Horizon scanning

The EU’s R&D programme is at a crossroads

When Horizon Europe was launched back in 2021, no one involved in R&D wanted the programme to be approaching its midpoint with two of the EU’s close research neighbours, the UK and Switzerland, still locked out of participation. But after two years of torrid political back and forth, the EU’s deal in principle with the UK over the thorny issue of post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland finally offers hope, at least where the UK is concerned. 

The sentiment from researchers is clear: with broader political agreement in sight, UK association to Horizon must swiftly follow, ending two years of uncertainty and unnecessary damage to collaborations.