The UK’s return to the European Union’s key research funding programme following Brexit has reversed a “long-term downward trend” in grant applications and awards, according to a new report.
Universities UK International (UUKi) looked at more than 10 years of UK involvement in the EU’s research schemes, Horizon 2020 and its successor Horizon Europe. A report found that 2024 was the first year since 2016 to show a clear improvement in the number of research awards, projects and funding won by UK organisations.
Researchers said the recovery was linked to the UK officially joining Horizon Europe in 2024, after uncertainty following Brexit.
Universities played the biggest role in the recovery. They made up 67 per cent of all UK participation in 2024, slightly higher than the 65 per cent recorded at the end of Horizon 2020.
“However, there is still progress to be made for the UK to perform in Horizon Europe at a level which reflects our world-leading universities and expertise,” the authors write in the report. “The recovery is promising, but this momentum must be maintained and built upon given the scale of Horizon Europe budget.”
