Russell Group pushes for an “open, research-led” Horizon successor

The Russell Group is calling for a smooth UK association to Framework Programme 10 – the successor to the current Horizon Europe research funding programme which will begin in 2028 – as part of a “stable decade” of EU-UK research and innovation cooperation.

The mission group’s latest policy paper strikes a balance between audiences in Westminster and Brussels, setting out the benefits of the UK’s – as yet unconfirmed – participation while also lending its support to some of the advocacy from the European research community aimed at ensuring that FP10 remains “research-led”.

The Russell Group stresses that Horizon participation is vital for wider UK efforts to attract global research and science talent, arguing that the prestige of European Research Council (ERC) grants “cannot be replicated domestically.” It is also noted that, with the exceptions of the USA and China, the UK’s ten biggest research partners will all be participating in Horizon in 2027, the final year of the current framework programme.

In terms of policy asks, the briefing paper emphasises the need for the ERC to remain “bottom-up” and independent, echoing recent calls from groups such as the European University Association. The Russell Group wants to see the removal of proposals for “EU preference” mechanisms, which would potentially see projects involving EU member states prioritised in certain strategic areas or circumstances. In the event that these plans move forward, the Russell Group argues that associated countries such as the UK should be included in the parts of the programme to which they have signed up.

On a similar note, the European Council’s recent language around deepening collaboration with “trusted like-minded countries” (which appeared in the recent EC partial negotiating position on FP10) is described as “extremely welcome” in the context of the UK’s participation. The Russell Group suggests that this category should grant an exemption from exclusions – in light of growth in the number of dual-use funding calls – as well as pave the way for a streamlined “day one participation” and serve as a formal basis for negotiations around future framework programmes.