BU Research Blog

The European Commission and the UK Government have reached an agreement in principle on the association of the UK to Horizon Europe.

This morning (7 September 2023) Joint Statement by the European Commission and the UK Government on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus was published on UK Government’s webpage.

It says that the European Commission and the UK Government have concluded negotiations and reached an agreement in principle on the association of the UK to Horizon Europe and Copernicus under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

How does it look in practice? UK researchers will be able to fully participate in the Horizon Europe programme on the same terms as researchers from other associated countries from the 2024 Work Programmes and onwards – including any 2024 calls opening this year. As a result:

• UK researchers will be eligible to apply for European Research Council and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action grants
• UK institutions will be allowed to lead collaborative projects as coordinators
• UK institutions will count towards the consortium eligibility requirements

For calls from the 2023 Work Programmes, the UK will continue to provide funding under the UK Guarantee scheme managed by UKRI.

Update:

There is also European Commission press release available – feel free to forward link to this page to those EU potential partners who may still be in doubt.

The European Commission has published an updated set of FAQs with more detail on the agreement. Today’s political agreement must now be approved by EU Member States before being formally adopted in the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes. Association to Horizon Europe programmes will become effective as of 1 January 2024.

For more information regarding EU funding feel free to get in touch with Research Facilitator International Ainar.