The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is focused on improving people’s lives by maximising the potential of research and development, science and technology to drive economic growth and wider societal benefits. It is our ambition to accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development. In line with this goal, the UK’s association to Horizon Europe, the world’s largest internationally collaborative research programme, empowers UK innovators and scientists to collaborate with colleagues from across the EU, as well as with other associated countries.

From 2028, the 10^th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), will replace Horizon Europe. It will be tasked with harnessing excellence-based research and development to support delivery of European security, sustainable prosperity and competitiveness.

On 26^th September, DSIT published a Position Paper setting out the UK Government’s views on the potential shape and direction of FP10. We have published this Position Paper to support the work of the EU and Member States in developing an impactful programme which delivers research and development across all disciplines of the highest quality to the benefit of all participants. A copy of the position paper was deposited in the libraries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The Government wants to strengthen ties with our European neighbours and explore areas where we can boost our shared prosperity and security through mutually beneficial agreements. This includes ensuring that UK scientists, innovators, businesses, and institutions can collaborate with partners across Europe and beyond.

Given current geopolitical realities, we believe now is the time to address global challenges through collective action. We believe that through genuine openness, EU Member States, the UK, and other likeminded countries can pool resources to effectively tackle priorities which affect us all. This includes using the power of research to harness emerging technologies and in turn boost productivity and competitiveness.

Our clear position is for FP10 to be based on openness and excellence, and to ensure the continuation of proven instruments within Horizon Europe.

In the paper, we advocate for an FP10 which:

1. Maintains excellence at the very core of FP10 to harness the full potential of Europe’s research and innovation capabilities across the entire research pipeline.
2. Enables the equal participation of likeminded associated countries in all areas of the programme from its very inception, with barriers removed to ensure collaboration on critical technologies between like-minded partners. Maintaining the principle of openness to those who share common goals and values will support the best research and collaboration to tackle these shared challenges.
3. Preserves the three-pillar architecture in Horizon Europe, maintaining stable and predictable support for proven elements within Horizon Europe to continue supporting discovery research, international collaboration opportunities and applied innovation respectively. Through a careful balance between curiosity-driven research and applied research and innovation, FP10 should remain flexible and responsive to future global challenges.

We very much welcome opportunities for future discussion with researchers, innovators, businesses, institutions, the European Commission and EU Member States as FP10 develops given our many shared priorities.

We will, of course, be interested in potentially associating to FP10, assuming it is open, relevant, and provides good value for researchers and taxpayers.