UK rejoins Horizon Europe

Britain is to rejoin Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship scientific research programme, after more than two years of uncertainty caused by Brexit.

The deal was announced by the government on 7 September, after the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, reached agreement.

What is Horizon Europe?

Horizon Europe is the world's largest programme of research funding, worth around 95 billion euros over seven years. It pays for research in fields ranging from health and climate to artificial intelligence and space, and encourages scientists from different countries to work together.

British scientists and universities were among the biggest beneficiaries of previous EU research programmes.

Years of uncertainty

Britain's association with the programme was agreed in principle in the Brexit trade deal in 2020. But it was delayed by a dispute over trading arrangements for Northern Ireland, which was resolved earlier this year with the Windsor Framework.

During the delay, British researchers could not lead Horizon projects, and some left for jobs in Europe. The government offered to cover the cost of grants won by British scientists.

The deal

Under the agreement, British researchers will be able to bid for Horizon funding from the start of next year. Britain will pay around £2.2 billion a year on average to take part.

The government said it had secured better terms than originally agreed, including a mechanism to claw back money if British scientists receive much less funding than the country contributes.

Britain will not rejoin the EU's Euratom research programme on nuclear fusion, choosing instead to fund its own fusion research.

Welcome from scientists

Universities and scientific organisations have welcomed the deal. The Royal Society, Britain's national academy of sciences, has welcomed the agreement.

Universities across the country, including in Birmingham, have argued that international collaboration is essential for world-class research.

Britain will also rejoin Copernicus, the EU's Earth observation programme.

Rebuilding links

Scientists say it will take time to rebuild the partnerships that were lost during the delay, and that the government must encourage researchers to apply.

Sunak said the deal would help make Britain a science and technology superpower.