A new analysis by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology shows that UK researchers achieved greater academic impact and were more likely to complete ambitious projects when supported by the Horizon research and innovation programme
The findings from the analysis come as the UK marks its two years since rejoining Horizon Europe and underline the programme’s importance to the government’s wider goals of economic growth, public service improvement and national renewal.
International funding drives higher-quality research
The analysis focuses on the UK’s participation in Horizon 2020, the predecessor to Horizon Europe, which ran from 2014 to 2020. During that period, UK organisations secured €7.8 billion in funding across nearly 11,000 projects. The report provides evidence that Horizon 2020 funding positively affected the quality of UK research outputs, particularly in terms of citation impact, suggesting that research supported by the programme was more widely recognised and influential within the global academic community.
The study also found that Horizon funding had an important role in enabling projects to proceed as planned.
Without the support from Horizon funding, many projects would have been abandoned entirely or significantly altered, whether through reduced scope, extended timelines or relocation outside the UK.
This shows the programme’s role not only in boosting research quality, but also in providing the stability and scale needed to deliver complex, long-term scientific and technological work.
Real-world benefits
The outcomes of Horizon-backed research highlight its practical value across a wide range of sectors.
In healthcare, UK universities contributed to the INNODIA project, which improved the management of Type 1 diabetes by streamlining clinical trials and identifying age-related biomarkers. In global health, the EBOVAC programme advanced knowledge of the safety and effectiveness of a new Ebola vaccine, conducting multiple phases of clinical trials in Europe and Africa under UK leadership. Other projects have supported advances in agriculture, helping develop more productive and resilient farming techniques to keep food costs down.
Alongside this analysis, there are also signs that the UK is performing strongly within Horizon Europe today. Recent European Research Council results show that UK-based researchers secured the largest share of Consolidator Grants awarded to mid-career scientists. Of 349 grants announced, 65 were awarded to UK-led projects, representing a significant proportion of the €728 million total funding. This indicates that UK researchers remain highly competitive within Europe’s most prestigious research funding schemes.
National renewal
In the future, the UK government plans to strengthen international collaboration further by launching a targeted campaign in Spain and Germany in 2026. The aim is to promote the value UK partners bring to Horizon Europe applications, while building on existing strengths in joint research. These efforts are intended to help UK, Spanish and German organisations work together more effectively on shared scientific and technological challenges.
One example of successful collaboration is the ESCALATE project, which brought together UK, Spanish and German partners to develop electric heavy goods vehicles.
Backed by £19 million in funding, the project demonstrates the commercial potential of higher-weight electric trucks and opens new market opportunities. Through initiatives like this, Horizon Europe continues to support innovation that delivers economic, environmental and societal benefits, reinforcing the UK’s role as a leading partner in international research and innovation.
