Joining forces on global research and innovation: Canada and the EU advance efforts on Horizon Europe

A few days ago, the European Commission and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) announced the conclusion of exploratory talks on Canada’s potential association with Horizon Europe, the European Union’s signature Research and Innovation Framework Programme. This is a milestone achievement. In the coming months, both parties will start their respective internal processes to seek mandates to negotiate an international agreement that will make this association a reality—potentially in 2023. This would be a historic development and an unprecedented opportunity for joint action related to today’s global challenges. International cooperation in research and innovation is a strategic priority for the European Commission. It enables access to the latest knowledge and the best talent worldwide. Horizon Europe, which covers the 2021-2027 period, is by far the largest multilateral research and innovation programme globally, with a budget of 95.5 billion euros (approximately $130-billion in Canadian dollars) from the European Union’s budget alone. It focuses on nurturing the best talents in Europe and beyond and is widely open to the world. For the first time in the history of the EU’s Research and Innovation Framework Programmes, Horizon Europe provides for the possibility of association of third countries—such as Canada—located beyond Europe’s geographical vicinity, an opportunity that the EU’s Global Approach to Research and Innovation defines as an expression of its commitment to international openness. Association is a privileged form of partnership, and the closest form of international cooperation under the program. It allows entities of associated countries, such as universities and companies, to participate in all areas of common interest covered by the association terms. In exchange for a financial contribution from associated countries to the program all the researchers and entities based in the associated countries become eligible to participate in Horizon Europe actions under similar conditions as EU-based entities. Associated countries are also observers in the governance structures of the program and encouraged to participate in shaping its priorities and work programs. The EU is particularly glad about the perspective of welcoming Canada, a long-standing political and economic ally, as a privileged partner in terms of association. Reinforcing such an alliance is ever more pertinent now that the EU and Canada stand side by side in the wake of the Russia’s aggressive invasion in Ukraine. Ukraine, as a partner in the European Neighbourhood Policy, has been successfully associated with EU research programs since 2015. Canada’s association would build on a solid history of cooperation. Canadian researchers have participated in hundreds of actions under previous EU framework programmes, including almost 400 joint initiatives in the Horizon 2020 Program (2014-2020) alone. The main areas of participation included health, demographic change and wellbeing, as well as aeronautics, marine and Arctic research, and social sciences, food, agriculture and biotechnology. There have been several remarkable success stories. One can highlight for instance the Université Laval’s contribution to studying changes in the Arctic climate and how this affects weather patterns in the broader Northern Hemisphere (Blue-Action project, completed in 2021) and to engineering better risk prediction for prevention, early detection and prognostication of breast cancer (B-CAST project, completed in 2021). Another example of successful Canadian participation has been by the Ontario-based Sernova corporation in developing novel ex vivo cell-based therapy to treat haemophilia (HemAcure project, completed in 2018). With access to Horizon Europe funding and reinforced capacity to build and even coordinate partnerships, it is expected that Canadian and European collaboration will grow even more. The global challenges of our century are many: climate change, environmental degradation, the digital and technological transition, threats to public health such as COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, but also threats to civil security as well as secure energy supply. Moreover, Horizon Europe has identified five overarching ambitions, known as Missions, to focus on solutions needed in our joint work on the adaptation to climate change; the fight against cancer; restoring our ocean and waters; developing climate-neutral and smart cities; and leading the transition towards healthy soils. Joint research progress in these areas is at the same time a contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, to competitiveness and growth, and to the creation and dispersion of excellent knowledge and technologies in our societies which further stimulates progress. Association with Horizon Europe would also help the EU and Canada continue and strengthen their long-standing partnerships in research programmes bolstering collaboration, accelerating result valorization and building new bridges in this already strong relationship. Signe Ratso is deputy director-general at the European Commission’s DG for Research and Innovation. She is the chief negotiator for Horizon Europe Association. The Hill Times