The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, agreed late in 2020, included a joint commitment that the UK would become an associated country in the Horizon Europe programme, alongside Copernicus, Euratom Research and Training and Fusion for Energy. This process has not yet been finalised, despite calls from across the European research community via the Stick to Science campaign for UK association to Horizon Europe to be completed as soon as possible.
On this page, we have collated the latest information and resources to support the UK higher education sector and its global partners in this time of continued uncertainty. It remains the UK’s position that association would bring benefits to all parties, enabling countries across Europe to together on shared challenges.
Below, you will find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the UK’s current participation in Horizon Europe, as well as the immediate contingency measures, global collaboration and longer-term plans if non-association is confirmed. We plan to continue our webinar series on Horizon Europe association over the coming months - with the next session on 28 September.
The delay in completing the UK’s association to Horizon Europe is causing uncertainty within the UK research community. The UK Government’s Horizon Europe guarantee ensures that those who have successfully bid for funding through Horizon Europe calls with a closing date before 31 December 2022 will receive their funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). More information on how to apply for the guarantee is available on the UKRI website.
In the event of non-association, UK-based entities can continue to participate in Horizon Europe calls that are open to Third Country Participation. In practice, UK researchers can apply as third country participants as part of consortia with at least three other applicants from EU member states or associated countries, provided they bring their own funding. The UK government has confirmed that it will fund all eligible UK entities participating in such consortia signing grant agreements on or before 31 March 2025. In this scenario UK researchers would not be eligible to coordinate projects.
The UK Government’s 2021 Spending Review stated that the funding allocated to Horizon Europe association will be invested in the UK R&D sector in a non-association scenario. The Government has announced a package of short-term measures to protect the sector, including:
If non-association is confirmed, the UK Government has set out preliminary plans to launch a domestic R&D programme that will provide UK-based entities with funds to support global bottom-up collaborations with counterparts in partner countries and as part of multilateral and bilateral collaborations. Alongside this programme, UK-based researchers will be able to apply for funding as third country participants in Horizon Europe calls, as explained above. See more about these plans and our response on our website.
The UK Government has confirmed that in the case of non-association it will provide alternative measures for other EU programmes, such as Copernicus and Euratom Research and Training Programme. Further information is available in the UK Government's publication.
While completing the UK’s association to Horizon Europe is still the priority, the UK Government has confirmed it is working actively on long-term alternatives to Horizon Europe, Copernicus and Euratom Research and Training Programme. These long-term alternatives will include a competitive offer to attract and retain top research talent from around the globe at all career stages, as well as bolstering its innovation funding offer. Detailed proposals will be published in due course.
