Council For Science And Technology Welcomes Association To Horizon Europe

9th September 2023

The Council for Science and Technology wrote to the Prime Minister in June offering advice on Horizon Europe and welcomes the announcement on the association of the UK.

On 7 September 2023, the government announced the UK will associate to Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes through a bespoke new agreement with the EU.

In June 2023, the Council for Science and Technology wrote to the Prime Minister to offer further advice on the UK's association to Horizon Europe. This followed a discussion with the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

In response to the announcement of the UK's association, the co-chairs of the Council for Science and technology said:

Dame Professor Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser and government co-chair, "This is great news for UK science and technology. International collaboration is a vital part of a thriving science ecosystem and association with the Horizon programme bolsters our plans to secure our status as a science and technology superpower."

Lord Browne of Madingley, independent co-chair"The UK's renewed participation in Horizon Europe is a great outcome for UK researchers, innovators and businesses and the broader scientific and engineering community. The Horizon programme facilitates the essential exchange of scientific insight and provides opportunities for innovation with international impact. UK business and industry will reap significant benefits. This announcement sends a strong signal that the UK continues to be a committed international partner and collaborator in science and technology."

Brexit forced UK out of the Horizon Programme in Europe potentially one of he biggest disasters from the Brexit vote.

How many people voting to leave the EU had even hear of Horizon let alone understood its ramifications.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed the UK will be able to rejoin the multi-million EU Horizon accelerator, as part of the government’s stated commitment to support innovative UK startups.

Relations had previously soured during tense Brexit negotiations in 2021. This morning, the government announced it would finalise a new, £2bn deal with the scheme, unlocking substantial research and growth opportunities for scientific and technical businesses.

The news will be welcome to startup owners, many of which have received vital early-stage funding from the Horizon programme. That includes Weavr, a Startups-100 listed company which was funded by an initial grant from the programme in 2020.

Following two years of doubt, an official press release this morning encouraged British scientists to freely apply to Horizon grants and projects, "with certainty that the UK will be participating as a fully associated member for the remaining life of the programme to 2027."

What is the Horizon science programme?
The Horizon science programme represents the largest funding source for research and innovation in Europe, and is the result of a partnership between leading research institutes and technology companies.

Members pay into a shared reserve which is then allocated to individuals or organisations to fund research projects with high potential.

Successful applicants also benefit from access to world-class facilities and access to the EU talent pool. These two resources can be critical for turning their offering from an exciting technology to a viable product.

Pre-Brexit, UK universities - which provide critical support services for the creation of new businesses - were huge benefactors of EU grants. In total, £256m worth of funding was issued to UK firms in 2018-2022, constituting 7.21% of all grant funding in this period.

But in 2020, Brussels blocked UK participation in Horizon following a dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol. The country will now rejoin two years into the seven year programme, which began in 2021.

Weavr, a software as a service (SaaS) platform for embedded finance, emerged from research funded by the EU Horizon fund just before the UK’s withdrawal from the programme.

Weavr CEO and co-founder Alex Mifsud describes the re-entry of UK participation in Horizon as "a moment worth celebrating,” saying it offers huge potential for UK innovators as it does for European ones.

“The funding enabled [Weavr] to collaborate with multiple partners across the EU and the UK, including an academic institution, a financial institution, a law firm, and a card scheme to deliver foundational technology for embedded finance that Weavr continues to develop and to successfully exploit commercially,” he adds.

“Innovation is foundation of prosperity for UK”
That the government has successfully negotiated a return to Horizon could placate business leaders and senior researchers, who had previously criticised the lack of support for UK research and development (R&D).

Earlier this year, Whitehall’s assertion that it planned to “cement the UK’s place as a science and technology superpower by 2030” was thrown into question by the shock closure of Tech Nation in March, after the government pulled vital funding for the startup growth network.

Last month, Founder Forum Group (FFG) announced it is preparing for a September or October relaunch of Tech Nation programs.

In a press release, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Innovation has long been the foundation for prosperity in the UK, from the breakthroughs improving healthcare to the technological advances growing our economy.

“With a wealth of expertise and experience to bring to the global stage, we have delivered a deal that enables UK scientists to confidently take part in the world’s largest research collaboration programme – Horizon Europe.”

For some scientists, however, the news is too little too late. Dr. Ewan Kirk is Entrepreneur in Residence at Cambridge University. Kirk tells Startups that he welcomes the news that the UK has rejoined the Horizon Europe scheme, “it was a disaster to leave in the first place.

“We're now three years behind, and we've only joined as an associate member — sitting on the fence of the world's largest and most successful research collaboration. Leaving Horizon has shredded our reputation as an international science power. Why should our international peers trust or rely on us to collaborate going forward?”

See more at https://startups.co.uk/news/uk-return-to-horizon-science-programme/