The brightest thinkers with the biggest ideas from across Spain
and Italy are being encouraged to partner with UK scientists,
researchers and businesses through the world-leading Horizon
Europe programme, as part of a new international campaign that
launches today (Thursday 14 March).
Horizon Europe is the world’s largest programme of research
collaboration, worth about £80 billion in total. Following the
bespoke deal secured last year, UK’s brightest minds can work
with partners from over 40 countries – including Italy and Spain
– on some of the biggest challenges facing us all, from climate
change to healthcare.
As home to four of the world’s top 10 universities, the UK is a
compelling partner to Italy and Spain’s brightest minds. The new
campaign will shine a light on the opportunities of collaboration
with the UK’s world-leading researchers, to their Italian and
Spanish colleagues – from the UK’s best-in-class expertise in
fields like space and life sciences, to the potential to access
new markets and clients.
Italy and Spain are already integral partners to the UK through
international scientific organisations such as CERN, the European
Laboratory for Particle Physics, and the Square Kilometre Array
Observatory, the multi-billion-pound international project to
build the world’s largest radio telescope. UK, Italian and
Spanish scientists have also worked together to bring
potential HIV-AIDS vaccines
to the clinical trial stage, as part of the
European AIDS Vaccine
Initiative, funded by Horizon’s predecessor.
The campaign looks to build on those strong links, advertising
across print, podcasts, and a range of digital platforms,
including LinkedIn to encourage new partnerships between the
brightest minds of Italy and Spain and their UK
counterparts.
Science and Technology Secretary, said:
We are determined to encourage trailblazing thinkers and
researchers in Italy and Spain to partner with UK colleagues
through the Horizon Europe programme, on projects that could
transform health, energy and more.
As Italy and Spain were among the UK’s top partners in Horizon’s
predecessor programme, we can build on our strong history to
maximise the potential of Horizon Europe for all our scientists.
Science Minister said:
From Italian talent in space and physics, to Spanish prowess in
renewable energy, our southern European neighbours are research
powerhouses in their own right. But working together through
Horizon Europe gives us the chance to achieve even more – and the
UK’s brightest and best stand ready, to do exactly that.
This campaign is all about spreading that message: our doors are
open, and the possibilities that working together might
deliver, are limitless.
Firms across the UK are already benefitting from Horizon funding,
including Nova Innovation, whose consortium won over £17 million
to develop tidal energy in Orkney, and South Yorkshire tech firm
The Floow, who are part of a project awarded just under £3
million, looking into road safety.
The campaign launched today urges Italian and Spanish firms,
scientists and researchers to maximise the new opportunities
available thanks to the UK’s associate status in Horizon. Shining
a light on the benefits of the programme, the communications
blitz encourages businesses, particularly smaller firms and
researchers with no previous experience, to apply for funding
alongside UK colleagues.
Further information, including practical support on how to apply
is available on Innovate UK’s
website also host regular events that help guide
businesses and researchers through the opportunities on offer and
the application process.
