Japan became a formal associate of Horizon Europe on July 30, 2026, making it the largest by population among all countries linked to the EU's flagship research program, the European Commission said in a statement issued from Brussels.
The country has roughly 123 million residents. No other associated country comes close to that population figure, according to the Commission.
The Commission described Japan's research and innovation ecosystem as among the most advanced in the world. The association brings that scientific capacity into Europe's broader network of research cooperation.