LONDON: The UK is to rejoin the EU’s flagship scientific research scheme, Horizon, the government has announced.
UK-based scientists and institutions will be able to apply for money from the £81bn (€95bn) fund from today.
Associate membership had been settled as part of the Brexit trade deal when the UK officially left the EU in 2020.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, after months of negotiations, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, emphasizing that it unlocks extraordinary research opportunities and is a responsible move for British taxpayers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also acknowledged the importance of the EU-UK partnership, emphasizing their shared commitment to global science and research.
British researchers to benefit from EU Horizon projects
Starting from Thursday, British researchers will have access to apply for grants and participate in Horizon projects. The UK will maintain its full association with the Horizon program until its conclusion in 2027. This marks a significant change, as Britain had previously departed from the EU’s science funding system in January 2020 due to Brexit.
The negotiations for the UK to rejoin Horizon as a third country had stalled earlier over disagreements regarding post-Brexit trade regulations in Northern Ireland. Discussions were reinvigorated in March after the Windsor Framework deal was reached between London and Brussels, and Sunak reviewed a draft deal during the summer.
One of the key points of contention had been the UK’s request for a larger discount on its association fees, citing the substantial losses British science had incurred during the two years of exclusion from the multibillion-pound program. The agreement announced on Thursday stipulates that the UK will not pay association fees for the duration of its exclusion. It will begin contributing to Horizon starting in January 2024.
Additionally, the UK is highlighting a new automatic clawback mechanism, ensuring compensation if UK scientists receive significantly less funding than the UK contributes to the program.
The European Commission has affirmed that this agreement aligns fully with the post-Brexit trade deal between the EU and the UK, known as the EU-U.K. Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
This entails the UK’s financial contribution to the EU budget and adherence to the safeguards specified in the trade agreement.
On average, it is estimated that the UK will contribute nearly €2.6 billion per year to both Horizon Europe and the Copernicus component of the Space program.
Notably, the UK has chosen not to associate with the EU’s Euratom program, which focuses on nuclear research and innovation. Instead, it has decided to pursue a domestic fusion energy strategy, allocating funding of up to £650 million until 2027.
The agreement has received a positive reception from British scientific organizations, with Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, describing it as fantastic news for the UK, EU scientists, and the people of Europe as a whole.
