A new analysis by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology shows that UK researchers delivered higher academic impact and were more likely to complete ambitious projects when supported by the Horizon research and innovation programme. The findings come as the UK marks two years since rejoining Horizon Europe and reinforce the programme’s importance to the government’s wider objectives around economic growth, public service improvement and national renewal.
Funding at Scale
The analysis focuses on the UK’s participation in Horizon 2020, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme that ran from 2014 to 2020. During that period, UK organisations secured approximately €7.8 billion in funding across nearly 11,000 projects, making the UK one of the largest participants in the programme.
Higher Research Quality
According to the report, Horizon 2020 funding had a clear positive effect on the quality and influence of UK research outputs. Research supported by the programme showed higher citation impact compared with similar projects that did not receive Horizon funding, indicating stronger recognition within the global academic community.
Stability for Long-Term Projects
The analysis also highlights the role Horizon funding played in enabling projects to proceed as originally planned. Without this support, many projects would have been abandoned entirely or significantly altered, including reduced scope, extended timelines or relocation outside the UK. This underlines the programme’s role in providing stability for complex, long-term research.
Tangible Benefits Across Sectors
The real-world benefits of Horizon-backed research are evident across a wide range of sectors. In healthcare, UK universities contributed to the INNODIA project, improving the management of Type 1 diabetes by streamlining clinical trials and identifying age-related biomarkers.
Advancing Global Health
In global health, the EBOVAC programme advanced understanding of the safety and effectiveness of a new Ebola vaccine, delivering multiple phases of clinical trials in Europe and Africa under UK leadership.
Supporting Food Security
Horizon-funded projects have also supported advances in agriculture, helping researchers develop more productive and resilient farming techniques aimed at improving food security and reducing pressure on food costs.
Continued Strength in Horizon Europe
Alongside the retrospective analysis, there are signs that the UK continues to perform 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.
Building Future Partnerships
Looking ahead, the government plans to strengthen international collaboration by launching a targeted campaign in Spain and Germany in 2026. The aim is to highlight the value UK partners bring to Horizon Europe applications and deepen cooperation on shared scientific and technological challenges.
Innovation and National Renewal
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 how Horizon Europe continues to support innovation that delivers economic, environmental and societal benefits, reinforcing the UK’s position as a leading partner in international research and innovation.