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Research and innovation

Policy background

Cooperation with Korea is a priority for the EU and there is strong potential to work for mutual benefit in a wide range of areas.

Long-standing common priority areas of intensify cooperation

  • 5G
  • Internet of Things
  • cloud and articifial intelligence
  • nanoelectronics and nanosafety
  • clean energy innovation
  • infectious diseases
  • epigenome research
  • satellite navigation etc

New areas of mutual benefit are

  • antimicrobial resistance
  • automated driving systems
  • disaster-resilience and security,
  • polar research etc

Cooperation under researcher mobility schemes such as European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions is also a priority. 

On 22 May 2023, the European Commission, and the Republic of Korea (Korea) showed their commitment to deepen collaboration in research and innovation on solutions to global challenges by launching formal negotiations on Korea’s association to Horizon Europe, the EU’s Framework Programme for research and innovation. Association is the closest form of international cooperation with the EU in the area of R&I, and Horizon Europe opens it for the first time to countries with a strong STI capacity located beyond Europe’s geographical vicinity. Association will represent a new milestone in the R and I cooperation with the Republic of Korea.

On 25 March, the European Commission and the Republic of Korea concluded the negotiations on the agreement association Korea to Horizon Europe. The signing of the agreement is expected to take place in the second half of 2024.  Once signed, Korean researchers and organisations will be able to participate in Pillar II of the Horizon Europe programme on privileged terms applicable to associated countries from 2025 onwards.

Funding opportunities

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the biggest EU research and innovation programme ever with more than €90 billion of funding available over 7 years (2021 to 2027). It is open to the world, which means that participants from all over the world can participate in most calls.

International cooperation in Horizon Europe

Country page

Projects and results

Research project database

EU-funded research projects involving Korea

For previous framework programmes, please contact the Research enquiry service.

Project success stories

Stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects involving Korea.

Contact

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

RTD-H2-ASSISTatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation unit H.2: International cooperation)

Documents

15 OCTOBER 2018
Roadmap for EU-Korea S&T cooperation
English
(1.47 MB - PDF)
Download

Latest

  • Press release

Republic of Korea to join Horizon Europe programme

Today, Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Lee Jong Ho, Korean Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology concluded negotiations on Korea's association.

Events