Landmark Achievement in EU-Canada Collaboration
In a significant development at the Canada-EU summit, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the successful conclusion of negotiations for Canada's association with Pillar II of "Horizon Europe," the EU's primary funding program for research and innovation. This achievement marks a crucial intermediate goal within their commitment to promoting mutual collaboration in research and innovation.
President von der Leyen welcomed Canada into the Horizon Europe family, expressing anticipation for groundbreaking innovations and transformative discoveries resulting from joint projects. The association, aimed at fostering cooperation on global challenges like climate, energy, digital economy, and health, involves a substantial budget of €53.5 billion.
The formal signing of the association agreement is expected in 2024, contingent on the completion of necessary validation steps on both sides. Post-signing, Canadian researchers and organizations will have access to funding under Pillar II of Horizon Europe, enabling them to participate in proposal submissions on equal terms with EU member states. From 2024 onwards, they will also gain access to research networks in the EU and 18 other Horizon Europe-associated countries.
The EU and Canada have maintained official relations in research and innovation since 1996. Horizon Europe, endowed with €95.5 billion from the EU budget for 2021-2027, surpasses all previous EU research and innovation programs. The program is open to global participation, providing opportunities for contributors worldwide and ensuring equal treatment for associated countries in collaborative projects and funding access.
