Research and Horizon 2020 projects
Information for staff involved in EU-funded research and Horizon 2020 projects.
Staff employed on Horizion 2020 EU-funded research projects e.g. research assistants, postdoctoral fellows and project managers
The UK has now officially left the EU, and everything will continue as normal until the end of the project, even though the UK will no longer be a member state, and even if the project is due to end sometime after 31 December 2020. This means you’ll continue to be employed, and paid as normal until the end of your contract. For more information:
UKRI statement on working on EU-funded projects
Staff planning to apply for, awaiting the result of, or currently in receipt of an EU research funding award
The UK has now officially left the EU, and everything continues as normal until the end of Horizon 2020, even though the UK will no longer be a member state. UK researchers can continue to apply for H2020 funding calls even if deadlines fall after 31 December 2020. Due to the terms of the original Withdrawal Agreement, submission, evaluation, and payment of H2020 awards will continue as if the UK as if the UK remained a Member State, even after the UK exits the EU on 31 January 2020. Successful projects will be fully funded by the EU for their duration, even if the start or end date falls after 31 December 2020.
Full details are available in this blog post from Edinburgh Research Office. In summary – we encourage applicants to continue to apply for EU funding. For more information:
UKRI statement on working on EU-funded projects
Future EU research funding programmes e.g. Horizon Europe
As outlined in the UK R&D Roadmap the UK Government states that it is their ambition to fully associate to EU research funding programmes if they can agree a fair and balanced deal, but will make a final decision once it is clear whether such terms can be reached. If the UK is formally associated to Horizon Europe, the funding for UK participants will be allocated to the relevant UK organisations by the EU. In this scenario, if there were any gap before the UK became formally associated, the UK Gov would implement short-term alternative funding arrangements through proven, attractive UK schemes. During any gap, UK Gov would provide funding to UK partners who are successful in bidding to programmes open to third country participation.