UK officially rejoins Horizon Europe
On 4 December 2023, the UK signed an agreement with the European Union finalising association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus
The deal for the UK to return to both programmes was struck in September 2023, with a bespoke agreement that included improved financial terms of association.
The agreement has now been officially signed to allow the UK to rejoin Horizon Europe research programme, and the Copernicus component of the EU's space programme, from 1 January 2024.
Horizon Europe association
UK researchers, academics, and businesses of all sizes can now confidently bid for a share of over £80 billion available through the two programmes, with calls from the Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme already open.
For any UK Horizon project already underway, the UK government's Horizon Europe guarantee remains active. It covers all remaining Horizon grant calls up to and including work programme 2023, irrespective of the call closing or grant signature date.
In practice, this means:
- successful applicants to 2021, 2022 or 2023 Work Programme grant calls will have their projects funded by the UK guarantee
- successful applicants to 2024 (or later) Work Programme will have their projects funded by the European Commission
Formal association will give UK applicants to 2024 calls and onwards the same rights as EU participants, including eligibility for funding at the same rates and under the same conditions, and the ability to lead project consortia.
Copernicus association
From 1 January 2024, the UK will become third-country participant in Copernicus and eligible to benefit from Copernicus services and products in the same way as other participating countries.
UK entities will have the same rights as EU entities to bid for EU Copernicus contracts and join consortia bids with some limited exceptions.
Find detailed guidance for UK applicants on Horizon and Copernicus association.
First published 5 December 2023