UK to rejoin Horizon Europe in 2024

On January 1, 2024, the United Kingdom will once again become an associate member country of Horizon Europe, the EU's most important funding program for research and innovation with a budget of 95.5 billion euros for the period 2021 to 2027. Horizon Europe also funds many projects in the field of e-mobility.

Following Brexit, the UK was excluded from the EU research program. According to the EU Commission, the UK will contribute an average of around 2.43 billion euros per year to the EU budget for its renewed participation in Horizon Europe.

British researchers will then once again be able to participate in the EU’s research and innovation program under the same conditions as researchers from other associated countries and thus gain access to Horizon Europe funding. Earlier this week, the EU-UK Special Committee “approved the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and the Copernicus component of the space program”, according to the Commission. This was the last formal step for the association to come into force on January 1.

It had been known for some time that the British government was seeking to return to the programme. After lengthy negotiations, the EU Commission and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reached an agreement on the content in September. With the Special Committee’s decision, this is now binding.

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