The UK has announced a series of efforts to help researchers, innovators and businesses from across the country to get involved with the giant Horizon Europe R&D programme.
Horizon Europe - with £80 billion funding available between 2021 and 2027 - is the world's largest R&D programme, run by the European Union.
Innovate UK will this year take delegations of British business execs and researchers to Germany, Italy and Spain to network with potential R&D partners with a focus on jointly building the best bids for funding. Innovate UK is also offering grants of up to £700 to support UK innovators in attending R&D events across Europe.
January marks a year since the UK rejoined the now-global innovation programme. New Zealand and South Korea are participants in the scheme with Canada officially joining during the summer of 2024, following negotiations that started in 2022.
The UK development follows on from regional events held in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the West Midlands in 2024. Further UK-based events are set to take place in Wales and London. These events, amongst others, will make up a concerted effort by the UK to ensure that as many businesses and researchers look to participate in Horizon Europe, from which the UK had been excluded following Brexit.
“Everyone knew what a big job we had on our hands to restore the UK’s place as the natural R&D partner to our neighbours when we associated with Horizon a year ago. But the brilliance of our scientists and businesses was never in doubt, and the green shoots of recovery are breaking through,” said the UK's Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.
Highlighting that from the most recent European Research Council Synergy Grants, the UK hosted 18 of the projects, the second highest, which the government says shows that the UK’s participation is “trending in the right direction.”
“In 2025 it really is now or never to truly reap the benefits of Horizon association. This year we will pull every lever at our disposal to help Britain’s innovators seize the opportunities for funding and collaboration. Only by backing our brightest minds to get their ideas out of the lab and into the economy, will we be able to fulfil out mission of national renewal as part of our Plan for Change,” Kyle added.
Innovate UK provides practical support on how to apply for Horizon Europe funding, while opportunities open to UK-based applicants can be found on the European Commission’s funding and tender portal.
Further reading on science and innovation:
• SCI welcomes announcement of UK-EU deal for re-entry to Horizon
• 34 emerging technologies that could change the future
• Prioritise R&D spending says IEA report
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