EU-US researchers to step up cooperation

European and American researchers will be able to work together more closely on projects funded under Horizon 2020 thanks to an agreement between the European Commission and the US government.

The agreement, called Implementing Arrangement, facilitates cooperation between US organisations and Horizon 2020 participants in cases where the US organisations are funded by the US and do not receive any funding from the Horizon 2020.

According to the European Commission, the agreement simplifies cooperation between a selected Horizon 2020 project and a US entity by enabling researchers to organize their cooperation outside the formal Horizon 2020 Grant Agreement signed for each project.

Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “Bright ideas should know no boundaries, so European research and innovation is open to the world for collaboration. This agreement means that the best talent on both sides of the Atlantic will be able to work even closer together on tackling the global challenges that our societies are facing.”

The agreement was signed on October 17 by Commissioner Moedas and Anthony Gardner, the US Ambassador to the EU.