Detail on Horizon alternatives welcome but risks remain

Universities UK Response to UK Government publication on Horizon Europe contingency plans

While we maintain that Horizon Europe association is the best way forward for researchers from the UK and the EU to continue to work together, we welcome the UK Government’s new report, ‘Supporting UK R&D and collaborative research beyond European programmes’.

We see this as the first step in clarifying how the government would invest in the UK university research and development (R&D) if association proves impossible.

Given that this will represent a major shift in research funding for the UK, it is imperative that the research community has a chance to respond to proposals and to contribute to their development. Today’s publication allows for this to begin to happen in a transparent way.

For more than 30 years, EU research programmes have enabled cooperation between researchers across the continent to flourish, including in critical sectors like health and climate research. If the UK is not able to associate, we must ensure that ambitious alternative funding is put in place quickly. The publication provides much-needed information about how this could be achieved.

We particularly welcome the confirmation that, in a non-association scenario, the government will extend the scope of the financial guarantee to cover all UK applications submitted to calls with a deadline before the point of non-association. For calls closing after this point, the government makes clear that they will fund all participation by UK researchers as third-country partners in future Horizon Europe calls until 31 March 2025, where UK researchers are eligible. Taken together, these reassurances will be critical for enabling UK and EU researchers to continue to work together on collaborative projects while there is no permanent solution in place.

We are also pleased to see other asks for short-term funding that we have put to government reflected in the paper, including the proposed Talent and Research Stabilisation Fund and support for in-flight applications. More clarity is quickly needed on the budget and timeline for implementing this plan, and this should not be held up until any decision not to associate has been taken.

Commenting on the publication, Professor Steve West CBE, President, Universities UK, said:

Although association to Horizon Europe is still by far the best outcome for protecting the UK’s position as a Science Superpower, the ongoing delay in confirming UK association is very damaging for university research and innovation. The publication of the document on ‘Supporting UK R&D and collaborative research beyond European programmes’ therefore provides welcome transparency around government contingency plans, especially for short-term stability and safeguarding future collaboration with EU partners.

“We now require more precise information on the budget and timeline for implementing these plans. Universities want to work closely with the government to shape long-term alternatives to Horizon Europe if association falls through. Time is pressing and we therefore ask politicians to continue to push hard for association as a matter of extreme urgency.

NCUB Response to UK Government publication on Horizon Europe contingency plans

Yesterday the Government published Supporting UK R&D and Collaborative Research Beyond European Programmes. This document describes how the Government will support the system in the transition period, in the event that the UK is unable to associate to Horizon Europe., Copernicus and Euratom.

Commenting on the document, Dr Joe Marshall, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), said:

“European programmes have been core to the strength of the UK research and innovation system. The publication of the document is welcome in providing some clarity and detail as to how the Government will support the system in the event that the UK is unable to associate to Horizon Europe.”

Marshall concluded: “The UK research system is a comparative strength of the UK. The long-term health and prosperity of the UK is dependent on this system being supported. This requires globally competitive levels of public support and mechanisms to support international collaboration by both universities and businesses. In a period of political and economic volatility, the publication of Supporting UK R&D and Collaborative Research Beyond European Programmes is therefore welcome. We would however welcome clarity on what an alternative system might look like if the UK is unable to associate to Horizon Europe. The document only hints at, rather than delivers, a new alternative vision for R&D activity. There remain risks to the long-term stability of support which could lead to the diminution of a key national asset, the UK research system. We look forward to further engagement from Government.”