In a significant development, Canada has officially joined Horizon Europe, the European Union’s €95 billion research programme. Announced in November 2023 and formally signed as of this month, this move marks Canada as the latest non-European country to associate with the programme, alongside New Zealand and South Korea. 

The agreement primarily involves Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which funds collaborative projects addressing industrial, social, and environmental challenges. While Canadian researchers could previously join Horizon Europe projects, it was necessary to secure their own domestic funding. With the association, Canadian researchers can now participate in a single application process and access a unified funding pool, allowing them to also coordinate projects. 

The inclusion of Canada in Horizon Europe is part of the EU’s broader strategy to build a coalition of “like-minded” democratic research and technology partners globally, a move accelerated by the geopolitical climate following the invasion of Ukraine. Alongside Canada, New Zealand and South Korea have joined Horizon Europe, and negotiations with Japan and Australia have faced delays. While the EU continues to negotiate with the UK and Switzerland for their association with Horizon Europe, early-stage talks have also commenced with Singapore, though concerns remain about its eligibility based on democratic credentials. 

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