South Korea Becomes First Asian Nation to Join Horizon Europe

On 17 July 2025, the Ministry of Science and ICT of South Korea and the European Commission signed “Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea on the Participation of the Republic of Korea in the Union Programmes” and accompanying protocol at EU headquarters in Brussels. The ceremony was officiated by Ambassador Ryu Jeonghyun and Signe Ratso, Deputy Director‑General of the Commission’s Research & Innovation Directorate.

This addition builds upon a transitional arrangement that took effect on 1 January 2025, enabling Korean institutions to participate in Pillar II of Horizon Europe-belonging to the €52.4 billion fund focusing on shared global challenges such as climate, energy, digital economy and health.

A Win-Win for Korea and the EU

South Korean researchers are now eligible to apply to Horizon calls on equal footing with EU member states-submitting proposals directly and receiving funds from the EU budget, without extra domestic processes. This opens the door for enhanced collaboration in fields like artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced life sciences, and sustainable systems.

Minister Bae Kyung‑hoon of Korea’s Science and ICT Ministry emphasized that the association would facilitate joint research in AI, quantum, and biotech, and expressed the government's commitment to backing researchers seeking EU partners

Korea-EU Science Link Strengthened Through Chips Initiative

The Horizon Europe milestone follows previous Korea–EU collaborations, notably since the EU-Republic of Korea Digital Partnership was initiated in late 2022. One highlight includes four jointly funded semiconductor R&D projects (~€12 million total) under Horizon Europe’s Chips Joint Undertaking. These projects target breakthroughs in neuromorphic computing, energy-efficient Vision Transformer chips, and LIDAR systems.

Next Steps and Support

With the formal association now in place, Korean researchers have already begun forming consortia and submitting proposals aligned with the 2025 Work Programme. To boost participation, the Korean government will offer pre-planning grants, briefing sessions, and the Horizon Europe Multilateral Cooperation Team through the National Research Foundation.

Why It Matters for Education

• Students & Early‑Career Researchers in Korea can join high-impact EU research projects, gaining access to EU facilities, networks, and funding.
• The partnership enriches academic collaboration, enabling joint PhD programs, exchanges, and cutting-edge training in global research settings.
• It strengthens the competitiveness of Korean universities in international rankings and RX projects by promoting capacity-building and visibility.

Sources

European Commission

Science | Business

KoreaEU Research Centre

SiliconRepublic