UK association to Horizon Europe - What have we learnt?

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Over two and a half years after the start of Horizon Europe, the United Kingdom has finally associated with Horizon Europe. As of 7 September, UK researchers can freely apply to any part of Horizon Europe (with the exception of the EIC Fund), including as principal investigators – and they will get the funding from Horizon Europe.

This is a massive boost to European science, in the EU and the UK. UK researchers being again eligible for #ERC awards boosts not only the attractiveness of UK science; it also boosts the international standing of the ERC, and of all grantholders across Europe. Now that the programme has become global in ambition, with New Zealand first off the mark to be associated further afield, Horizon’s capacity to foster cross-border science collaborations has been strengthened immeasurably.

In fact, the benefits of association are so clear, and have been underlined vociferously and unanimously by scientists and stakeholders, that the question emerges: why did it take so long? What do the past 32 months tell us about the potential – and the limits – of science in politicians’ minds?

It is very clear: neither the UK Prime Ministers, nor the Commission President, were under any illusion that failing to associate the UK to Horizon Europe constituted a huge act of self-harm to both the UK and the EU. But these arguments were not able to cut through the issues of principle and emotion around the Northern Ireland Protocol. We still have not been sufficiently adept to articulate why science matters so much to each and every individual. When it comes to self-interest vs. emotion, emotion still wins.

But once an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol was reached in the Windsor Agreement, the significance of united science advocacy became evident. Ever since the Brexit vote seven years ago, the UK and EU science sector have been united in pressing for the urgency of association. We have persisted even at times when association seemed remote, precisely to give politicians no excuse for thinking that we waned in our resolve.

This unity persevered even at times when universities and science organisations were in danger of being played out by their governments against each other; governments, after all, can always influence behaviours and opinions through regulatory and financial frames.

If, after all this time, the UK is now associated to Horizon Europe, this shows that we still need to emphasise much more the centrality of science to Europe’s ambitions to the future. But it also shows that the unity of universities, science organisations and stakeholders can go a long way to persuading (reluctant) politicians.

This gives us an opportunity to build on the close partnerships of universities, science organisations and stakeholders to ensure the UK has a proper voice in the European Research Area. The transborder issues framing science are ever more complex, including ethics, responsible internationalisation, and the important goal of achieving equity in an unequal world. It is critical that the UK, with all the experience and quality it brings, must take a full part in these discussions.

Finally, the UK’s association makes the omission of Switzerland as an associated member of Horizon Europe all the more glaring. The obstacles are significant, and reasons for politicians’ inaction abound (there always seems to be an election either in Switzerland or in the EU round the corner…). But that the UK has now been associated incentivises us to be all the more forceful and resourceful in demanding its realisation!

So for the next country to be associated, I root for ‘Hop Schwiiz – Hop Suisse – Forza Svizzera’