New figures show UK research backed by Horizon made bigger academic impact\u00a0and more ambitious projects reached fruition
\n Comes as UK marks\u00a02\u00a0years in Horizon Europe – the world\u2019s largest research and Innovation programme \u2013 with plans to boost joint work with Spain and Germany in the new year
\n From health to clean energy, science and tech breakthroughs made possible by Horizon Europe and its predecessor are critical to this government\u2019s mission of national renewal<\/p>\n
New analysis\u00a0commissioned by Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and\u00a0published today (Monday 29 December)\u00a0shows some\u00a0of the UK\u2019s brightest minds\u00a0were more likely to see their research through\u00a0–\u00a0and had\u00a0a bigger impact\u00a0on their\u00a0respective\u00a0fields\u00a0–\u00a0when they were backed by the world-leading Horizon R&D programme.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0outcomes from these\u00a0research\u00a0projects\u00a0\u2013\u00a0from improvements to healthcare like\u00a0better diabetes management,\u00a0to new\u00a0farming techniques\u00a0to help keep the cost of food down\u00a0\u2013\u00a0all underscore the unique value of R&D to the government\u2019s mission of national renewal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The findings, which look at the UK\u2019s\u00a0participation in the Horizon 2020 programme (H2020),\u00a0come as the UK marks the\u00a02nd\u00a0anniversary of associating to its successor\u00a0Horizon Europe.\u00a0As\u00a0the world\u2019s largest programme of research collaboration, worth \u00a380 billion, the government is determined to maximise the opportunities\u00a0Horizon Europe\u00a0offers for UK scientists,\u00a0researchers\u00a0and businesses to make their\u00a0gamechanging\u00a0ideas a reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Better Type 1 diabetes care and more productive farming techniques are\u00a0just some of\u00a0the breakthroughs\u00a0made possible by the UK\u2019s past involvement in Horizon. Today,\u00a0the programme is supporting innovators whose ideas are set to\u00a0boost\u00a0economic growth and\u00a0improve our\u00a0public services.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This new evidence shows\u00a0why it is so crucial\u00a0that\u00a0we\u00a0support\u00a0our\u00a0brilliant scientists,\u00a0researchers\u00a0and businesses to seize the opportunities Horizon offers.\u00a0In 2026\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0continue doing\u00a0just that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
European Commissioner for Startups,\u00a0Research\u00a0and Innovation, Katerina\u00a0Zaharieva\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
2 years ago, the United Kingdom associated to Horizon\u00a0Europe\u00a0and this has already led to many fascinating new research projects. We welcome UK researchers in all pillars of Horizon Europe, including the collaborative projects with researchers from across the continent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I saw this fruitful collaboration in action during my visit to the UK last year and hope to see even more next time I come.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0report commissioned by the DSIT, has found that UK researchers secured \u20ac7.8 billion in funding through\u00a0nearly 11,000\u00a0projects in H2020, which ran from 2014-2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Analysis showed H2020 had\u00a0a positive effect on the quality of\u00a0UK\u00a0publications\u00a0as measured by citation impact.\u00a0There was also evidence\u00a0that, without H2020 funding, projects would have had to be abandoned or changed\u00a0substantially in\u00a0terms of scope timeline, and\/or\u00a0location.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some of the\u00a0exciting\u00a0outcomes from\u00a0the\u00a0UK\u2019s\u00a0involvement\u00a0in\u00a0H2020\u00a0include:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Better\u00a0management\u00a0of\u00a0Type 1 Diabetes\u00a0by streamlining clinical trials and\u00a0identifying\u00a0age-related biomarkers\u00a0through the INNODIA project, with contributions from\u00a0UK\u00a0universities including\u00a0Cambridge, King\u2019s London, Oxford,\u00a0Cardiff\u00a0and\u00a0Exeter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The EBOVAC programme advanced understanding of\u00a0the safety and efficacy of a novel Ebola vaccine through Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials in the EU and Africa, led by the London School of\u00a0Hygiene\u00a0and Tropical Medicine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the\u00a0impact of H2020 on\u00a0previous\u00a0UK\u00a0research was positive, there is also good news coming out of the UK\u2019s involvement in Horizon Europe,\u00a0right now. Earlier this month,\u00a0the European\u00a0Research\u00a0Council\u00a0(ERC) announced which mid-career researchers would be receiving its Consolidator Grants –\u00a0with the UK taking the biggest share of any country.\u00a0Of the 349 grants (totalling\u00a0\u20ac728 million), 65 will go towards\u00a0UK-led\u00a0projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To capitalise on the benefits of involvement in Horizon, the UK will be launching an international campaign in Spain and Germany in 2026. It\u00a0will\u00a0highlight the value a UK partner can bring to a Horizon Europe application, amplifying the strengths of Spanish and German participants to achieve shared goals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s\u00a0hoped this will build on the\u00a0wealth of research that British,\u00a0German\u00a0and Spanish colleagues have\u00a0already\u00a0worked together on\u00a0through Horizon\u00a0Europe. One example is the\u00a0ESCALATE\u00a0project,\u00a0developing\u00a0electric HGVs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
This \u00a319 million (\u20ac22 million) effort\u00a0saw Yorkshire-based Electra Commercial Vehicles work together with Spanish partner\u00a0Primafrio\u00a0Corporation S.A. and German partners including RWTH Aachen University, to develop higher-weight vehicles and prove their commercial value to would-be customers,\u00a0opening up\u00a0new potential markets in the process.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spanish and German researchers can find UK partners through the European Commission\u2019s\u00a0Funding and Tenders portal.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n UK researchers can explore funding opportunities and application guidance via the\u00a0Horizon Hub on\u202fInnovate UK<\/a>\u202f.\u00a0<\/p>\n Notes to editors\u00a0<\/p>\n