Science is a collaborative, international endeavour. It provides the widest benefits to society when researchers from different backgrounds, be that country, sector or discipline, come together. This has never been more clear than in the last year, when researchers from across the globe have come together to tackle the global pandemic.

Chemistry knows no languages; it knows no borders. A molecule of DNA is the same in Britain, in Portugal or in the US. It doesn't matter where you do a chemistry experiment, it will react in the same way.
Dr Hugo Macedo, CEO, Smart Separations Ltd
Picture: Smart Separations Ltd.

EU research and innovation Framework Programmes

The EU’s research and innovation Framework Programmes are an important, and internationally recognised, way of achieving scientific collaboration. The UK will associate to Horizon Europe. Funding calls are already open and UK researchers are eligible to apply right away.

Find out more

Our research

We developed member case studies and analysed scientific papers published in our portfolio of journals to understand the benefits UK participation in EU Framework Programmes bring the UK and the EU.

Key findings

  • The programmes operate on a scale that is unique globally, spanning different disciplines, countries & sectors
  • Their prestige and the collaborations they facilitate are associated with higher impact science for both the UK & EU  
  • They enable businesses to grow, create jobs and invest in the UK
  • They enable science and research to inform and shape policy locally & globally    
  • They facilitate the easy movement of researchers that is essential to science as a global endeavour           
  • They broaden UK national research capability and widen access to expertise & equipment
Read our briefing

Read our case studies

CompBioMed:  a European Commission funded Centre of Excellence, based at University College London, developing computational methods to speed up the discovery and design of new drugs, and ultimately combine patient data and modelling to determine the best treatment for patients quickly.


EUROCHAMP-2020: a Europe-wide network of 14 cloud chambers seeking to improve our understanding of air quality and its impact on human health.


Econic Technologies:  an SME start-up that has commercialised an innovative catalyst technology that could have an environmental impact equivalent to taking two millions cars a year off the road.


RobOT:  Fundamental, blue-skies research at the University of Liverpool is exploring computational modelling and robotics to develop better, faster ways of discovering new materials, with the project contributing to significant industrial investment in the city of Liverpool itself.


COST Action:  EU funding has given early career researcher Dr Sara Kyne invaluable opportunities for career development and allowed her to establish a fruitful collaboration with the University of Groningen, Netherlands.


Smart Separations Ltd:  Dr Hugo Macedo, a former Erasmus student, started London-based company Smart Separations Ltd, which employs 14 skilled scientists from all over the world. They have devised a cheaper, more efficient method for making reusable, recyclable microfilters with a wide variety of applications from air filtration to blood processing and antibody production.


ANB Sensors:  ANB Sensors used a Horizon 2020 SME Instrument grant to carry out a feasibility study for sensors measuring the degree of alkalinity or acidity of water, which is important for environmental testing.


PharmaSea:  an international collaboration led from the University of Aberdeen that is advancing treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy and informing global policy on marine biodiversity.


ALG-AD Interreg:  circular economy research into algal technologies that turn agricultural waste into food for livestock that can otherwise pollute waterways. This is a particular issue in Wales, which has a large farming sector.


NoNoMeCat:  Marie Skłodowska-Curie funding enabled AstraZeneca to host a number of European researchers and collaborate with leaders in the field as part of a consortium looking at sustainable catalysis for clean energy production and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

Using our research to inform

Our research and engagement with the community played a strong role in making the case to the UK Government and Parliament for UK association to Horizon Europe. For example, we shared evidence with the House of Lords inquiry "Brexit: EU student exchanges and funding for university research" and worked with colleagues in at the European Chemical Society to make the case to the European Parliament and Council for the Horizon Europe programme to maintain its focus on excellence and enable broad third country association.

  • Read the evidence we submitted to the House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee inquiry “Brexit: EU student exchanges and funding for university research”.
  • Read our position paper on the proposal for Horizon Europe.
  • Read our response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into an immigration system that works for science and innovation.

See our research and innovation reports

See all our research and innovation policy

See all in policy, evidence and campaigns

Policy, evidence and campaigns

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