**The Collaborative Advantages of Horizon Europe: A Year of Revitalized UK-EU Research Partnerships**
The new year beginning on 1 January 2024 signifies a crucial moment for both the United Kingdom and the European Union—marking one year since the UK officially re-entered two of the EU’s most esteemed research and innovation initiatives, Horizon Europe and Copernicus. After prolonged uncertainty that followed Brexit, researchers and diplomats from both regions are now celebrating the advantages of this renewed partnership and spotlighting the prospects it has presented for researchers based in the UK, its institutions, and broader scientific advancement.
### **Horizon Europe: A Global Leader in Research Funding**
Horizon Europe stands as the EU’s premier research funding programme, constituting the largest publicly funded scientific research initiative globally. This programme, which runs from 2021 to 2027 with an extraordinary budget of €95.5 billion (£81 billion), is aimed at promoting pioneering research across various fields, accelerating innovation, and tackling global challenges such as climate change and public health.
The UK’s previous involvement in the preceding programme, Horizon 2020, created a robust footprint for UK researchers in European collaborative frameworks. However, the political repercussions of Brexit halted UK involvement in the subsequent programme, Horizon Europe, for several critical years. An agreement between the UK government and the European Commission was not finalized until September 2023, officially allowing the UK to re-join Horizon Europe and Copernicus starting in January 2024.
This renewal holds substantial importance for the UK’s scientific sector, which experienced a sense of constraint during the isolation following Brexit. Wendy Brown, Chair of the Heads of Chemistry UK group at the University of Sussex, highlights that Horizon Europe is a distinctive funding mechanism that facilitates formal partnerships between UK and EU researchers, unlike most domestic UK funding programmes. “It’s the chance for formal partnerships with our European colleagues,” Brown states. “There’s almost no UK funding system where you could collaborate with someone in a European nation and both parties can access funding.”
### **Elevating UK Science and Status**
Additionally, beyond facilitating joint grant applications and cross-border projects, rejoining Horizon Europe imparts non-quantifiable benefits to UK researchers, encompassing international recognition. Receiving EU funding is broadly regarded as a symbol of excellence within the scientific domain. Brown notes that succeeding in Horizon Europe competitions provides essential acknowledgment, enhancing the careers of individual researchers and uplifting the global standing of UK science.
This recognition, combined with the ability to connect with elite European research networks, has started to yield benefits. Recent statistics indicate promising developments: UK researchers have taken the lead in securing funding in the programme’s initial phases of re-entry. For example, UK-based scientists emerged as the top recipients of the European Research Council’s (ERC) proof of concept grants in mid-2024, acquiring 15% of the allocations. UK researchers also performed well with consolidator and starting grants from the ERC, which are crucial for supporting early-career scientists with innovative project proposals.
Furthermore, institutions in the UK submitted the highest quantity of proposals for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral fellowships in 2024. This increase in applications underscores the enthusiasm of UK-based researchers to leverage the programme’s revitalized opportunities and indicates a strong desire for international collaboration.
### **Obstacles Continue: The Lasting Effects of Brexit**
In spite of the positive developments surrounding Horizon Europe, the legacy of Brexit still introduces challenges for UK research in several respects. A particularly urgent concern revolves around the enrollment of PhD students. Prior to Brexit, EU PhD students attending UK universities were treated equivalently to local students regarding tuition fees; now, they are faced with substantially higher international fees. Conversely, UK students enrolled in Horizon-funded PhD positions at European institutions maintain the advantage of domestic fees.
Wendy Brown characterizes this inconsistency as one of the hurdles in cultivating the next generation of international researchers in Horizon-funded programmes. “We’re still dealing with the immigration challenges resulting from Brexit that pose difficulties for PhD students,” she remarks. “Before we exited the EU, they were treated similarly to UK PhD students—this complicates matters.”
These tuition challenges compound broader restrictions on personnel mobility, which have complicated the movement of researchers and students between the UK and the EU. Although both parties have attempted to alleviate disruptions, regulatory obstacles and visa regulations remain contentious issues, hindering effective collaborations.
### **Copernicus and Expanded Collaborative Initiatives**
In conjunction with Horizon Europe, the UK’s return to the EU’s Earth observation initiative, Copernicus, carries particular importance for environmental research and satellite capabilities. Copernicus is crucial for monitoring climate change, land usage, and disaster management, providing the technological expertise needed to tackle urgent global environmental concerns. While the focus has largely centered on Horizon Europe, scientists from various fields are optimistic about the UK’s involvement in this vital programme.