The objective of the Canon Foundation in Europe is the promotion of science, culture, know-how and mutual understanding between Europe and Japan.

This aim should be reached by annually providing up to 15 Canon Foundation Research Fellowships to postgraduate students and researchers. Europeans receive the Fellowship for long term periods of research in Japan and, similarly, Japanese to undertake research in Europe.

The Canon Foundation Award Programme came to an end in 2005. Replacing this programme, the Canon Foundation Invited Lecture was established in 2007.

The lecturer is an outstanding person in academia, government or professional organisation and is invited to deliver a lecture on a theme which is topical and of relevance to the international community. The lecturer will be nominated by the Executive Committee members of the Canon Foundation in Europe. The first Invited Lecture, on Global Citizenship, was held in 2007, to commemorate the Canon Foundation in Europe's 20th anniversary.