Horizon Europe is a European research and development (R&D) funding scheme that was caught in the crossfire of Brexit. While negotiations surrounding the UK’s association with the scheme continue, the Horizon Europe Guarantee fund is being delivered by UKRI to continue to supply UK-based scientific and technological researchers and innovators with financial support in the interim.

The Government has stated that it “hopes negotiations on Horizon Europe will be successful, and that is our preference.” However, the Gov’s substitute programme, dubbed “Pioneer,” has been published today in an attempt to provide confidence and certainty to the UK’s scientific and technological community if talks falter.

The Government has said that the blueprints have been developed with input from researchers, innovators, and businesses, focusing on the themes of talent, end-to-end innovation, global collaboration, and investments in the R&D system.

In terms of how much investment will be set out for Pioneer if enacted, it’s been posited that the alternative programme will receive around £14.6 billion to the end of 2027 to 2028, including the support already provided through the Horizon Guarantee.

Professor Paul Boyle, Chair of the Universities UK Research & Innovation Policy Network, and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Swansea, said the following on Pioneer and the ongoing Horizon Europe negotiations: “We are pleased to see that, with publication of the Pioneer prospectus today, the government has again reiterated its ambition to complete association to Horizon Europe.

“The recent engagements between Secretary of State Michelle Donelan and the EU ambassador last month, and this week’s meetings in Brussels, demonstrate that this is being treated seriously by both parties.

“Agreement is clearly needed on an appropriate cost for the UK’s association given the years that have been missed. And while we remain hopeful that negotiations can proceed swiftly to deliver a positive outcome, it is entirely appropriate that the UK has an alternative plan that can be activated should our association prove impossible to agree in a reasonable timeframe. As such, we are pleased to see that proposals have now been published and that government is inviting feedback.

“Universities UK has been consulted on the development of the Pioneer package, and we will continue to engage constructively in the coming months. Indeed, there are aspects of the package that we would urge the government to consider implementing in addition to the UK’s association to Horizon Europe, as they would further bolster our ability to work globally and to achieve our collective research and innovation ambitions.”

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Sir Jim McDonald, the Principal and Vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, and President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, also commented, saying: “The strong preference of the Academy and the wider global research and innovation community has always been for the UK to associate with Horizon Europe.

“The progress indicated by discussions in recent weeks suggests that we are now closer to confirming that agreement. We hope that all parties will work together quickly to reach fair and appropriate terms for the association that reflect the impact of two years of delays. The whole engineering community would celebrate an announcement of continued partnership between the UK and EU.

“Should association prove impossible even at this late stage the information in the prospectus for Pioneer will be helpful to the community in preparing for the measures that would be put in place under those circumstances. The Academy has worked closely with DSIT, our sister National Academies and UKRI to be ready to deliver the Pioneer Discovery elements of that plan.”

The 48-page proposal for Pioneer can be accessed here.