UK boosts R&D collaboration with EU

Image courtesy DSIT

The UK is also joining four European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs) to further boost collaborative ties between researchers, across the Channel.

The EU is an innovation powerhouse – spending over €380 billion on R&D in 2023 – and fostering deep and high-quality links between the continent’s brightest minds, and the UK’s, will be critical if we are to seize the promise for science and tech innovations to support the Government’s Missions to grow the economy, fix the NHS and improve health outcomes and deliver clean energy under the Plan for Change. As the plan sets out, promoting innovation and world-class research will be foundational to rebuilding the foundations of the economy, and kickstarting growth.

The recent AI Opportunities Action Plan – this government’s plan to unleash AI to deliver a decade of national renewal – also highlighted how close cooperation with our European allies on the latest technologies will be critical to our shared prosperity and wellbeing. An example of this is the UK’s involvement in the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, which is developing a world-class supercomputing infrastructure across the European continent.

Peter Kyle’s visit saw him hold high-level talks with Commissoners Zaharieva, Kubilius and McGrath, to discuss how the UK and the EU can tackle some of the biggest problems facing the world and grow our economies, by working together to seize the enormous potential of science and tech breakthroughs from AI to life sciences.

UK Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: "There is no question about it: we stand our best chance of tackling the great challenges of our era, from climate change to public health, to growing economies that work for everyone, by bringing the brightest minds from across the UK and the European Union, together.

"The UK is determined to give our researchers, innovators and businesses the opportunities and platforms they need to bring their great ideas to life, to the benefit of us all – all of which is highlighted by our new Horizon ad campaign. I’m pleased to have had such fruitful conversations with my European friends and colleagues, on taking this vital partnership even further."

Recent, initial signs suggest UK association to Horizon is trending in the right direction. For instance, in the latest ERC Synergy Grants, in which the UK hosted 18 projects – the second highest number. Yet the government is determined to go even further to help our innovators seize this opportunity.

The advertising campaign will bring the potential benefits of Horizon participation to life by shining a light on examples of businesses and researchers, right across the UK, who have benefited from funding. That includes Nova Innovation, a company developing turbines for the tidal energy industry and Electra Commercial vehicles, who are developing electric trucks that can go further without needing to recharge.

It is part of comprehensive action to support the effective uptake of opportunities in Horizon Europe, including events, financial and networking support. The roadshow events across the country have offered insights into bidding and networking opportunities, while Pump Priming grants, in collaboration with the British Academy and Innovate UK, are designed to support the establishment of consortia and development of high-quality applications.

There are further plans to help British business people and researchers network with potential European R&D partners, as Innovate UK will take UK delegations to Italy, Germany and Spain for a series of Horizon Europe Brokerage events. These events will also help those involved work on how to build the best possible bids for Horizon funding together with their overseas colleagues.

The four European Research Infrastructure Consortia the UK is joining are:

• European Holocaust Research Infrastructure
• European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science
• Low Frequency Array
• International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems

These partnerships will enable UK researchers to collaborate on projects ranging from historical research, to astronomy, to advanced river systems studies.