020) are automatically eligible for funding.

A full list of the low and middle income countries can be found on page 13 and 14 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".

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