September 2023
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about Horizon Europe.
I am delighted that, on 7 September 2023, the Prime Minister agreed a bespoke deal with the EU for the UK to associate to Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes. This means that UK researchers can apply for grants and bid to take part in projects under the Horizon programme, with certainty that the UK will be participating as a fully associated member for the remaining life of the programme to 2027.
Horizon will give UK companies and research institutions unrivalled opportunities to lead global work to develop new technologies and research projects, in areas from health to AI. The deal is set to create and support thousands of new jobs as part of the next generation of research talent. It will help deliver the Prime Minister’s ambition to grow the economy and cement the UK as a science and technology superpower by 2030.
The UK's association with Copernicus, the European Earth Observation programme, will provide the UK’s earth observation sector with access to unique data – valuable to helping with early flood and fire warnings, for example – and with the ability to bid for contracts, which they have not been able to access for three years.
I welcome this new deal which increases the benefits to UK scientists, provides value for money for the UK taxpayer, and mitigates the impact that the EU’s delays to the UK's association will have on participation rates of researchers.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Best wishes,
Angela Richardson MP
Member of Parliament for Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages