UK’s post-Horizon Europe backup plan revealed

The UK government has revealed more detail on its proposals to support UK science, should the country be formally ejected from Horizon Europe. But scientific organisations warn that association to the EU’s research programmes is still their preferred option and greater clarity is required on the government’s ‘plan B’ option.

Continuing UK participation in European research programmes was agreed during Brexit negotiations in December 2020. But full association to the €95.5 billion (£81 billion) Horizon Europe programme has never been fully signed off due to the UK government’s plan to renege on a Brexit-related trade agreement it signed with the EU.