UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus Programme

ICoRSA congratulates the recent EU-UK agreement on UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes. This agreement safeguards the long history of scientific collaboration between the European member states and the UK.

Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, UK’s researchers and organizations will be fully eligible to take part and be funded by Horizon Europe as the other Associated partners of the programme. The agreement will be effective starting on 1 January 2024 and includes 2024 work programme calls launched still in 2023. As for the latter, the transitional arrangements will be in place, with UK participation being covered by its Guarantee scheme.

UK’s will also gain access to the Copernicus Earth observation Programme.

However, the agreement excludes participation in the Euratom and Fusion4Energy / ITER, a decision taken by the UK Government as it will follow its own “domestic fusion energy strategy”. The UK is still out of the ERASMUS+ programme. London decided to drop out during the Withdrawal Agreement. As a substitute, the Turing scheme was implemented by the UK Government to support students studying and working abroad.