Accessibility statement

EU research funding

The European Commission’s priorities include the European Green deal, a digital future, an economy that works for people, promoting and strengthening European democracy. Many staff will be familiar with the previous Horizon 2020 funding programmes. The current programme is called Horizon Europe.

Horizon Europe is the EU's research and innovation programme for 2021-2027 with a budget of €95.5 billion. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.

The UK can participate in applications to Horizon Europe on the same terms as any European Member State. The first calls ran in 2021, offering opportunities for individual fellowships, doctoral training networks, and European Research Council awards on topics put forward by the applicants themselves. There are also extensive opportunities to apply for collaborative research and innovation projects, organised around a large number of priority topic areas/work programmes. Find out more in our Horizon Europe pages and useful links.

Our web pages also provide information on the UK's status in Horizon Europe.

Information for live Horizon 2020 grants

Information about Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe forthcoming events

Support for EU research funding

High quality support is provided at every stage of the EU research funding process by staff within your department, Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange and the wider University support functions, such as the HR team. 

For further information on the support available, view the Staff Research webpages. 

We may also be able to provide access to early information about the content of forthcoming calls, please contact your relevant Research & Innovation Development Manager in the first instance.

Our UKRO advisor in Brussels may be able to provide online one to one sessions to help applicants to finalise their proposals, covering eligibility questions, meeting the EC’s expectations and how to frame your application to increase its chances of success. Please contact Helen.Wells@york.ac.uk in the first instance.

Building research networks with COST

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) funds interdisciplinary networks for researchers of all disciplines and career stages to strengthen Europe's capacity to address scientific, technological and societal challenges. 

The UK can lead applications or be a participant and receive COST funding. COST is not part of Horizon Europe so is a stable basis for establishing collaboration. Staff can join an existing COST network and or submit a new application. 70 new projects are awarded annually and COST networks expand so there are opportunities to join existing COST groups (292 currently live). The COST Association’s website includes a searchable database of all live Actions, and each network lists details of how to get involved in Working Groups, training events, conferences and research visits. 

95% of researchers who participate in COST find it helps their research and career to advance.  Success in COST leads to joint publications (productivity increases by 55%) and a higher success rate for applications to Horizon calls (40%). Actions extend beyond Europe.

Global cooperation is encouraged. COST membership spans 41 countries, including near neighbour countries (16) as well as Israel and South Africa.  

Topics are bottom-up, spanning a wide range of research and innovation across all three Faculties. Actions include a high proportion of early career staff and a strong gender balance.  

The UK is one of the top ranking countries with over 1k of researchers involved. Networking activities taking place in the UK have almost doubled compared to 2021. In the 2022 call the UK came second in terms of successful representation, with 10 new COST actions having UK participation.  

The annual deadline for new applications is in October each year.  Details of the call, guidance documents and a video on preparing a successful application are available on the COST website. Networks are supported by an average of 155k euros p.a. over 4 years, with flexible funding to enable collaborations to grow over time.

We have produced a briefing note for staff explaining COST networks in more detail and highlighting some of York’s successes. This includes some slides from recent webinars, linked below, and more resources are available:

COST Info Day, 24 May 2023 
Presentations 
Online COST Info Day Q&A document
Video: (COST's YouTube channel) (Live tab, starting at minute 3:38)

UKRO/DSIT webinars, July 2023:
COST information event - session 1 provides an overview of COST Actions and a case study.
COST information event - session 2 details the structure/roles, budget, and the application process. DSIT explains its role in nominating MC members.

For initial information and advice please contact Helen Wells (helen.wells@york.ac.uk). UKRO is the UK National Contact Point for COST and is available for more in-depth guidance.