British scientists are “over the moon” to be back in Europe’s £80 billion Horizon research programme, having stormed back into the scientific elite with nearly £500 million in grant funding awarded in just one year.
As reported by The Guardian, after a three-year Brexit-induced lockout, the UK’s re-entry into the EU’s flagship science initiative is being hailed by academics as a powerful return to form — and a critical signal that Britain still belongs at the top table of international research.
New data from Brussels confirms nearly 3,000 Horizon grants were awarded to UK-based projects in 2024 alone, the first full year of Britain’s associate membership post-Brexit. That figure places the UK ahead of every non-EU country in terms of grant numbers, and fifth overall behind only Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and France.
With more research proposals in the pipeline, British scientists expect to reclaim their pre-Brexit stature — and potentially challenge the EU’s scientific giants — just as officials in Brussels begin laying the groundwork for the next seven-year funding cycle, starting in 2027.
“I am absolutely over the moon that we are back in the programme formally,” said Professor Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena of Imperial College London, who recently completed a 15-year Horizon-backed project in medical robotics.
His research, inspired by the mechanics of a wasp’s ovipositor — the needle-like organ used to pierce tree bark — led to the development of a miniature cranial catheter that could revolutionise brain surgery. The insect-inspired device is designed to delicately navigate the skull and deliver targeted treatments to tumours or lesions deep in the brain — a stunning example of biomimicry meeting medical innovation.
Such breakthrough work was under threat during the UK’s Brexit wrangling with the EU, which froze Britain out of Horizon during a dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Scientists found themselves cut off from cross-border collaborations, pan-European funding streams, and some of the world’s most competitive research ecosystems. The return to Horizon, observers say, has been a jolt of electricity for UK science.
“It is really good that we are back inside the tent,” said Professor Sir John Aston, pro-vice-chancellor for research at the University of Cambridge. “This is really competitive funding, and [it shows] that people who get this funding are doing really impressive work.” Aston, who has seen Cambridge once again thrive under Horizon’s umbrella, warned against any future withdrawal. “Let’s hope this kind of embargo never happens again.”
Despite having left the EU, Britain’s scientific establishment appears to have retained — and even bolstered — its place at the heart of Europe’s knowledge economy. Projects funded in the past year stretch from synthetic aviation fuel made from yeast and greenhouse gases to advanced materials, AI, and climate science. The sheer diversity of disciplines reflects the UK’s global reputation for excellence across the scientific spectrum.
There are signs that Whitehall sees Horizon as a strategic win in its bid to maintain scientific influence post-Brexit. Officials privately hope the UK’s swift resurgence in Horizon will cement its status as a lead player alongside Germany and France, shaping both the research agenda and future priorities of the bloc’s scientific investment.
Nevertheless, there is a quiet race underway in Brussels, as EU officials begin sketching plans for Horizon’s successor programme for 2027-2034. Britain, as an associate member, will have limited formal say — but its early dominance in grants could translate into serious informal clout. The more British scientists are embedded in high-profile pan-European projects, the more leverage the UK gains in setting long-term research priorities.
Academic leaders are now urging ministers not to squander the opportunity. The fear is that future political turbulence — or budgetary pressures — could once again jeopardise Britain’s place in Horizon. For researchers like Professor Rodriguez y Baena, the memory of exclusion still stings.
“Science is fundamentally international,” he said. “Being isolated, even briefly, slows progress and disconnects brilliant people from each other. Horizon isn’t just about money — it’s about ideas and networks. Being back is vital.”
As the UK looks to the future, re-establishing its scientific credibility within Europe may be one of the more tangible Brexit success stories. The question now is whether Britain’s political class has the foresight to protect it.
