International cooperation with United States in research and innovation
Skip to main content
An official website of the European UnionAn official EU website
Research and innovation

United States

Policy background, funding opportunities, agreements and arrangements, projects and results and contact

EU funding opportunities for US researchers

The US has had the highest level of participation in EU research and innovation programmes of all non-EU and non-associated countries for many years.

European Research Council

The European Research Council offers grants to researchers in all research domains for frontier research. US 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 also has an Implementing Arrangement with the National Science Foundation to enable NSF funded researchers to spend some time in an European Research Council funded group in Europe.

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions offer fellowships for post-doctoral researchers from US (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 US lab. Also offers opportunities for US institutions to participate in Doctoral Networks and Research and Innovation Staff Exchange consortia (US institutions are self-funded in Doctoral Networks and Staff Exchange).

Horizon Europe - Collaborative Research Projects

In the great majority of calls under Horizon Europe, for collaborative research projects -  tackling key global challenges such as climate change, pollution, the loss of biodiversity, the digital transition, health threats, ageing population, and building a more resilient, competitive, democratic and inclusive Europe - US researchers and innovators are welcome to team up as Associated Partners by bringing their own funding to the project. US entities may be entitled to funding when this possibility is mentioned in the relevant calls for proposals or in cases where the US partner is essential to the project. This is typically the case in calls for collaborative research projects under “Global challenges cluster 1 – Health”.

EURAXESS 

EURAXESS North America provides access to a complete range of information and support services for researchers in the US and Canada wishing to pursue a research career in Europe or looking for collaboration opportunities through Horizon Europe.

EURAXESS Europe thousands of job vacancies, funding opportunities, and hosting positions available across Europe and beyond. In addition to career opportunities, EURAXESS provides personalised support services, from visa and relocation assistance to family support, helping you settle and thrive in your new environment. Start browsing today and take the next step in your professional journey!

Projects and results

Research project database

EU-funded research projects involving the United States

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

National Contact Points

The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. NCURA (the National Council od University Research Administrators) is the NCP for Horizon Europe in the USA.  Contact: chen@ncura.edu

Research enquiry service

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.

EU Delegation to the United States

Washington, DC

San Francisco

European Commission

DG Research and Innovation unit 03: International cooperation

Policy background

The EU-US partnership is arguably the world's most important bilateral relationship, indispensable for security and prosperity in the transatlantic region and a leading force of the existing world order anchored in democracy, the rule of law, and multilateralism. The EU and the US account for nearly 50% of global research and innovation funding.

The EU and the US share common research values such as openness, transparency, fairness, inclusiveness, academic freedom and ethics, and are natural partners in science, technology and innovation.

Working with the US science policy and funding agencies at federal level contributes to EU capacity to succeed on the green and digital transitions and to strengthen resilience to global health threats and other global challenges.

Scientific and technological agreement

The Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America since 1998 provides the legal and administrative framework for cooperation in Science and Technology between the EU and the US. The agreement was last extended five years in September 2023, see Council Decision. The agreement allows encouraging, developing, and facilitating cooperative activities in areas of common interest based on mutual benefit, reciprocity, and appropriate protection of intellectual property rights.

The priority areas for cooperation are defined by the EU-US Joint Consultative Group (JCG) and are outlined in the Joint Statement signed by the Commission and the US Department of State in January 2025.

Multilateral cooperation initiatives

Opportunities for EU-US cooperation are also offered by multilateral fora such as

Other cooperation arrangements

Bilateral cooperation agreement on fusion energy research: signed in 2001 between the US and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Both the US and Euratom are members of the ITER project.

Fission energy research: the US and Euratom signed two Technical Exchange and Cooperation Arrangements, one on nuclear-related technology research and one on nuclear safety research. Both Euratom and the US are members of the Generation IV International Forum.

The European Union’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has also a close collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) focusing on climate change risks, disaster modelling, space weather impacts and fisheries. The JRC-NOAA Implementing Arrangement has been extended in 2022 for another 5 years.

A new Implementing Arrangement was also signed in 2021 with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The JRC also cooperates with the US in the field of nuclear safety, nuclear safeguards, non-proliferation and security.

Latest