Michelle Donelan – Iliana Ivanova – Photo © European Union 2023
(BRUSSELS) – The UK becomes an associated country to the Horizon Europe research programme on 1 January 2024, giving British researchers access on equal terms as researchers from other associated countries.
The final step was completed on Monjday, as the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes adopted the political agreement on United Kingdom’s association to Horizon Europe and to the Copernicus component of the Space Programme.
The UK’s association to Horizon Europe will deepen the EU’s relationship with the UK in research and innovation, bringing together research communities to tackle global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation and health.
The association Protocol adopted by the Committee is an integral part of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The UK is to contribute around EUR 2.43 billion per year on average to the EU budget for its participation in Horizon Europe, and roughly EUR 154 million for participation to Copernicus.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of EUR 95.5 billion for 2021-27. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.
Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space programme, looking at our planet and its environment to benefit all European citizens. It offers information services that draw from satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-space) data and makes an essential contribution in reaching our European Green Deal and net-zero objectives.
Joint statement by the European Commission and UK Government
