Renewed push to turbo-charge UK-EU science and technology links

New plans have been unveiled to make Britain’s science and technology links with the European Union (EU) stronger and deeper, following a fruitful visit to Brussels by the UK’s Science and Technology Secretary, to meet some of the new slate of European Commissioners.

Today (January 30) the government is announcing the launch of a new nationwide advertising campaign to further boost UK participation in Horizon Europe, the world’s largest program of research collaboration. The UK is also joining four European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs) to further boost collaborative ties between researchers, across the Channel.

The government statement noted that the EU is an innovation powerhouse – spending over 380 billion euros ($39.9 billion) on R&D in 2023 – and fostering deep and high-quality links between the Continent’s brightest minds, and the UK’s, will be critical if we are to seize the promise for science and tech innovations to support the government’s missions to grow the economy, fix the National Health Service (NHS) and improve health outcomes and deliver clean energy under the Plan for Change. As the Plan sets out, promoting innovation and world-class research will be foundational to rebuilding the foundations of the economy, and kickstarting growth.