The Government published its outline thinking on alternatives in the case of UK non-association to Horizon Europe on 20 July 2022: Supporting UK R&D and collaborative research beyond European programmes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The document includes information on what would happen to Horizon Europe applications already submitted to Horizon Europe deadlines in the event of non-association. The following transition commitments are of immediate relevance to current Horizon Europe calls (including ERC calls).
- Expansion of scope of the UK Horizon Europe funding guarantee
If the UK does not associate to Horizon Europe, the scope of the existing UK funding guarantee will be extended to cover all Horizon Europe calls where final deadlines fall before the point of non-association. The guarantee would therefore cover all the calls listed in the current guarantee documentation AND all subsequent calls where the final deadline date is before the point of non-association. Where applications are evaluated as successful by the EU the guarantee will fund UK entity project participation. Collaborative calls, ERC calls and Marie Curie calls are all included if the relevant call deadline is before the point of non-association.
- In-flight applications to Horizon Europe: Applies to mono-beneficiary calls (eg ERC and Marie Curie Postdoctoral fellowships). In flight applications are applications that are submitted before the point of non-association where the EU does not evaluate proposals submitted by UK entities. In the event of non-association, applicants will be asked to re-submit their existing applications to UKRI who will take forward evaluation and provide funding for successful projects at the same level that would have been received under Horizon Europe.
The above commitments mean that researchers can continue to apply to Horizon Europe calls in the knowledge that success will be funded, regardless of the final decision on UK association
As the UK is a country aspiring to associate to Horizon Europe, UK entities continue to be eligible to be part of collaborative proposals and to apply to ERC and MSCA calls.
Commitment to fund UK participation in successful collaborative bids submitted after the point of any UK non-association to Horizon Europe: UK institutions can continue to participate in collaborative proposals to Horizon Europe calls. Where a bid is successfully evaluated by the EU, the UK Government will provide the funding for the UK participation for the lifetime of the project.
This, in conjunction with the funding guarantee extension provides reassurance for researchers and consortia considering applications to future Horizon Europe collaborative calls that UK participation will be funded regardless of the final decision on UK association to Horizon Europe.
This commitment applies to calls where grant agreement signature is expected by 31 March 2025.
Note that not all Horizon Europe collaborative calls allow third country participation (participation from countries that are neither EU Member States nor associated to Horizon Europe) and PIs should therefore check specific call conditions. Third country participants cannot be the coordinator of Horizon Europe projects.
The 20 July publication contains outline information on other transition commitments in the event of UK non-association to Horizon Europe.
