Links to Horizon Europe and Other EU Funding Resources
Horizon Europe
After Brexit, the UK Government decided to associate only to the Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes. An agreement between the European Commission and the UK Government was reached in late 2023. According to the agreement, the UK is now associated to the Horizon Europe programme, with the exception of the European Innovation Council Fund.
This means that, starting from 1 January 2024, UK organisations, can participate in Horizon Europe calls for proposals on the same terms as institutions from other EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
COST
UK institutions can participate in COST Actions. COST is an intergovernmental framework
consisting of more than 40 countries. The UK is a Full Member of COST, so
UK-based researchers and innovators are fully eligible to apply to and
participate in COST Actions. This is independent of the UK’s status in Horizon
Europe, unless the UK’s membership in COST is changed.
Other EU Funding Programmes
As of the beginning of 2025, the UK has not associated to almost all other EU funding programmes apart from Horizon Europe. These include the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme, Creative Europe, Digital Europe, the European Defence Fund, Erasmus+, EU4Health, Euratom, the Justice Programme, LIFE, the Single Market Programme, and many others.
In these programmes, the UK is recognised as a third country. In most cases, organisations from third countries can participate in EU projects as Associated Partners without receiving EU funding, but only if the relevant programme’s legal basis allows for this. This also means that such participants need to cover their own costs.
Links to Funder Information Sources
Sometimes, it may take longer to find the appropriate
information source than to read the necessary details. Therefore, I have made
an effort to compile links to the most common official information sources of
the European Commission.
On the official website of the European Union, everyone can
find the main details about the Horizon Europe programme: Horizon Europe - European Commission.
There are three main Horizon Europe Pillars:
Pillar I: Excellent Science
Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial
Competitiveness
Pillar III: Innovative Europe
A major part of Horizon Europe funding is planned to be awarded as collaborative grants under Pillar II to address Global Challenges and improve European Industrial Competitiveness.
These initiatives are spread across six
clusters within the second Horizon Europe pillar:
Cluster 1: Health
Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society
Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
A significant amount of funding is allocated under the first
Horizon Europe pillar, specifically for the European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
You can access and find an appropriate call and topic in
your area of interest on the EU Funding and Tender Opportunities portal.
EU Funding & Tenders Portal Horizon Europe reference documents.
Horizon Dashboard for checking the average personnel costs.
Strategy, documents and tools for dissemination and exploitation of research results.
Some additional information sources for those interested in EU funding
The network of UK National Contact Points (NCPs) provides guidance, practical information, and assistance on all aspects of participation in European R&I Framework Programmes, including Horizon Europe.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provides services to support UK applicants participating in Horizon Europe. UKRI aims to ensure that UK researchers and organisations can fully engage with the Horizon Europe programme.
