The United Kingdom is celebrating a significant milestone for its Horizon Europe participation, the world’s largest international research programme
With a budget of £80 billion, the Horizon Europe initiative encourages collaboration across borders, bringing together researchers, businesses, and innovators to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Following its association with the programme in 2024, the UK’s involvement in Horizon Europe has already shown promising results, and more promising work will be expected in the future.
Horizon Europe participation
At a recent event held at the Oval in London, over 500 researchers, scientists, and business leaders gathered to reflect on the UK’s successes within the Horizon Europe programme and discuss strategies for taking future opportunities.
This event showed a year of achievements and set the stage for increased collaboration, particularly as new challenges emerge in healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI), and climate science.
The government has already committed to supporting this ever-growing engagament with Horizon Europe, rolling out initiatives in 2025 to help UK businesses and researchers tap into the vast funding opportunities available.
One of the most encouraging signs for the UK’s continued success in Horizon Europe is its strong performance in recent funding rounds. In particular, the UK hosted 18 successful projects under the European Research Council’s (ERC) Synergy Grants, the second-highest number among participating countries.
This achievement demonstrates the UK’s leadership in research and innovation, reflecting the strength of its academic institutions and research capabilities. Horizon Europe is already proving beneficial in enabling breakthroughs that could shape the future of critical sectors such as healthcare, where cutting-edge research is already underway.
Continuing to support new projects
The government’s emphasis on international collaboration is evident in its strategy to accelerate the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe.
Plans for 2025 include promotional efforts to raise awareness about funding opportunities and organised networking events across Europe.
These initiatives will help UK researchers and businesses build stronger partnerships with international counterparts, opening doors to new projects and joint ventures that can boost economic growth and create jobs.
The focus on collaboration aligns with the government’s broader “Plan for Change,” which hopes to position the UK as a global leader in innovation and research.
The UK’s historic track record of scientific achievement further strengthens its position within Horizon Europe. The country is home to four of the world’s top 10 universities and has produced the second-highest number of Nobel Prize winners globally. The UK’s past success with EU research funding is also notable, with UK-led projects making up a quarter of all Horizon 2020 funding.
This shows the potential for even greater success in Horizon Europe as the UK is central in advancing global research and innovation.
The ongoing benefits of Horizon Europe participation
Businesses across the UK benefit from the programme, as well as research. Horizon Europe funding enables companies to engage in cutting-edge research and development (R&D), often in collaboration with international partners.
These partnerships span the globe, with UK firms joining forces with counterparts in countries such as Canada and South Korea. This international network is essential for driving innovations in key industries like AI, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Practical support is available through the Horizon Hub, hosted by Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to help UK-based applicants navigate the application process and maximise Horizon Europe opportunities. Regular events provide guidance and expert advice to ensure businesses and researchers are well-equipped to submit successful bids.
