A new initiative aimed at galvanising UK businesses, academics, and researchers to tap into £82bn Horizon Europe funding has been launched today.
Horizon Europe stands as the world’s largest research collaboration programme, of which the UK is an integral part following a tailored agreement secured by the Prime Minister last year.
With an average grant of £450,000 offered to UK businesses under Horizon Europe, government officials are steadfast in their determination to empower British researchers and enterprises to seize the opportunities presented by the programme.
Michelle Donelan, Science and Technology Secretary, emphasised the significance of the campaign: “We listened to the research sector and secured an excellent bespoke deal associating to Horizon.
“Being part of Horizon Europe is a colossal win for the UK’s science, research, and business communities, and we need to capitalise on this incredible opportunity, once again putting our world-class researchers and businesses at the very heart of the Horizon programme, which is precisely why I have set up this campaign blitz.
“I want to ensure that every part of the country is getting the most out of this programme. From a comms blitz to ensure every business and institution that does research in the UK knows about the opportunities Horizon offers to grants to help our researchers and businesses put in the best applications possible, we will leave no stone unturned to boost our role in the world’s largest research programme.”
The importance of Horizon Europe funding to UK science innovation
Horizon Europe is structured around three key pillars, with Pillar 2 boasting the largest budget, aimed at addressing global challenges and fostering industrial competitiveness.
This pillar, with an average grant of £450,000 to UK businesses, supports research addressing pressing societal issues such as health and climate change.
Beyond financial support, participation in Horizon Europe facilitates collaboration with European and global partners, opening doors to export markets for UK businesses.
How the UK campaign will cultivate investment
The multi-faceted campaign will deploy various channels, including media partnerships, digital audio platforms, and targeted digital media investments, emphasising paid social adverts on platforms frequented by research professionals such as LinkedIn.
Central to the campaign strategy is the showcasing of tangible success stories, spotlighting exemplary researchers and businesses that have realised their visions through Horizon Europe funding.
These narratives aim to resonate both domestically and internationally, supplementing ongoing official-level engagements with stakeholder organisations to advocate for the programme.
The campaign will underscore how participation in Horizon can be advantageous, particularly for smaller firms engaged in research and development, who may not have previously considered applying.
Already, UK firms like Nova Innovation and The Floow are reaping the benefits of Horizon Europe funding, securing substantial sums for projects in tidal energy and road safety technology, respectively.
The campaign launch builds upon existing efforts to facilitate UK bids for Horizon funding, including ‘pump priming’ grants in collaboration with the British Academy, offering up to £10,000 to selected UK researchers and businesses to enhance their applications.
This targeted funding aims to encourage novice researchers, including the next generation, to explore opportunities within Horizon Europe.
This initiative marks only the beginning of an active year ahead, with plans for sustained engagement to ensure widespread awareness among businesses, researchers, and academics nationwide.
Interested parties can access further information and practical support on application procedures via Innovate UK’s website and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which hosts regular events guiding businesses and researchers through the application process.
