UK scientists will have access to the world’s largest research collaboration programme, Horizon Europe, after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak secured a bespoke deal with improved financial terms for the UK’s participation.
From Thursday 7 September UK researchers can apply for grants and bid to take part in projects under the Horizon programme, with certainty that the UK will be participating as a fully associated member for the remaining life of the programme to 2027.
Once adopted, the UK will also be able to join the governance of EU programmes – which the UK has been excluded from over the last three years. And UK researchers will be able to lead consortia in the next work programme of Horizon Europe projects.
Horizon will give UK companies and research institutions unrivalled opportunities to lead global work to develop new technologies and research projects, in areas from health to AI. This will not only open up cooperation with the EU, but also Norway, New Zealand and Israel which are part of the programme – and countries like Korea and Canada which are looking to join too.
This follows a call between the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on 6 September. They are encouraging UK scientists to apply with confidence from today and they agreed that the UK and EU will work together to boost participation.
As part of the new deal negotiated over the last six months, the UK has secured improved financial terms of association to Horizon Europe – increasing the benefits to UK scientists, value for money for the UK taxpayer, and mitigating the impact that the EU’s delays to the UK’s association will have on participation rates of researchers.
