The UK and EU have reached an agreement in principle on the UK joining Horizon Europe – the EU’s Research & Innovation Programme for 2021-2027.

This programme allows researchers to bid for public funding and to join international collaboration on projects relating to the Horizon’s three pillars, which between them cover a broad range of fields.

What will Horizon funding be for?

The short summary is that Horizon Europe will fund research and innovation across many different sectors, through many different EU organisations and funds. Breaking that down a little…

The Horizon funding is broken down into three “pillars”.

Pillar I – Excellent Science – funds:

• the European Research Council, which gives grants to research projects;
• the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which supports doctoral education and postdoctoral training; and
• European Research Infrastructures, funding resources such as instruments, data, computing systems, etc. which are open for use by those conducting research and fostering innovation.

Pillar II - Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness – funds:

• clusters for boosting key technologies in six sectors: Health; Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Societies; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry & Space; Climate, Energy & Mobility; and (the snappily named) Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment; and
• non-nuclear actions of the Joint Research Centre – a service of the European Commission which directly carries out research in support of EU policymakers;

Pillar III – Innovative Europe – funds:

• the European Innovation Council, which gives grants to support innovation in breakthrough technologies;
• European Innovation Ecosystems, a programme for funding which aims to bring together “innovation actors” (such as innovation facilities, higher education institutions, technology companies, investors and policymakers) across Europe to collaborate and cooperate; and
• The European Institute of Innovation and Technology, which supports entrepreneurial talent, promoting the journey from research to market, by connecting business, education and research.

Horizon Europe also incorporates the research & development aspects of the European Defence Fund, and the UK has also joined Copernicus – the Earth Observation component of the EU’s space programme.

Each of these institutions will have various funding streams, focused on different aspects and stages of research and development.

Who will Horizon funding be for?

Given the range of sectors covered above, anyone involved in research and innovation in the UK would be wise to consider whether they might be eligible for a piece of this €95.5 billion pie. The opportunity to collaborate and cooperate with organisations in the same field across the EU could also be hugely beneficial.

As well as crossing sectors, the proposed funding also crosses different kinds of recipients. There is funding for public bodies, supporting policy research, the higher education sector and businesses ranging from the large and established to SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Where do I start?!

Broadly speaking, the process of getting public funding can be broken down into three steps:

1. Finding the Right Fund. Navigating the infrastructure of the EU can be a daunting task – researchers and innovators may well be eligible for funding that they’re not aware is out there. Taking time to consider carefully what may be available, and what is most suitable, is vital for the next step.
2. Application, Application, Application. Once a potential source of funding has been identified, the application process can be another project in and of itself. Particularly when large grants are on offer, funders can be very thorough in satisfying themselves as to where their money is going. An application will require you to provide details of the proposed project, but may also involve legal, policy, governance and financial diligence.
3. Reading the Small Print. Even where an application is successful, it is then vitally important to consider the terms and conditions attached to the funding. What exactly are the costs which are being supported? What public policy objectives is your project to be in aid of? What will the funder expect in terms of ongoing diligence, progress reports, transparency, business practices, etc.? What records and evidence will they require you to retain?

At Burness Paull, we have experience supporting public sector funders and private sector recipients across a range of sectors and across every stage of the process. Whether you need a steer in the right direction, or help navigating the obstacles along the way, we would be delighted to hear from you.

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