European Commission

There are numerous opportunities for travel and research collaboration between Europe and Japan. Each month we highlight around 20 or so schemes to support researcher collaboration, exchange, or mobility in our monthly Newsletter.

We have also produced a Funding Guide Booklet which is a comprehensive listing of institutional, national, and European Union schemes.

In 2009, Japan and the European Union signed a new Science and Technology Agreement, which should further enhance the opportunities for collaboration and research exchange. In 2011, this agreement was ratified.

Through the 7th Framework Programme, (the main programme for European Union science and technology funding), researchers in Japan are eligible to participate in Framework projects, and the number of matched funding in pre-selected areas has gradually expanded over recent years.

In 2010, calls were opened in the following areas:

1. Environment (FP7/JST funded)
2. Biotechnology (FP7/JST funded)
3. Photovoltaics (FP7/NEDO funded)
4. Superconductivity (FP7/JST funded)
5. Industrial Technologies (FP7/JST funded)
6. Aeronautics (FP7 funded)
7. Space (FP7 funded)

Further jointly funded calls are likely also to be issued over the course of 2011.

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