Horizon Europe is the world's largest research programme, running from 2021 to 2027 with a budget of €95.5 billion. Its main objectives are to promote economic growth, technological development and industrial competitiveness, with a key focus on tackling global challenges such as climate change, public health and digitalisation. Korea's association marks a significant step for the country, as it becomes only the third non-European destination to join the programme. Korean institutions can join the second pillar of the programme, which focuses on addressing global challenges and strengthening industrial competitiveness. It promotes collaborative research in areas critical for societal progress, sustainability and innovation. The pillar is organised into six thematic clusters - health, cultural inclusiveness, security, digital transformation, climate action and sustainable resource management. The second pillar also includes the activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), which provide coherent and cross-cutting support. Increased cooperation between Korea, Europe and hence the Czech Republic can be expected both in established areas of common interest such as 5G and the Internet of Things; AI and nanoelectronics; clean energy and climate action; and research on infectious diseases and the epigenome, and in new areas such as antimicrobial resistance; automated management systems and disaster resilience; and polar research. An important aspect will be the mobility of researchers, where the European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programmes will play a role.

A wide portfolio of opportunities for scientific research cooperation with the Czech Republic was presented by the Czech Embassy's stand to more than 450 visitors at the EU-Korea Research and Innovation Day 2025 event in Seoul in early March. At the event, organised by the EU Delegation to Korea and focused on networking between scientific institutions as well as 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, and advanced large research infrastructures. Visitors were also interested in information about Czech-Korean cooperation in funding research projects, especially within the SIGMA and INTER-EXCELLENCE II - INTER-ACTION programmes. Czech participation at the event was also supported by Ambassador Ivan Jančárek. "I was not surprised by the great interest in the Czech stand, as the Czech scientific research environment has a lot to offer and I believe that in connection with the Korean association to Horizon Europe, the links between our and Korean scientists will grow even more," 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

Interested Czech companies can contact the Commercial Department of the Czech Embassy in Seoul at:  seoul.commerce@mzv.gov.cz.

Jakub Kopecký, head of the Commercial Department, Czech Embassy Seoul