Japan and South Korea

Funding research with Japan and South Korea

Bilateral funding

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) curates a list of UK-Japan funding opportunities: UK-Japan Science and Innovation Opportunities.

Both countries are priority partners under DSIT's International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).

Horizon Europe

The Republic of Korea was the first Asian country to associate to Horizon Europe (HEu). Korean researchers and organisations can now participate in several areas of the programme on equal terms with those for EU Member States. For more information on how to collaborate under HEu, see the Korea pages of the European Commission's website.

Japan will associate to Horizon Europe in 2026, opening opportunities to collaborate under Pillar II of the EU's flagship €93.5 billion research and innovation funding programme. 

UKRI 

UKRI’s project co-lead (international) policy allows international collaborators to be costed into grants at up to 30% of the total cost of the project. You should check the call guidelines of the call you are applying to for confirmation of this. 

Academic exchange

The Royal Society runs an annual scheme to support new research collaborations with academics overseas. All countries are eligible, and there is a specific cost-share agreement with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). See the International Exchanges website for detailed guidelines on this opportunity.