|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
It has been a year since the UK secured its associate country status agreement with the £80bn Horizon Europe research programme. In order to commemorate this, in 2025 the UK Government has announced a range of new initiatives to encourage further UK participation in the programme and allow researchers, innovators, and businesses to fully capitalise on the opportunities available by working with partners in innovation across Europe and across the world and access vital grant funding.
Horizon Europe is the world’s largest research collaboration programme from the European Commission and the latest funding work block runs from 2021-2027. The scheme operates as a catalyst for economic growth, driving groundbreaking discoveries across various fields, such as healthcare breakthroughs and green energy solutions to the integration of productivity-boosting technologies like AI, Horizon funding supports projects tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing European and wider society around the world.
So far, there have been early indicators that the UK’s association status with Horizon is moving in a positive direction after years of uncertainty post-Brexit. It is worth noting that the UK hosted the second most projects as part of the ERC Synergy Grants in 2024, with 18 in total. Building on this momentum, the UK Government is enhancing its support efforts for 2025 with a focus on accessibility and practical assistance so that more businesses and researchers from up and down the country are able to apply for Horizon innovation projects in their areas of specialty.
What’s On Offer For UK Businesses And Researchers In 2025?
i) Horizon Europe Roadshows
Following successful events in 2024 in Scotland, Northern Ireland and West Midlands, the roadshow series will continue in Wales and London. These events offer invaluable opportunities for businesses and researchers to hear first-hand experiences from successful Horizon applicants, receive application support and network with fellow innovators.
ii) Horizon Europe Brokerage Events
This is a brand-new initiative for 2025 where Innovate UK will lead delegations of UK businesses and researchers to Italy, Germany, and Spain. These brokerage events will facilitate networking with potential R&D partners in these countries and provide guidance on developing strong collaborative bids for Horizon funding.
iii) Travel Awards
To further facilitate international collaboration, Innovate UK will offer grants of up to £700 to help UK innovators from businesses and research organisations to cover travel costs to R&D events across Europe. These events provide crucial networking opportunities for building relationships with potential Horizon research partners.
iv) Renewed PR Campaign
The UK Government plans to build on the success of the 2024 Horizon awareness campaign with a renewed marketing push to highlight the diverse range of projects eligible for Horizon funding, from medical research to agricultural transformation and AI related technology applications. This campaign will utilise various channels, including LinkedIn and podcasts, to reach a wider audience and emphasise the support available to applicants. Increased participation from UK businesses and researchers will further strengthen the UK’s Horizon presence by increasing overall collaboration opportunities and knowledge exchange.
What Are Some Examples Of The Latest Horizon Schemes To Apply To?
i) Critical Technologies for the Future Ocean Energy Farms
This Horizon scheme is looking to support projects that will contribute to outcomes including increased performance of ocean energy technologies with the focus on sustainability, operation and maintenance of ocean energy devices. Collaborative funding worth up to €4 million is available.
Application Deadline: 4th February 2025
ii) Digital Solutions to Foster Participative Design, Planning and Management of Buildings, Neighbourhoods and Urban Districts
This Horizon Scheme is looking to support a project that will contribute to outcomes including greater engagement of representative groups of end users as well as citizens of the impacted urban context. Collaborative funding worth up to €5 million is available.
Application Deadline: 4th February 2025
iii) Industrialisation of Sustainable and Circular Deep Renovation Workflows
This Horizon Scheme aims to support a project inviting businesses and researchers that will contribute to outcomes including streamlining resource-efficient nearly zero-energy performance renovation processes. Collaborative funding worth up to €8 million is available.
Application Deadline: 4th February 2025
iv) PV-Integrated Electric Mobility Applications
This Horizon Scheme is looking to support a project inviting businesses and researchers that will contribute to outcomes including open new market opportunities for Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics in road transport. Collaborative funding worth up to €7 million is available.
Application Deadline: 4th February 2025
v) Zero-Pollution Cities
Horizon has made available funding for projects to contribute to outcomes including methods for more precisely assessing exposure to air, water, soil and/or noise pollution, health impacts and public information at regional and/or local level. Collaborative funding worth up to €5 million is available.
Application Deadline: 11th February 2025
vi) Quantum Chip Technology for High-Quality Trapped Ions Pilot Line
This Horizon funding call aims to develop a scalable production infrastructure for trapped-ion quantum computing processors in Europe, transitioning from manually fabricated ion traps to automated manufacturing processes. This infrastructure will be implemented through a Framework Partnership Agreement. Collaborative funding worth up to €15 million is available.
Application Deadline: 21st January 2025
How To Apply For Horizon Europe Schemes
Full details about how to apply for Horizon schemes and the eligibility criteria is available on each individual scheme page on the Horizon funding site. Any deadlines, funding amounts or how innovation support is funded and any required match-funding will also be outlined on these pages. Interested businesses and researchers can speak to project support managers based within the innovation area of interest who can guide them through requirements and eligibility criteria to see if the relevant funding is a match with their needs and help them to apply. There are also application forms and other supporting guidance available on scheme pages as well. Innovate UK can also provide assistance for businesses and researchers who have never accessed Horizon funding before to get support with their applications.
Want To Find The Latest Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities?
If you want to see the full set of Horizon Europe funding currently available, please visit https://getbusinessgrants.com/
