UK recipients of EU's Horizon 2020 programme 'must act immediately' to secure funding

Today (September 27), a new system is being rolled out as the first step towards supporting the continuity of funding for organisations which have been awarded grants from Horizon 2020 - the EU’s flagship programme for science and innovation.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is asking recipients of Horizon 2020 grants to input basic information about their awards into a portal.

This will ensure that UKRI can keep UK researchers and businesses informed of the next steps if the government needs to underwrite Horizon 2020 payments.

UK research and innovation chief executive, Professor Sir Mark Walport, said: “It is extremely important that, if required, the underwrite guarantee for Horizon 2020 funding is administered effectively and UKRI is committed to putting in place the mechanisms that will support this.

“I urge our partners in research and business to work with us to capture the information we need via this portal.”

The UK and the EU’s intention is that UK researchers and businesses will continue to be eligible to participate in Horizon 2020 for the remaining duration of the programme.

This is set out in the Financial Provisions of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, which has been agreed by both UK and Commission negotiators, and was welcomed by the other 27 EU countries at March European Council.

Science minister, Sam Gyimah, added: “It is imperative that we support our researchers, businesses and scientists to continue to collaborate with EU partners.

“While we do not want nor expect no deal, it is right that we plan for every eventuality.

“The launch of the new UKRI portal today is the next step in our commitment to the recipients of Horizon 2020 funding that we will guarantee funding for the duration of the programme.”

Two years ago, the UK government announced that it would underwrite UK funds for all EU-funded projects successfully bid for while the UK is a still a member of the EU.

This July, an extension to that guarantee said that funding for UK participants successfully bid for from exit day until the end of 2020 would also be guaranteed by the UK government, in a no deal scenario.

Those in receipt of Horizon 2020 grants need to input their information into the system as soon as possible.