UK Research Office (UKRO)

UK Researchers - follow us on a journey to de-mystify Horizon Europe funding! 🧙♂️ 🌋 ⬇ ⭐ The Horizon Europe Programme provides #research funding opportunities for every UK applicant: ◼ from early career to senior researchers; ◼ from academic and non-academic institutions (SMEs, charities, hospitals, NGOs, government departments...); ◼ and from all disciplines. However, we are aware that, especially for applicants new to European funding, applications to Horizon Europe might be daunting at first. Hence, we will post articles on all aspects of Horizon Europe funding, from successfully applying to demystifying the different pillars, over the coming months. Today's post will provide a general overview of Horizon Europe and its "Three Pillars", so strap in! 👩🚀 🚀 ➡ What is Horizon Europe? Horizon Europe is the EU's main funding Programme for Research and Innovation activities in all research areas. It fosters excellence in research and promotes the formation of international partnerships. With a current total budget of €95.5 billion, it will run from 2021 to 2027. ➡What is the UK's relationship to this R&I programme? As the UK is associated to this Programme, UK-based researchers can apply to all calls, provided the call text doesn't state otherwise. ➡ What is the structure of Horizon Europe? This funding programme is based on a "three pillar structure", supplemented by horizontal pillars and other actions. Each pillar is a funding scheme with a specific focus and regulations. ➡ The "Main Three Pillar Structure"? ◼ Pillar 1️⃣ promotes excellent science in all research areas. Applicants can submit a proposal of their choice. There are three funding schemes with different focuses: "MSCA" (training of researchers), "ERC" (frontier research), and "Research Infrastructures" (to set up infrastructure). ◼ Pillar 2️⃣ funds research activities where the outcomes directly support EU policy priorities. All research areas are funded; however, submitted proposals must convince evaluators that the consortium composition and the chosen research methodology will successfully deliver all the objectives outlined in the call text. ◼ Pillar 3️⃣ funds high-risk innovative projects in disruptive technologies at all technology readiness levels in both open- and priority-driven calls. ➡ We will discuss the specifics of each scheme and more funding opportunities in subsequent posts. Stay tuned! 😉 ➡ SPOILER: Our next post will provide UK applicants with information on applying for Horizon Europe funding and the available support for all disciplines and sectors. ⭐ UK researchers, please share these posts within your research communities, both in the academic and non-academic sectors, and with those looking for new funding opportunities.⭐ UK Research and Innovation #grant #funding #HorizonEurope #opportunity #earlycareer #history #biology #chemistry #physics #geology #STEM #Arts #Humanities #sociology #literature #mathematics #statistics #languages

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) from the European Parliament has published the draft report on the assessment of the implementation of Horizon Europe in view of its interim evaluation and recommendations for the 10th Research Framework Programme. We summarized the key points for you.🔎 ⭐ Background: This draft report summarizes ITRE's assessment of the achievements and challenges of Horizon Europe in view of its implementation for the remaining period and provides recommendations for the EU's next framework programme for R&I, FP10. 🧾 The draft report ➡️ doesn't contain any specific comments on Pillar 1 and 3. ➡️ concludes that Pillar 2 remains too complex and its implementation should be improved and streamlined. ➡️ notes that the Missions failed to achieve their core objectives. ⭐ The draft report provides the following key recommendations for the remainder of Horizon Europe: ➡️ Horizon Europe should urgently include a ‘choose Europe’ co-funding line by 2025 to attract talent to Europe, in line with the Heitor Report. ➡️ The Missions should be discontinued in their current form from 2025; funding to continue the Missions should be redirected from other parts of the EU budget and/or national funding. ➡️ Use of lump-sum funding should be reduced until evidence demonstrates that it leads to simplification. ✨ Key recommendations for FP10: ➡️ FP10 should be a stand-alone EU programme dedicated to EU research excellence with a budget of at least EUR 220 Billion - sufficient for achieving the 3% GDP spending target and for funding at least 75% of the proposals scored as 'excellent'. ➡️ Half of the FP10 budget should be ringfenced for the ERC and EIC instruments as the key drivers for European Innovation and Competitiveness. ➡️ The FP10 structure should be divided into 3️⃣ parts: 1️⃣ advancing the European Research Area (ERA) with specific measures that address regional disparities and support underrepresented Member States in their innovation capacities; 2️⃣ creating a European competition of ideas; 3️⃣ supporting strategic, large-scale collaborative research initiatives. ➡️ Create 4 councils as proposed in the Heitor report, including a European technology and industrial competitiveness council and a European societal challenges council. The draft report can be read in full here 👉 https://lnkd.in/djFchFdQ #HorizonEurope #Heitor #FP10

Today, the European Parliament has approved the new College of Commissioners. They are expected to work on policy directives assigned to them by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 👇 ➡️ Ahead of the vote, President von der Leyen presented her team and political priorities for the next years in her speech: ✅ A Competitiveness Compass with 3️⃣ pillars: innovation, decarbonisation and security, to close Europe's current innovation gap with China and the US. To stay globally competitive, Europe must be home to the next wave of frontier technologies, especially in digital tech. ✅ Presenting a clean industrial deal. ✅ Launching a strategic dialogue on the future of Europe’s car industry. ✅ Reinforcing Europe's economic security by ensuring stable and secure supply chains through more partnerships and a systemic review of dependencies. This is accompanied by developping a competitive circular economy to support the EU in avoiding the 'single supplier trap'. ✅ Strengthening European security, including an increase in defence spending; a single market for defence; strengthening the defence industrial base and work on common European projects on defence. 👉 More information: https://lnkd.in/es24V949 ➡️ What to expect from the EU’s Startups, Research and Innovation portfolio. Earlier in November, Commissioner Zaharieva expressed her political priorities in her public confirmation hearing before the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Culture and Education (CULT). These included: ✅ More strategic investments in EU R&I to allow Europe to achieve its digital and low-carbon transitions. ✅ Proposal of a European Innovation Act to push Member States to meet the 3% spending target on R&I. ✅ Simplification of the next Framework Programme. ✅ 'Cut red tape' to overcome the current fragmentation of corporate law, which places undue regulatory burden on start-ups in Europe. ✅ Increase funding for start-ups in the space sector. ✅ Increase spending for defence R&I; the European Defence Fund will remain separate from Horizon Europe. Commissioner Zaharieva will work under the guidance of the Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy and the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy on matters related to tech sovereignty, highlighting the importance and interlinkage between R&I, European Competitiveness and security. 👉 More information: ◼️ Zaharieva's Speech: https://lnkd.in/eXjHmWnj ◼️ Mission Letter for Zaharieva: https://lnkd.in/dfJMZCZ6 ➡️ Next Steps The Commissioners are expected to take office on 1 December for a period of five years. The Members of the European Parliament will be monitoring their Commission commitments during this time.

UK Applicants from all sectors and disciplines often ask us: "Which Horizon Europe scheme should I go for?" We'll go through Pillar I and II with you today! ⬇ ✨ Pillar I ✨ Submit proposals of your choice in any research discipline in the following funding schemes: ➡ MSCA funds research projects that must include training aspects for the recruited researchers. ➡ ERC funds excellent frontier research projects. ➡ Research Infrastructures (RI) scheme funds setting up and consolidating world-class research infrastructures. 🛑 If you are submitting a proposal of your choice, you must keep these key requirements in mind to succeed. For example, you must include training aspects in your MSCA research proposal - otherwise, you miss the key requirement of the scheme. The UK Contact Points offer free advice for applicants of any discipline, any sector and career stage: 📩MSCA: mariecurie-uk@ukro.ac.uk 📩 ERC: erc-uk@ukro.ac.uk 📩 RI: rincpuk@stfc.ac.uk ✨ Pillar II ✨ Pillar II funds research projects to deliver very specific outcomes defined in the call description. Are you missing expertise and/or facilities to deliver these outcomes? No worries – these calls are delivered by a consortium of partners, who each bring their unique expertise and facilities to the project. The calls are separated in 6️⃣ Clusters focused on specific research thematic areas: 1️⃣ Health; 2️⃣ Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; 3️⃣ Civil Security for Society; 4️⃣ Digital, Industry and Space; 5️⃣ Climate, Energy and Mobility; 6️⃣ Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Ressources, Agriculture and Environment. 🛑 There may be overlap between different clusters, where your expertise is also in demand. So, we encourage applicants to check out the calls in other clusters. 😉 Research projects are often required to integrate a 'Social Sciences and Humanities' (SSH) component. Perhaps an opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration? ✨ More information on Pillar II ➡ Read carefully through the call description and note down all the specified outcomes. Do you and your partners have the necessary expertise and facilities to meet them all? ➡ UK-specific resources to help applicants ◼ UK contact points for each cluster, including support for industry and regional support: https://lnkd.in/e9hGwbbf ◼ Free NCP newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e3Az5MG7 ➡ We'll be back with more detailed info posts on the different schemes soon. ✌ ➡ SPOILER: Our next post will describe Pillar III. ⭐ UK Researchers & organisations: Please share these posts within your research communities, both in the academic and non-academic sectors and with anyone looking for new funding opportunities.⭐ #grant #funding #HorizonEurope #opportunity #earlycareer #history #biology #chemistry #physics #geology #STEM #Arts #Humanities #sociology #literature #mathematics #statistics #languages #research #HorizonEurope #ERC #MSCA #ResearchInfrastructures Dajana Dzanovic Philip Lewis

UKRO is recruiting a Senior European Advisor! Are you a research support or policy professional with experience in supporting European funding? We are looking for applicants who understand European research and innovation funding opportunities, with a good grasp of the legal and financial aspects of applying to Horizon Europe. Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 hours per week FTE) Permanent, based in Polaris House, Swindon (with regular travel to Brussels) Hybrid working available. Closing date Sunday 8th December 2024. https://lnkd.in/eehTeJHX

UK researchers from the Humanities and Social Sciences: Discover the ERC Consolidator Grant on 2️⃣ December. ⬇ ➡ The British Academy will hold a free webinar on the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant tailored for UK-based researchers in the Humanities and Social sciences. ➡ This grant provides full funding for ambitious frontier research projects from researchers from all research disciplines who are currently consolidating their research career. ➡ Researchers choose the topic. ➡ This Call will close on 14 January 2025. ➡ These calls are annual opportunities, so you might also want to join and discover this call even if you will not be submitting a proposal in response to this call this year. 😉 The webinar will take place on Monday 2 December, 14:00-15:30 UK Time. Sign up here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dK9mQx-Y ⭐ Please share widely within your networks, within your institution and with interested colleagues - this scheme is a great funding opportunity for all researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences ⭐ #funding #grants #socialsciences #history #arts #humanities #sociology #literature #classics #languages #music #HorizonEurope #ERC #opportunity Dajana Dzanovic Dr Jamie Davies Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council

⭐ UK Researchers from all sectors: Interested in receiving funding through the #HorizonEurope funding programme, but are unfamiliar with the different evaluation criteria? Read on! ⭐ ⬇ UK-based researchers at any career stage, from any discipline and sector can sign up to become an EU Expert evaluating Horizon Europe proposals. EU Expert Evaluator: ➡ You will receive training to evaluate proposals in your research area according to the Horizon Europe evaluation criteria – thus gaining an in-sight understanding of "what constitutes a Good Horizon Europe proposal"😉 ➡  You will gain a deeper understanding of cross-cutting issues, and other proposal aspects, in your research field. ➡  You will receive payment for the evaluation activities. 🛑 Don't miss out on this chance to familiarize yourself with Horizon Europe evaluation criteria before writing and submitting your proposal! Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/d7jVjz4 🛑 Early career stage researcher, this is also a career development opportunity for you 😉. ➡ Stay tuned for our posts next week on how you can successfully access EU funding - no spoilers this time! ⭐ UK researchers, please share these posts within your research communities, both in the academic and non-academic sectors, and with those looking for new funding opportunities.⭐ #grant #funding #HorizonEurope #opportunity #earlycareer #history #biology #chemistry #physics #geology #STEM #Arts #Humanities #sociology #literature #mathematics #statistics #languages #research #HorizonEurope

Are you a UK researcher interested in applying to Horizon Europe research funding, but you are lacking the right partners? Read our top tips! ⬇ 1️⃣ The Cordis Database contains all successful EU-funded projects in your research field. By filtering by research field, call, sector and nationality..., you can identify and contact potential partners who were previously successful in Horizon Europe proposals! ➡ https://lnkd.in/ezeHckXN 🛑 Tip – Check when the project is supposed to end. Chances are that project partners are likely thinking of their new Horizon Europe submission and would welcome your experience and resources. 2️⃣ The COST programme provides funding for networking activities in a research project of your choice. ➡ https://lnkd.in/gx6Yihi 🛑 Even if you weren't involved in the original proposal, you can still apply to participate in a COST project and meet potential partners in your field. 😉 Did we mention that follow-up proposals from COST actions have a 37% success rate? 3️⃣ Once you have identified a call, use the "Partner Search" function on the Call page to publish your own expression of interest or find partners. 4️⃣ Go to match-making events in your area to find partners interested in teaming up with you for a joint Horizon Europe application. 🛑 The free NCP newsletters for your research are a good way to stay up-to-date when events and opportunities occur ➡ https://lnkd.in/e3Az5MG7 The NCPs are also a great resource ➡ https://lnkd.in/ekvu7K2a 5️⃣ Once successful projects have been announced, you can ask whether you can join as: ◼ as an expert on the external advisory board. ◼ in MSCA actions (Doctoral Networks, COFUND) on the recruitment panel. ☀ We found that this low-touch participation in existing projects can also help making connections - especially as an early career researcher. 6️⃣ Network with your peers at any opportunity! Do your colleagues in your field know that you are open to joining a Horizon Europe application? 🛑 You can join in a minor capacity, e.g. delivering some research activities. We found that it's helpful if your website is up-to-date; states key publications and outlines your research expertise and interests and also mentions that you are open to collaborations. 😉 ⭐ UK researchers and institutions: please share these posts within your research communities, both in the academic and non-academic sectors, and with anyone looking for new funding opportunities.⭐ #grant #funding #HorizonEurope #opportunity #earlycareer #history #biology #chemistry #physics #geology #STEM #Arts #Humanities #sociology #literature #mathematics #statistics #languages #research #HorizonEurope   UK Research and Innovation BBSRC Medical Research Council EPSRC ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council STFC

UK researchers from all sectors: how to find a #HorizonEurope call of interest?   ⭐The European Commission will publish ALL funding calls on their 'Funders and Tenders Portal' (FTOP) page: https://lnkd.in/djUJ6zg3 👉 Make sure you selected 'Horizon Europe' and 'Forthcoming' and 'Open Calls'. ⭐ You can also use the Work programmes which list all upcoming calls in a specific funding areas to plan ahead: https://lnkd.in/drVJn9sn 👉 Filter 'Work programme & call documents', '2023-2025' and then 'HE Main Work Programme 2023-2025' ⭐ Contact the UK National Contact Points for free advice: https://lnkd.in/e9hGwbbf 🛑 However, we found that it's best to have a rudimentary understanding of #HorizonEurope calls to understand which schemes are the best-suited ones for your research activities to effectively plan ahead. We'll publish more specific content soon. Stay tuned! ✌   ➡ SPOILER: How can you find partners and/or build a network in preparation for #HorizonEurope calls? Find out more in our next post!   ✨ UK Researchers and organisations: Please share these posts within your research communities, both in the academic and non-academic sectors and with anyone looking for new funding opportunities. ✨   #grant #funding #HorizonEurope #opportunity #earlycareer #history #biology #chemistry #physics #geology #STEM #Arts #Humanities #sociology #literature #mathematics #statistics #languages #research #HorizonEurope

UK Researchers from all sectors and disciplines: don't miss out on this pump-priming funding opportunity to form collaborations for Horizon Europe applications. ⬇ 🛑 Don't forget: the UK Contact Points are a valuable and free resource for your participation in each Horizon Europe scheme! We strongly encourage you to check in with the Contact Points and discover the support available for your application. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ekvu7K2a Lastly, we also encourage you to contact your institution's research offices and find out the support they are offering to maximise this opportunity to form connections and participate in Horizon Europe funding. ⭐ Please share with anyone who may be interested, and with your networks. ⭐ #grant #funding #opportunity #HorizonEurope #mathematics #STEM #Arts #Humanities #Sociology #history #physics #biology #geology #literature #languages