Dear colleagues,

 

The UK’s association to Horizon Europe has been announced today. The UK will be associated to Horizon Europe, from 1 January 2024 until the end of the programme in December 2027. This wonderful news for UofG, our researchers and all researchers in the UK and in Europe paves the way for full and equal collaboration in Horizon Europe projects for UK researchers with colleagues from across the world.

 

Association means that UK researchers participate fully in Horizon Europe, on the same basis as researchers in EU Member-states, with effect from 1 January 2024.  The announcement means that UK researchers can now apply to Horizon Europe with confidence, certainty and stability and paves the way for UofG to return to and even surpass our pre-referendum levels of engagement in EU research.

 

Full access to Horizon Europe, the world’s largest collaborative research and innovation programme, allows our researchers to work across borders, with partners from across Europe and beyond, to tackle our most significant social, economic, ecological and political challenges – without the complications that have accompanied our participation to date.  It also means that UK researchers can once again truly lead these collaborations and receive funding directly from the EU for all projects.

 

Association applies from 1 January 2024 and to all Horizon Europe’s 2024 calls. The UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee, which has been covering all UK successful Horizon Europe applications up to now, continues to cover all 2023 calls. Researchers planning bids to a 2023 call will continue to be covered by the UKRI Guarantee, if successful – including MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships with deadline on 13 September.  Researchers planning bids to 2024 calls, including the ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants (with deadlines later in 2023), will be covered by the terms of association. Researchers already holding or currently requesting a grant under the UKRI Guarantee will continue under the Guarantee for the duration of their projects.  

 

The Overseas Team is in the lead for supporting UofG researchers’ engagement in Horizon Europe and will provide more information on our Horizon Europe association soon: 

Joe Galloway – joe.galloway@glasgow.ac.uk  

Ross Hanley – ross.hanley@glasgow.ac.uk  

Adriana Brincat – adriana.brincat@glasgow.ac.uk  

Karen Harron – karen.harron@glasgow.ac.uk  

Team mailbox: rso-eufunding@glasgow.ac.uk 

Follow us on twitter: @UofGEurope

 

What changes now that the UK is associated to Horizon Europe? 

Before association 

After association (from 01/01/2024)

Could not host ERC Starting, Consolidator, Advanced Grants 

UK can now host all ERC grants – Starting, Consolidator, Advanced; no need to move to Europe to retain ERC brand and conditions 

Could not host MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowships 

UK can now host all MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, successful applicants retain MSCA brand while carrying out projects in UK 

General complications and uncertainties around UK participation 

No difference at all in how UK participates compared to EU Members – association means same rights and obligations for UK as for EU-based researchers 

Could not receive EU funding, having to request UKRI Guarantee funding 

UK researchers who win Horizon Europe grants will receive the funding directly from the EU, no more UKRI Guarantee for new projects 

Could lead proposals for collaborative projects but could not lead the project if successful – had to give co-ordination to another partner 

UK can lead collaborative projects now – no need to hand over co-ordination for successful proposals 

In collaborative projects, UK did not count towards consortium minimum eligibility (3 EU Member-states or Associated Countries) 

UK now counts towards the minimum eligibility requirements for consortia in collaborative projects, as an associated country. 

 

—
Professor Chris Pearce
Vice Principal (Research & Knowledge Exchange), University of Glasgow

First published: 7 September 2023

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