The programme will help attract and retain top researchers in Europe and offer targeted support to those affected by war and displacement. Through the European Research Council (ERC), researchers relocating to Europe already receive a top-up beyond their grant, which has recently been doubled. Additionally, new seven-year ‘super grants' under the ERC will offer long-term support for top talent.

Furthermore, the Commission is updating the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 2023-25 Work Programme part to offer more support for Ukrainian scientists and to launch a new MSCA ‘Choose Europe for Science’ pilot, which will offer more support and opportunities for early-career researchers, including competitive allowances and longer contracts. This pilot is part of a €500 million package for 2025–2027 and the wider ‘Choose Europe’ initiative to make Europe more attractive for researchers, as presented by President von der Leyen on 5 May. 

The 2025 Work Programme allocates 35% of the budget to climate action and 8.8% to biodiversity. This includes €1.14 billion for climate, energy and transport projects, and €833 million for food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment. 36% of its Horizon Europe funding supports the digital transition, with €1.6 billion earmarked for artificial intelligence.

The Commission has started a simplification effort with the 2025 Work Programme to make it more accessible and user-friendly. Where appropriate, wider use of simplified cost options, such as lump sum grants, removes unnecessary financial reporting requirements for beneficiaries. Twenty-nine two-stage topics will allow applicants to first submit shorter proposals and only prepare full proposals if selected for the second stage. This will reduce the administrative burden for applicants. 

The UK’s association to Horizon Europe has considerably strengthened the EU-UK partnership in the research and innovation sector. Overall, UK participation in the programme is on a good track. The UK has performed particularly well in the highly competitive and prestigious calls of the European Research Council (ERC). It was the top beneficiary of the ERC’s Proof of Concept grants announced in July. It was one of the top beneficiaries of the ERC’s Consolidator grants announced in December and the Starting grants announced in September, with a 56% increase compared to 2023 figures. UK-based researchers participated in twice as many projects receiving ERC Synergy grants, compared to 2023. Looking at performance as a whole in the European Research Council so far since association, the UK comes 3rd after Germany and the Netherlands – almost on a par with the latter. The UK also did exceptionally well in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), ranking 1st and benefitting from EUR 70.2 million or 25.5% of the total since the UK’s association so far. 

More information on the Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2025 can be found in this press release. Background Horizon Europe is the biggest international research and innovation programme in the world with more than £82 billion (€95.5 billion) of funding available over seven years (2021 to 2027) from the EU budget, to which all associated countries are adding further contributions. It is open to the world, which means that participants can participate in most calls, regardless of where they are based. Researchers from associated countries have even greater access, they can lead projects and receive direct funding from the programme. The programme supports major research and innovation projects and international partnerships helping to tackle global challenges. 

Questions & Answers on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe can be found here, as well as in this FAQ 

Joint statement by the European Commission and the UK Government on the UK's association to Horizon Europe 

UK association to Horizon Europe 

UK national contact points for Horizon Europe 

Horizon dashboard, including EU-funded projects in the UK