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Research and innovation
News article26 November 2020Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

New EU - Japan initiative launched

Photo from the signing
The online Ceremony

A new European Union-Japan initiative was launched on 13 November to encourage collaboration between top Japanese researchers in the medical field and Europe-based teams, funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and with the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

The Agreement was signed for the EU by Ambassador to Japan Dr Patricia Flor and for AMED by President Dr Mishima Yoshinao in the online presence of Ms Maria Cristina Russo, Director for International Cooperation DG Research and Innovation, and President ad interim of the European Research Council (ERC) Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon.

The initiative enables research visits and short- or long-term exchange. At a time of the current pandemic, undoubtedly joining forces is the only solution facing such a tough battle for common solutions.  This arrangement is the ERC’s 16th of this kind, and the 3rd signed with Japan, after JSPS (2015) and JST (2018).

This arrangement, together with the recently signed Letter of Intent in May 2020 by the Cabinet Office Minister Takemoto and the EU Commissioner Gabriel demonstrate the need for Japan and the EU to work together in all areas of research and innovation spanning from mobility to addressing global challenges. The upcoming Horizon Europe research programme, the global outreach strategy to make Europe a hub for research expertise and talent is a win-win strategy with Japan.

Details

Publication date
26 November 2020
Author
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation