Horizon Europe is the world's largest research programme, running from 2021 to 2027 with a budget of €95.5 billion. 18 countries are currently affiliated, including the UK, which recently joined. Associate membership is the closest form of cooperation and provides research and innovation entities from these third countries with the same rights and obligations as those of EU Member States to the greatest extent possible. It facilitates the work and funding of joint projects. Negotiations on the Korean Association are currently underway and the European Commission is confident of a successful conclusion and the country's participation from 2025. The European Commission sees great potential for the Republic of Korea, particularly in the areas of digitalisation, energy and space. The total Korean budget for science and research this year will amount to KWR 26.5 trillion (note: ~ EUR 18.4 billion). Pillar II of the programme, i.e. global challenges and the competitiveness of European industry, will be a priority for Korea in this respect. However, Pillar I, i.e. excellent science, will also be important for Korea, especially in the context of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grants.

The Czech Embassy presented the extensive opportunities for cooperation in the field of science and research to nearly 200 participants from the scientific community and the public and private spheres at the EU-Korea Research and Innovation Day 2024 in Seoul at the end of February. At the event, organised by the EU Delegation to South Korea and focusing mainly on the presentation of the Horizon Europe programme, the Czech Republic presented itself as a country with an excellent higher education system, a robust network of scientific institutions under the umbrella of the Czech Academy of Sciences enabling both basic and applied research, as well as advanced large research infrastructures. All these aspects may then be a significant attraction for potential partners from Korean scientific institutions once the country is associated to the programme. For example, the ELI ERIC in Dolni Brezany was of interest to visitors as the largest and most advanced laser science facility of its kind in the world. Ambassador Ivan Jančárek also came to support our representation at the event. "The Czech Republic has achieved huge successes in science and research, which today have a positive impact on the whole world - from Professor Holý's medicines to the Avast antivirus system. I believe that today's event will help strengthen Czech-Korean cooperation in science and research," he said.

Further important information on the scientific environment in Korea can be obtained from the links below:
1. Horizon Europe: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
2. National Research Foundation of Korea: https://www.nrf.re.kr/eng/main
3. Korea Institute of Science & Technology Evaluation and Planning: https://www.kistep.re.kr/eng/
4. Ministry of Science and ICT: https://www.msit.go.kr/eng/index.do

Embassy in Seoul presented wide opportunities for scientific cooperation with the Czech Republic

If interested, Czech scientific entities can contact the Commercial Department of the Czech Embassy in Seoul at: seoul.commerce@mzv.gov.cz.

Jakub Kopecký, head of the economic department at the Embassy of Czechia in Seoul