Policy background
The framework for the EU-Canada relationship is set out in the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA). The SPA reflects recent global developments and provides a platform for advancing Canada-EU foreign policy goals, as well as joint international action.
It reinforces cooperation in strategic areas such as International peace and security, Human rights, Environmental protection, Research, Innovation, Energy security and Education. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is an ambitious and progressive trade agreement. It goes beyond removing customs duties and contains ambitious chapters on sustainable development, labour and the environment. It offers significant benefits for the economies, businesses and consumers in both Canada and the EU.
Science and Technology Agreements and Arrangements
Association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe
On 3 July 2024, Canada became Associated to Pillar II of Horizon Europe. The Association Agreement was signed in Montreal by Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. Association gives Canadian researchers and organisations the opportunity to participate in Pillar II of the programme on equal terms with their EU counterparts.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the announcement of association through a joint statement.
Pillar II of Horizon Europe 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 can be funded directly from the programme, since Canada contributes to its budget from 2024 onwards.
The first meeting of the Joint EU-Canada Association Committee took place in Ottawa on 19 March 2025.
The Canada-EU Summit on 24 November 2023, where European 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, also saw the announcement of the EU-Canada Green Alliance and the EU-Canada Digital Partnership, both of which have an important research and innovation dimension.
Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement
A science and technology cooperation agreement between the EU and Canada has been in place since 1996 (amended in 1999). The science and technology cooperation dialogue takes place through the EU-Canada Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee. The 17th meeting of the JSTCC took place in Ottawa on 18 March 2025.
The European Commission has signed an implementing agreement with the Canadian Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat to enable Canada Research Chairholders and/or Banting postdoctoral fellows to pursue research collaboration with research teams led by European Research Council (ERC) grant holders.
Cooperation and funding opportunities
Horizon Europe
Association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe allows Canadian researchers and organisations to participate on almost the same conditions as entities in EU Member States. This includes direct funding from the Horizon Europe programme. Canadian entities can now participate in and lead research consortia with some of the world's best research organisations to tackle global challenges together.
For Pillar I and Pillar III of Horizon Europe, the opportunities for Canadian participation remain unchanged. For example, under Pillar I: Canadian researchers can apply to come to work in a European group and Canadian institutions can host European Post-Doctoral fellows through the Marie Sklodowska Curie Post-Doctoral Fellowships scheme. Canadian researchers can apply for European Research Council grants to establish a research group in Europe. Under Pillar III: Canadian start-ups or SMEs that relocate to Europe are eligible to apply for the European Innovation Council Accelerator programme.
European Research Council
The European Research Council offers grants to researchers in all research domains for frontier research. Canadian researchers are welcome to apply and if selected are eligible for funding to establish a research group in Europe. Grants are available for researchers starting or consolidating their independent career and for advanced researchers. Synergy grants are also available, where a group of 2-4 Principal Investigators (PIs) may include one PI outside the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe, to tackle together an ambitious research problem, with all funded by the ERC.
The European Commission has signed an implementing agreement with the Canadian Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat to enable Canada Research Chairholders and/or Banting postdoctoral fellows to pursue research collaboration with research teams led by ERC grant holders.
Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions
Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions offer fellowships for post-doctoral researchers from Canada (and other countries) to spend up to 2 years in a European group – or for European researchers to spend up to 2 years in a Canadian lab. Also offers opportunities for Canadian institutions to participate in Doctoral Networks and Staff Exchange consortia (Canadian institutions are self-funded in Doctoral Networks and Staff Exchange).
A provincial support programme for international cooperation is available to legal entities established in the province of Quebec.
Other areas of cooperation
Canada participates actively in the Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values in international research and innovation. It was a co-organiser of the Workshop on Research Ethics and Integrity in December 2022 and the Workshop on Research Excellence in June 2023.
Canada and the EU also cooperate through multilateral fora including:
- Mission Innovation to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible for all
- All Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance to advance the shared vision of an Atlantic Ocean that is healthy, resilient, clean, safe (NOTE: Canada hosted the 2024 edition of the AORIA Forum)
- GloPID-R: the Global Research Alliance for Infections Disease Preparedness
Projects and results
EU-funded research projects involving Canada
You can also visit the Horizon Dashboard, which is a one-stop shop for data and statistics on the EU Research and Innovation Programmes – from FP1 to Horizon Europe.
Contact
Horizon Europe Secretariat Canada
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is the main point of contact for Canadians interested in participating in Horizon Europe. The ISED Horizon Europe website provides comprehensive information tailored to the Canadian research and innovation community.
National Contact Points
The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.
Research enquiry service
You can contact the research enquiry service to find out more about research in Europe, the EU's research and innovation funding programmes as well as calls for proposals and project funding.
European Commission
DG Research and Innovation unit 03: International cooperation
EURAXESS North America
Euraxess North America provides access to a complete range of information and support services for researchers in Canada or the US wishing to pursue a research career in Europe or looking for collaboration opportunities through Horizon Europe.
Documents
Latest
In March, the European Union and the Canadian Ministry for Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) undertook a roadshow across Canada to bring Horizon Europe closer to the Canadian scientific community and help Canadian researchers and innovators to better understand the programme.
The discussions allowed the review of Canada’s progress to date in implementing the HE association agreement, and laying the groundwork for continued, robust research and innovation (R&I) collaboration.
After a review of recent research and innovation policy developments in Canada and the EU, the discussions focused on on-going EU-Canada cooperation and the prospects for wider and deeper cooperation.