In the run-up to Christmas, the EU and New Zealand have concluded the official negotiations on the non-EU country’s association to Horizon Europe.
The signing of the Association Agreement is expected to take place in early 2023, after the completion of the necessary ratification processes on both sides. UKRO understands that the agreement is expected to take effect by April this year, allowing researchers and organisations from New Zealand to participate as beneficiaries receiving EU funding (full consortium members) in projects funded under the six thematic Clusters of Horizon Europe’s second Pillar.
Until now, organisations from New Zealand could participate in Horizon projects only as Associated Partners from a third country (without EU funding and without signing the grant agreement). The association will enable New Zealand organisations to participate in Pillar II projects on equal terms with entities from the EU Members States. However, for all other parts of the programme (i.e. Pillars I and III), New Zealand will be considered a non-associated third country.
This is the first time that a highly industrialised country outside of Europe has become associated to the EU framework programme for research and innovation and the agreement opens up a new chapter in the history of these programmes, paving the way for other non-European countries to become associated to Horizon Europe in the future.
Canada, which started its official negotiations with the European Commission only six weeks after New Zealand is also expected to become associated to Horizon Europe in early 2023, while Japan and South Korea continue to have early exploratory talks on association with the EU.
Further information about the association policy in Horizon Europe is available in UKRO’s dedicated factsheet.