​​Realising our potential: UK participation in Horizon Europe

This report highlights over a decade of data on the UK’s engagement in the Horizon programmes, from the start of Horizon 2020 in 2014 through to the UK’s first year as an associated country to Horizon Europe in 2024. 

It shows that the UK’s association has reversed a long-term downward trend in funding capture and participation, especially driven by the excellence-based awards in Pillar I, but with evidence of positive trends also in Pillar II and Pillar III. It also shows that there is more to be done to ensure that we are maximising the UK’s potential in the framework programmes. 

New insights and case studies from UUKi members show the unique value of the framework programmes for driving forward the sector’s success in international research and innovation. 97% of members surveyed consider Horizon Europe central to their institutional strategy, highlighting the critical importance of working from the same playbook as international colleagues, the appeal for global talent, and the scale of opportunities to work together on global, shared challenges. 

The specific value of the programmes was cited as 89% of members disagreed that a long-term commitment to an equivalent UK-only scheme would be preferable to association with Horizon Europe, showing that long-term certainty – while crucial – is not the only factor which matters.  

Case studies of partnerships in the Horizon programmes, from generating clean hydrogen to rapid diagnosis of illness, show the power and impact of international collaboration in the long term – and new success in AI and neurology continues to propel the UK’s world-leading research base forwards. 

This new analysis and insights celebrate what we have achieved so far in Horizon Europe – and what remains to do. 

We recommend that government: 

1. Provides early and clear signals of intent to associate to the next framework programme. This will allow the sector to invest in long-term partnerships and networks through Horizon Europe that deliver the greatest impact. 
2. Continues to deliver initiatives which support the sector to maximise the benefits of UK association with Horizon Europe. We welcome the work focused on boosting participation so far, including UKRI’s ongoing work to support and upskill the sector to ensure high-quality applications; and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s funding for pump-priming schemes and its Horizon Europe Roadshows across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.   
3. Prioritises support for collaborative activity under Pillars II and III. This should build on positive ongoing work by Innovate UK, including support and awareness-raising for businesses to promote engagement with Pillar III.   
4. Invests in system‑wide capability and learning from international best practice. This should include learning from other associated countries and replicating best practice to ensure connectivity and guidance that maximises returns on the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe. 

We recommend that universities:  

1. Build on the strong results following UK’s association to Horizon Europe. This should include continuing to advocate for the central role that Horizon Europe plays in institutional international strategies. 
2. Continue to implement and grow support which fosters participation in Pillars II and III. This should include work with business and industry partners to raise awareness and build capacity to take full advantage of Horizon Europe opportunities. 

It is critical that we continue to make the most of our association to Horizon Europe, and commit to a long-term future in the programmes, in order to build on and continue the success we have seen so far. 

Read the full report 

Read ​​Realising our potential: UK participation in Horizon Europe.

For more information on data sources, modelling and longitudinal analysis, read the technical annexe.

Data access 

The data behind all charts in this report is available in a downloadable file: download report data.

Each tab corresponds to a figure in the report and is labelled accordingly.