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UCL and Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe

As part of the UK Government’s recent announcement confirming the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK will associate to Horizon Europe, the EU's €95.5 billion, 7-year Framework Programme for Research and Innovation that succeeds Horizon 2020.

Once finalised, the UK’s associated status will provide UCL researchers with full access to participate, lead and receive funding from the Horizon Europe programme, as they have under H2020 and the previous EU research and innovation funding programmes. 

European Research Council update:

The ERC 2021 Work Programme is the first of the Horizon Europe Work Programmes to be adopted by the European Commission. Applicants based in the United Kingdom and countries associated to Horizon 2020 will still be able to apply on a conditional basis even if the association agreements are not yet in place. The first deadlines are now confirmed as 8 April 2021 (Starting Grants) and 20 April 2021 (Consolidator Grants).

European Commission update:

On 25 February 2021, the European Commission published a Q&A on the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe. The Q&A sets out how the UK will be associated to Horizon Europe, how UK entities can take part in the first calls for proposals, which parts will the UK be associated, the rights of UK participants, what the UK has to pay to participate, and whether other countries associate to Horizon Europe. Read the Q&A here.

For detailed information, please see our FAQ page on the EU-UK Deal's implications for research. 


UCL and Horizon 2020

You can continue to participate in Horizon 2020 programmes and receive EU grant funding for the lifetime of individual projects. This includes projects finishing after 1 January 2021.

UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top performing organisations worldwide under the EU Framework Programmes for research. UCL was the best performing Higher Education Institution (HEI) under the first two years (2014–2016) of Horizon 2020, the EU’s current, €80 billion research and innovation programme, and we have consistently remained within the top three performing HEIs.

UCL has participated in more than 1,000 EU Framework Programme projects, of which more than 500 (equalling around €380 million) are funded through Horizon 2020. We have also hosted more than 200 prestigious European Research Council grants. 

Since the referendum, UCL has held its position within Horizon 2020, with its participation and success rates remaining high above the European average, averaging 18%. 
 

Where can I find more advice and support at UCL?

UCL colleagues with queries or concerns regarding the impact of Brexit are invited to contact a member of the ERIO team at the earliest opportunity to discuss any specific requirements:

The primary goal of the European Research and Innovation Office (ERIO) is to support UCL in maintaining its position at the forefront of European collaboration in science, technology, research and innovation. It supports research staff across the organisation, and their European collaborators, with the full range of proposal, contract and project management services, and can advise on all matters relating to Horizon 2020 and European research funding.  ERIO offers support in:

  • A dedicated Horizon 2020 proposal support service offering hands-on support from proposal conception through to proposal submission, including assistance in structuring, editing and targeting the Excellence, Impact and Implementation sections.  
  • High level, efficient and bespoke European project management service to the UCL academic community.  The extensive knowledge and experience of ERIO in the management of EU research and innovation projects provides the necessary framework for the smooth implementation of your project within the relevant project constraints and according to the funding requirements. 
  • Innovation services to ensure UCL-led initiatives funded under the Horizon 2020 programme achieve maximum impact, and helps to take products and services generated by Horizon 2020 projects to European markets. Activities focus on coordinating the generation of ideas and knowledge across diverse consortia of European partners.
  • Support researchers through every stage of the H2020 process, providing financial, legal and general administrative support to meet the all the EC requirements, reducing the administrative burden upon scientists and clinicians.  Making European funding more accessible to academics, and increases UCL’s European research portfolio.

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