On 24 December, the United Kingdom Government and the European Union announced the finalisation of the “EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement” setting out the future relationship between the two, in relation to trade and a number of EU programmes. As part of this agreement, the UK will retain access to the Horizon Europe research programme (2021-2027), however, its access will be less favourable compared with the UK’s access to Horizon 2020 when it was a Member State of the EU.
Under the Agreement, the UK will retain its ability to contribute and participate in the programme, as an Associate Member of the programme, and will be able to apply for top tier membership, which would allow it to continue coordinate research within Horizon Europe. However, the agreement does not finalise all details of the UK’s association with the Horizon Europe programme and further negotiations will be required to formally “associate” with the programme.
The UK’s annual pay-in to EU programmes will be calculated based on the country’s gross domestic product as a share of EU GDP. A further sum, the participation fee, will be levied at 4% of the country’s operational sum. This contribution may be adjusted upwards or downwards “retrospectively”, depending on the level of funding received by the UK, compared to is contribution. The UK will also receive money in return should its researchers be excluded from any aspects of the Horizon Europe programme. You can read further detail in the text of the Agreement which can be accessed at: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2531
