UK to rejoin Horizon: Government should act to increase mutually beneficial EU-UK cooperation

Today the Government has confirmed that the UK will rejoin the €95.5bn research funding scheme Horizon Europe.

The UK had been excluded from the scheme for the last three years following disagreement with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol, with institutions including the Wellcome Trust and leading academics citing it was badly impacting research and development in the UK.

The move, which was recommended by the UK Trade and Business Commission in their landmark report in May, means British researchers will benefit from the investment fund and have the opportunity to again collaborate with scientists and innovators across the continent.

It has been reported that as part of the deal, British scientists will have access to a higher level of funding to help them catch up following the UK’s absence from the programme.

Layla Moran, Oxford MP and member the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission said,

“This is extremely good news and it will be widely welcomed by British scientists and innovators but despite the agreed catch-up funding, money cannot replace the time and opportunities lost. 

“The Government should act now on our other recommendations to increase mutually beneficial EU-UK cooperation to ensure we don’t miss out on any more.”