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Park Sang-ok, presidential secretary for science and technology, held a press conference at the presidential palace in Seoul on March 5 and explained that negotiations are underway for South Korea to participate in the Horizon Europe research funding program launched by the European Union. , as an associate member. On Monday, the Ministry of Science announced that negotiations had been concluded and South Korea would begin the process of becoming an associate member next year.United
Written by Baek Byung Yeol
South Korea has concluded negotiations with the European Union to become an associate member of Horizon Europe, the world’s largest multilateral research and innovation funding program, expanding networks for Korean researchers starting as early as next year. announced that it will provide a valuable opportunity to promote joint research. Monday to the Ministry of Science, Information and Communications.
According to the ministry, Minister Lee Jong-ho held a meeting with Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth Affairs, to conclude negotiations for Korea’s accession as an associate member of Horizon Europe and to discuss next year’s program participation procedures. They announced that they had agreed to start. of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union.
Horizon Europe is the world’s largest multilateral research and innovation funding program, with a total of €95.5 billion ($103.3 billion) over seven years from 2021 to 2027.
Unlike previous research funding programs that targeted only EU member states and neighboring countries, the EU has extended the program to six non-European countries with strong scientific and technological capabilities: South Korea, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore. proposed associate membership. the ministry said.
If the accession process goes smoothly, South Korea will become the third country to join, following New Zealand, which joined in 2023, and Canada, which joined this year, and become Asia’s first Horizon Europe associate member.
With associate membership, it is expected that South Korea will contribute financially and researchers will have direct access to Horizon Europe’s research funding.
“Joining Horizon Europe, the world’s largest multilateral research and innovation program, as an associated country will open up great opportunities for both Korea and the EU to strengthen their research competitiveness through joint research,” the science minister said. Stated.
“We are committed to completing the process leading to a partnership agreement by the end of this year, so that Korean researchers can join Horizon Europe with partner country status from 2025.”
The ministry expressed its hope that through South Korea’s participation in this program, it will expand South Korea’s researcher network, strengthen research cooperation, acquire Europe’s advanced research systems, and expand the level of openness of South Korea’s science and technology field. did.
“South Korea’s current status as a non-member third country does not allow Korean researchers to directly participate in the Horizon Europe call, but only as ‘partners’ with researchers from other member or associated countries. However, Horizon must provide its own funding for research. The ministry said, “No European budget has been allocated. If South Korea becomes a member state of Horizon Europe, Korean researchers will receive funding to implement Horizon Europe projects as “coordinators” or “participants.” “You will be able to apply for it,” he said.
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