British researchers are celebrating a major milestone after rejoining the EU’s Horizon science programme, securing nearly £500 million in UK Horizon science funding within the first 12 months of re-entry. Following a three-year post-Brexit hiatus, the UK has rapidly re-established itself as a leading non-EU beneficiary, ranking fifth overall in Horizon grants awarded in 2024.
The European Union has quietly begun drafting plans for its next funding cycle, FP10, which begins in 2027. British scientists and universities are aiming to use their strong comeback as leverage to remain at the forefront of European research alongside Germany and France.
UK Projects Lead in Science Innovation
From bioengineering aviation fuel from yeast to neurosurgical devices inspired by wasps, UK-based researchers are playing pivotal roles in breakthrough projects supported by Horizon grants. According to EU data, 2,911 grants worth €574.7 million (£492m) were awarded to UK institutions in 2024 alone, making the UK the top performer among the 19 non-EU associate members.
Leading institutions include the University of Oxford (€42m), Cambridge (€39.3m), UCL and Imperial College London (about €28m each), as well as Edinburgh and Warwick, both exceeding €13m in grants.
Academic Leaders Applaud Return to European Collaboration
Professor Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena from Imperial College London, who led a 15-year Horizon-funded project developing a brain catheter inspired by wasps, described the return as “absolutely over the moon”. He said the collaboration strengthened by joint EU funding is essential for long-term research impact and international partnerships.
Prof Sir John Aston of Cambridge echoed this sentiment, calling Horizon a vital part of the UK’s identity as a “science superpower”. “This is not just academic – it’s the foundation for solving the world’s biggest challenges,” he said.
Lost Time, Renewed Momentum
During the Brexit freeze, UK scientists were often excluded from pan-European projects. Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, a bioengineer with eight active EU-funded programmes, said, “It would have been catastrophic not to return.” His projects include sustainable food systems and a “solar spoon” that converts sunlight into hydrogen to produce protein via bacteria.
Now back in Horizon, the UK is not just regaining lost ground but is becoming a driving force in shaping FP10. Scientists like Prof Carsten Welsch from the University of Liverpool are already leading new €10m initiatives on compact plasma accelerators.
Science and Policy: A Renewed Alliance
UK-EU collaboration was recently underlined during visits by European trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and UK EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds. Cambridge’s Prof Erwin Reisner presented sustainable fuel research converting solar power and greenhouse gases into viable energy sources.
Calls for funding in emerging fields such as space tech, virtual reality, and augmented reality are set to open soon. Rodriguez and many others across the UK scientific community are preparing their next proposals, confident that Horizon now offers a powerful platform to drive world-changing innovation.
