The UK is preparing to launch a new campaign across Spain and Germany aimed at strengthening research and business ties through the Horizon Europe programme.
The initiative will highlight the value of collaborating with British researchers, academics, and innovative businesses via Horizon Europe initiatives, opening doors to groundbreaking projects and new commercial opportunities.
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance highlighted the significance of the campaign: “Horizon Europe is a brilliant vehicle for advancing world-leading science and research, both in terms of the funding that’s available, and the opportunities it offers for innovators from across Europe and beyond to work closely together.
“I want the UK to be the partner of choice for everyone involved in the programme. As home to some of the world’s greatest universities and research institutes, and with the second-highest number of Nobel Prize winners globally, we have deep strengths in R&D.
“If we pool that strength, everyone stands to benefit – and in today’s fast-moving world, it’s more important than ever that we do so.”
What is Horizon Europe?
As the world’s largest collaborative research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe represents more than £82bn of funding opportunities, running until 2027.
It provides UK scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators with access to grants and partnerships across Europe and beyond.
By connecting expertise across borders, the programme is tackling global challenges such as healthcare breakthroughs, the practical use of artificial intelligence, and the development of sustainable industries.
Success stories of UK-European collaboration
The Horizon Europe programme builds on a strong history of UK partnerships with European institutions.
One standout example is the ESCALATE project, a £19m initiative supported by Horizon’s predecessor.
Yorkshire-based Electra Commercial Vehicles worked with Spanish logistics company Primafrio Corporation S.A. and Germany’s RWTH Aachen University to pioneer the development of cost-effective electric heavy goods vehicles.
Their work not only demonstrated the commercial potential of these technologies but also created new markets for cleaner transport solutions across Europe.
Electra Commercial Vehicles Projects Manager, Stephen Storrar, explained: “Initially, as a small company in the UK, we didn’t expect to win an EU-funded project of this size.
“Working with partners in academia and industry has given us greater experience in modelling and creating digital twins to enable us to better optimise our products. Coupled with a modular component approach and collaborative efforts within the project consortium, we will be pushing the boundaries of possibility in the heavy-duty electric truck arena.
“The funding and project structure have really helped to enable our advancement and open doors to wider markets.”
The UK’s strong track record in Horizon Europe funding
The UK’s research community continues to excel under Horizon Europe.
In June, it was confirmed that the UK secured 56 ERC Advanced Grants worth around £120m – more than any other participating country.
These achievements underscore the strength and creativity of British researchers and the value of international partnerships in driving innovation.
Strengthening ties through new initiatives
The forthcoming campaign, announced alongside the Spanish Prime Minister’s visit to London, is designed to forge even stronger links with German and Spanish researchers and businesses.
By connecting with UK expertise, European partners will be better placed to access Horizon funding and develop joint projects with real scientific and commercial impact.
Looking ahead, the UK Government is also rolling out a series of networking events across Europe throughout 2025.
Additional grants will be made available to support British businesses in covering the costs of attending R&D events, further boosting opportunities to collaborate under the Horizon Europe programme.
