- Posted 15-Nov-2021
Armenia joins Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme
On 12 November, the European Commission and Armenia have signed the agreement granting the Republic of Armenia the association status to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme (2021-2027).
Armenian researchers, innovators and research entities can now participate in the €95.5 billion programme, under the same conditions as entities from the EU Member States. The Horizon Europe Association Agreement will start producing legal effects after its entry into force that is once Armenia completes its ratification process and an exchange of diplomatic notes takes place between the European Commission and the Armenian authorities.
Signe Ratso, the Horizon Europe Chief Negotiator and Deputy Director-General of the Commission’s Directorate-General of Research and Innovation and Ms Anna Aghadjanian, Horizon Europe Ambassador, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to the Kingdom of Belgium, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union signed the association agreement in Brussels. The signature ceremony took place in a hybrid format in the presence of Mr. Artur Martirosyan, Deputy-Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia.
The association supports the ’Global Approach to Research and Innovation’ and reconfirms Europe's commitment to a level of global openness needed to drive excellence, pool resources for faster scientific progress and develop vibrant innovation ecosystems in a set of common priorities, such as the twin green and digital transition.
Background
The Republic of Armenia was since 2016 fully associated to Horizon 2020, the previous EU research and innovation programme (2014-2020). Armenia’s top Horizon 2020 participation was in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, research infrastructures, innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as spreading excellence and societies.
Multiple success stories result from this past successful cooperation, covering a variety of scientific areas such as: HYMADE, developing new ways of delivering drugs for people with cancer or inflammatory diseases, Europe Enterprise Network (EEN) Armenia Horizon 2020, where EEN Armenia established services in Armenia to enhance the innovation capacity of SMEs with real potential for international growth, or the BLACK SEA HORIZON project, aiming to sustainably enhance bi-regional Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation between the EU and the Black Sea region.
Source: European Commission I Research and Innovation (https://bit.ly/3DhG576)