Two years ago, the UK associated to Horizon Europe – the world’s largest international public research and innovation programme – and Copernicus, the EU’s world-leading Earth observation programme.

Since 1 January 2024, UK researchers have been able to participate in the programme on the same terms as researchers from EU Member States, which means they can lead consortia and have direct access to Horizon Europe funding. Since 2025, the UK also has widened access to Horizon Europe, including in sensitive areas linked to quantum, space, AI, robotics and connected collaborative computing. 

The UK’s association to Horizon Europe has considerably strengthened the EU-UK partnership in the research and innovation sector. In 2024, the UK was by far the biggest beneficiary of Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA), with 773 participations representing an EU net contribution of €175.5 million or 17.1% of the total. It was also the second biggest beneficiary of European Research Council (ERC) grants, behind Germany, with 162 participations representing an EU net contribution of €306 million or 14.6% of the total. 

Looking at 2025, many calls are still open or undergoing evaluation and it is too early to draw conclusions, but initial data shows a strong performance for UK-based researchers and organisations. The UK has continued to perform particularly well in the European Research Council (ERC) calls. It was the top beneficiary of the ERC’s Consolidator grants announced in December 2025.The UK was also by far the biggest beneficiary of the ERC’s latest round of Advanced Grants. Notwithstanding this strong performance, through further awareness raising actions, there is scope for continuing enhancing the participation of UK-based institutions to even higher levels, notably in certain pillars. 

In cooperation with the EU Delegation, the UK government led a Horizon Europe roadshow to promote participation opportunities across the UK. The roadshow launched in London in February 2024 and went to Birmingham in March 2024, Glasgow in June 2024, Lisburn (Northern Ireland) in October 2024, Cardiff in January 2025 and back to London in March 2025. 

In addition, Innovate UK, in collaboration with the European Innovation Council (EIC) organised an information day on the 2026 EIC calls on 20 November 2025. It brought together around 150 start-ups, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and research organisations. The slides presented can be accessed here. 

The European Commission organises Horizon Europe related info days regularly to give prospective applicants the opportunity to get information and ask questions. Most of them take place virtually. Those which take place in Brussels will be livestreamed too. The next ones will cover: 

– Climate, energy and mobility on 15 January. 

– EU missions on 20 and 21 January. The EU has 5 missions under Horizon Europe, namely on adaptation to climate change; cancer; climate-neutral and smart cities (2 of which are in the UK – Bristol and Glasgow); soil; ocean and waters. 

– Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment on 22 and 23 January. 

– Health on 10 February. 

– Culture, creativity and inclusive society on 26 March. 

You can register to them here or by clicking directly on the relevant links above. 

Brokerage events for the above mentioned topics are also being organised in 2026. More information is available in the relevant links above. These mostly take place virtually but sometimes are in Brussels or Paris. 

On 11 December 2025, the European Union adopted its Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2026-2027 with €14 billion available to researchers, scientists and businesses across the EU and in its associated countries, including the UK. This €14 billion investment will go towards projects achieving climate neutrality, boosting the use of artificial intelligence in research and innovation, and ensuring resilience in a rapidly changing world. 

The European Innovation Council and the European Research Council publish their Work Programmes a few months before the rest of the Horizon Europe calls. The EIC published its 2026 Work Programme on 6 November 2025 and the ERC published its Work Programme on 8 July 2025. 

On 23 January 2025, the UK government triggered the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) to provide initial rough estimations and flood extent emergency mapping in West Scotland as a means to prevent damages to lives and infrastructure in view of storm Éowyn hitting the country. CEMS provides geospatial information within hours or days from the activation in support of emergency management activities in cases of natural disasters, human-made emergency situations and humanitarian crises throughout the world. Copernicus is the world’s most advanced Earth observation system, providing continuous, high-resolution images of our planet / day and night, in all weather conditions. 

Background 

Horizon Europe is the biggest international research and innovation programme in the world with more than £82 billion (€95.5 billion) of funding available over seven years (2021 to 2027) from the EU budget, to which all associated countries are adding further contributions. It is open to the world, which means that participants can participate in most calls, regardless of where they are based. Researchers from associated countries have even greater access, they can lead projects and receive direct funding from the programme. The programme supports major research and innovation projects and international partnerships helping to tackle global challenges. 

Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space programme, looking at our planet and its environment to the benefit of all European citizens. It offers information services that draw from satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-space) data. Copernicus contributes to delivering the European Green Deal and reaching the net-zero objectives.

Questions & Answers on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus can be found here, as well as in this FAQ 

Joint statement by the European Commission and the UK Government on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus 

UK association to Horizon Europe 

UK national contact points for Horizon Europe 

Horizon dashboard, including EU-funded projects in the UK