Research boost as UK rejoins Horizon and Copernicus

University of Reading researchers have expressed their delight at the news that the UK has rejoined the Horizon Europe research programme as an associate member.

The deal struck with the EU means UK researchers will be able to fully participate in the programme on the same terms as those from other associated countries from 1 January 2024 onwards.

It also means that the UK will be able to take part in the Copernicus scheme, which provides data for earth observation, climate change and global early warning systems – research areas in which Reading plays a leading national and international role.

What does this mean for Reading?

For calls under the Horizon Europe 2024 Work Programme, successful UK applicants will be funded by the EU under Horizon Europe.

As UK applicants, Reading researchers will be able to apply for, secure EU funding, and lead projects, for the vast majority of new 2024 calls, some of which will be opening this autumn.

Calls from the 2024 Work Programmes will have ‘2024’ included in their call/topic identifier eg. ERC-2024-SyG.

For calls that still fall under the Horizon Europe 2023 Work Programme, you should continue to apply to the EU directly as Beneficiaries. If successful, Reading will become an Associated Partner and will be funded under the UK guarantee scheme. 

For those on recently awarded EU bids - who applied for a 2023 call and are currently in the grant agreement preparation phase - you will also still need to go through the UKRI guarantee.

A Q&A on the UK's associate membership is available on the European Commission website and guidance for applicants and grant holders is on the UK Government website.

If you have any questions or require support, please contact our Research Enterprise Services EU Funding team.

'Thrilled'

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Reading, said: “Finding solutions to global challenges requires genuine collaboration and shared access to resources, people and facilities.

"We are thrilled that the UK has secured associate membership of the Horizon and Copernicus programmes, after many years of uncertainty and delays.

“At Reading we are particularly pleased that the UK will rejoin Copernicus, which has unparalleled earth observation and analysis programmes, providing some of the best facilities and networks for the study of global environmental issues, including climate change.

"As one of the leading world centres for climate science, Reading researchers will be able to join and lead new Copernicus projects, making use of our existing global connections and networks that have been decades in the making.”