UK regains strong foothold in EU's Horizon Europe research programme with €735m in 2024 grants

UK researchers have excelled in grants for individual scientific proposals

The UK has swiftly reclaimed a leading position in the European Union's €80bn Horizon Europe science research programme, securing €735m in grants in 2024, just 18 months after rejoining as an associate member.

The regaining of tjhe UKs status within Horizon marks a sharp rebound for UK science after a three-year freeze from the programme due to the post-Brexit standoff between Brussels and then-prime minister Boris Johnson over Northern Ireland's trading arrangements.

The delay meant Britain entered the seven-year 2020-2027 programme partway through, but new data shows UK scientists are outperforming expectations.

In 2024, Britain ranked as the fifth most successful country among Horizon Europe's 43 participating nations, which include the EU's 27 member states and 16 associate members such as New Zealand, Norway and Canada.

Germany topped the list with €1.4bn in grants, followed by Spain with €900m.

UK researchers have excelled particularly in grants for individual scientific proposals, which are less dependent on large, multinational partnerships.

In this category, Britain now ranks second behind Germany, with €242m in funding. The UK also leads all countries in awards from the prestigious Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme for doctoral and post-doctoral research.

Whilst scientists have welcomed the return, there is acknowledgement that it will take time to rebuild the multinational collaborations needed for top-tier funding bids.

"I am absolutely over the moon that we are back in the programme formally," said Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena, a professor in medical robotics at Imperial College London.

Baena recently concluded a 15-year Horizon-backed project developing a cranial catheter inspired by wasps' ability to bore into tree bark.

"Everybody is delighted," he added. "Everyone is using that opportunity to start thinking with a European hat on about how to leverage these opportunities and reach out to colleagues in continental Europe."

The UK's Horizon-funded projects are diverse, spanning brain surgery innovations, the creation of sustainable aviation fuel from yeast and greenhouse gases, and smaller initiatives in textile recycling, conservation, and agricultural robotics.

Oxford and Cambridge universities each secured more than €65m in 2024, with University College London and Imperial College close behind.

Before Brexit, the UK was among Horizon's top beneficiaries, often earning more in grants than it contributed.

Reflecting on the country's rapid resurgence, Prof Sir John Aston, pro-vice-chancellor for research at the University of Cambridge, said in May that he hoped the exclusion "never happens again."

"It is really good that we are back inside the tent," he added. "This is really competitive funding, and [it shows] that people who get this funding are doing really impressive work."

The EU is currently formulating its strategy for FP10, the next seven-year funding programme set to launch in 2027.