Dear Constituent,
Thank you for your below email about Horizon Europe.
As you know, Horizon Europe is an EU research and innovation programme, which has a budget of €95.5 billion and runs until 2027.
I am pleased that after delays from the EU, a bespoke new agreement has been made with the EU enabling the UK to associate to Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes.
From 7th September, UK researchers have been able to 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 – ensuring we can shape collaboration taking place next year. And UK researchers will be able to lead consortia in the next work programme of Horizon Europe projects. You can read more here: UK joins Horizon Europe under a new bespoke deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
As a result of delays to associating to Horizon Europe, the UK’s national research funding agency, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), had established a ‘Horizon Europe guaranteed funding scheme’. It provides a “financial safety net” to successful UK Horizon Europe applicants who were unable to sign grant agreements with the EU prior to formalisation of the UK’s association to the programme, Horizon Europe guarantee: updates for the UK research and development sector - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Government reported in April 2023 that more than £1 billion had been awarded to UK-based researchers and innovators from UKRI’s ‘Horizon Europe Guarantee fund’ enabling them to participate in Horizon Europe projects while the UK’s association to the flagship EU funding programme was delayed, UK publishes prospectus for opportunities beyond Horizon Europe - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In the autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021, the Chancellor committed to fund full association to Horizon Europe and set aside a ringfenced £6.8 billion for this purpose over the spending review period (to 2024/25), BUDGET 2021: Protecting the jobs and livelihoods of the British people (publishing.service.gov.uk).
I recently raised our relationship with Horizon in the House and you can read my questions and the Minister’s response here: EU Programmes: 7 Sep 2023: House of Commons debates - TheyWorkForYou
The House of Commons Library published a briefing on Research and Development (R&D) funding policy earlier this year which you may be interested in reading and which you can access here: Research and Development funding policy - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk). The briefing includes how much the UK spends on R&D, how that funding is delivered, as well as information about the Government’s commitment to the UK to spending 2.4% of GDP on R&D by 2027. Section 4 of the briefing also provides details about the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe.
Thank you again for getting in contact.
Sincerely,
