This week, the UK joined Horizon Europe, one of Europe’s largest state-run scientific research initiatives, under a bespoke new deal which will give British scientists access to the world’s largest research collaboration programme. From 7 September, UK researchers have been able to apply for grants, and to bid to take part in projects under the Horizon programme.
Horizon will give UK companies and research institutions unrivalled opportunities to lead global work, and to develop new technology, in areas ranging from health to AI. This isn’t just about opening up cooperation with the EU – Norway, New Zealand, and Israel are all part of the programme, and Britain’s membership will open up further avenues for cooperation with these key global partners.
The move comes as part of the UK Government’s broader commitment to maintaining Britain’s place as a global leader in science, research, and the development of new technologies. The Government already offers corporation tax relief on Research and Development projects, encouraging companies to innovate, while the new Research Ventures Catalyst fund, launched in July, will support cutting-edge research, and encourage cooperation between the public and private sectors.
That’s on top of the plan that we announced in our Science and Technology Framework in March of this year, which will help to cement the UK’s place as a global science and technology superpower. That announcement was accompanied by an additional £370 million in funding, including £250 million to build on the UK’s leadership in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and synthetic biology.
All of this comes together to show just how committed this Government is to science and technology, which remains one of the UK’s key assets. From early pioneers like James Watt to modern innovators like Tim Berners-Lee, who led the development of the World Wide Web, the UK has always excelled at the development of new, innovative solutions to the issues of the day. The challenges that we will face in the years to come – an aging population, the rise of AI, and even the threat of global climate change – will all require the development of new technologies. Britain should play a leading role in that process, and should use its world-famous research facilities to deliver the kind of innovation that we will need. As your Member of Parliament, I’ll continue to work with colleagues in Parliament and in Government to give British science the support that it needs.