Leaders expect UK participation in Horizon Europe to bounce back

But government wants further discount to rejoin R&D programme, expecting lasting impact on participation rates

Research leaders have said they would expect the UK’s flagging participation rates to rapidly return to former levels if the country rejoined the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

Their views appear at odds with the UK government’s negotiating position in talks with the EU, where the government is arguing there will be a lasting negative impact on participation rates from the UK already spending two years outside of the programme.