UK Returns to Horizon Europe with Strong Grant Performance and Renewed Collaboration

British Researchers Regain Ground in €95.5 Billion Horizon Europe Scheme

Horizon Europe, the European Union’s €95.5 billion flagship research and innovation programme, remains the most ambitious funding initiative in the EU’s history. Running from 2021 to 2027, it is designed to strengthen scientific excellence, drive technological innovation, and address pressing global challenges. Building on the success of Horizon 2020, the programme plays a central role in advancing the European Research Area (ERA). It is structured around three key pillars: Excellent Science, Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, and Innovative Europe.

It supports a wide range of initiatives, including the European Research Council (ERC), which funds frontier research, and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), which promote researcher mobility and training. Horizon Europe also introduces mission-driven approaches to address societal issues, including climate change, health resilience, and digital transformation. Eighteen months after rejoining Horizon Europe, the UK has reportedly begun to re-establish itself as a major research partner. Newly released data suggests that British scientists are performing strongly, despite entering the programme three years late. The renewed participation marks a pivotal moment in UK–EU scientific cooperation, following a prolonged period of exclusion caused by post-Brexit tensions.

Although the 2020 Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) had provisioned for the UK's association with Horizon Europe, implementation was delayed due to political disputes over Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements under then Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The EU had withheld formal sign-off, citing unresolved concerns, while the UK resisted participation without financial safeguards. This impasse lasted nearly three years, freezing UK access to collaborative research funding and weakening its presence in European science networks. The breakthrough came in early 2023 with the Windsor Framework, which resolved key trade issues and paved the way for Horizon's re-entry. Under revised terms, the UK secured improved financial protections, including a cap on net contributions and a clawback mechanism should UK researchers receive less funding than expected. While the agreement excluded the UK from Euratom, it included participation in the Copernicus satellite programme.

The renewed association, confirmed in September 2023, was widely welcomed across the UK research community and described as a “great day” for science. Under the bespoke agreement, UK researchers were granted immediate access to Horizon grants and collaborative projects, with the government securing exemption from payments for the years of exclusion. The UK is expected to contribute approximately £2.2 billion annually to Horizon Europe and Copernicus, while pursuing its own fusion energy strategy outside Euratom. According to the latest data, UK researchers secured €735 million (£635 million) in Horizon grants in 2024, placing the country fifth among the 43 participating nations. These include the 27 EU member states and 16 non-EU associates such as New Zealand, Canada, and Norway. Germany led the rankings with €1.4 billion (£1.21 billion), followed by France and Spain, the latter receiving €900 million (£777 million).

While researchers expressed enthusiasm at being able to collaborate again with EU counterparts, they acknowledged that returning to the top three would take time, particularly due to the lengthy process required to build multinational consortia for funding applications. However, in the category of individual research proposals, considered easier to organise, the UK was already ranked second after Germany, with €242 million (£209 million) awarded.

The UK was also reported to be the most successful country in securing Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grants, regarded as among the most prestigious in doctoral and post-doctoral research globally. Scientists repeatedly emphasised that the Brexit-related exclusion had harmed Britain’s international reputation and hindered the recruitment of EU researchers. Leading UK institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge were among the top recipients, each securing more than €65 million in awards, followed by University College London and Imperial College. Funded projects ranged from developing brain catheters inspired by wasps to producing aviation fuel from yeast and greenhouse gases. The data placed the UK at the top of the non-EU list by number of grants awarded.

One example cited was a 15-year research project led by Professor Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena at Imperial College London, which focused on developing a cranial catheter modelled on the way wasps penetrate hard tree bark to lay their eggs. The project, inspired by a conversation with zoologist Julian Vincent, had received Horizon funding throughout its duration. Smaller grants were also said to have supported individual projects in textile recycling, conservation, and agricultural robotics. Before Brexit, the UK had been among the leading beneficiaries of the Horizon programme, receiving more in grant funding than it contributed financially. The current data suggests that British researchers are well-positioned to regain influence, though rebuilding long-term partnerships will require sustained effort. The UK’s re-entry into Horizon Europe signals renewed momentum in international research collaboration and a strategic opportunity to restore scientific leadership across Europe.

Editor’s Note:

The United Kingdom’s re-entry into Horizon Europe represents a pivotal moment in restoring international research collaboration after years of post-Brexit uncertainty. Enabled by the Windsor Framework, the decision brings to an end a three-year impasse that had excluded British researchers from the EU’s €95.5 billion science and innovation programme. Although the 2020 Trade and Cooperation Agreement had made provision for UK participation, political disputes over Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements delayed implementation, diminishing the UK’s presence within European science networks. The renewed association, confirmed in September 2023, allows UK researchers to both apply for and lead Horizon-funded projects, underpinned by improved financial safeguards, including a clawback mechanism and capped contributions. Early results point to a strong resurgence, with the UK now ranked fifth overall and second in individual grant awards. Leading universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, and Imperial College have already secured substantial funding, reaffirming the country’s research competitiveness. Nevertheless, the delay has left a lasting mark. Scientists have cited reputational harm, reduced recruitment of EU researchers, and missed opportunities for collaboration. The episode has also highlighted the fragility of UK–EU relations, where even low-friction agreements can require protracted negotiation. By contrast, nations such as Norway and Switzerland have maintained stable Horizon partnerships, benefiting from uninterrupted access and strategic alignment. The UK's reintegration into Horizon Europe marks a significant achievement, highlighting the crucial role of political stability and consistent international collaboration in scientific advancement. 

Skoobuzz asserts that the UK should prioritise the restoration of its research prominence and the protection of future scientific partnerships from political unrest. Horizon Europe transcends mere financial aid, serving as a foundation for collective innovation, global leadership, and lasting influence.