Horizon Europe isn’t the problem. Our approach is - January 2026

By Roger Horam

There’s a quiet paradox in UK higher education right now.

On the one hand, Horizon Europe is the largest research and innovation programme in the world — well funded, open to the UK again, and actively seeking international collaboration. On the other hand, many UK universities still treat it as something optional, peripheral, or simply too difficult.

That disconnect deserves scrutiny.

The opportunity is real

Horizon Europe is not a marginal funding stream. It shapes:

• Research agendas

• International reputation

• Industrial partnerships

• Early-career pathways

• Institutional visibility in Europe and beyond

For UK universities, full association means access to calls across health, digital, climate, manufacturing, social sciences, security, and education — often at a scale unavailable domestically.

Yet uptake remains uneven.

The real barriers aren’t Brussels

When UK institutions say Horizon Europe is “too complex” or “too risky”, what they often mean is:

• We don’t see opportunities early enough

• We lack trusted European networks

• We don’t have the internal capability lined up when calls open

These are not EU problems. They are institutional design issues.

Horizon Europe rewards readiness, not heroics

The most successful universities in Europe don’t win by last-minute effort. They win because they:

• Track calls well in advance

• Invest in relationships long before bids

• Coordinate internally across research, impact, and international teams

• Treat EU funding as a strategic pipeline, not an occasional gamble

UK universities are not less capable — but many are less organised for Europe.

A hard truth

You cannot outsource your way to sustainable Horizon success.

Consultants can help sharpen a bid.
They cannot replace:

• institutional coordination

• leadership intent

• internal confidence

• credible partnership positioning

Horizon Europe is not a writing challenge. It is a capability challenge.

The upside for those who engage properly

Institutions that engage strategically see:

• Stronger international networks

• Better quality research proposals overall

• Increased confidence among researchers

• Higher visibility with European partners

• More repeat success over time

In short: Horizon Europe becomes a multiplier, not a distraction.

So what now?

The question for UK universities is no longer:

“Should we engage with Horizon Europe?”

It is:

“Are we organised to do it well?”

Those that invest in awareness, networks, and internal capability will find Horizon Europe not only accessible — but transformative.

Those that don’t will continue to watch from the sidelines, convinced the problem lies elsewhere.

And that may be the most expensive choice of all.