Final Deadline Confirmed for Horizon Europe Pump Priming Collaboration Opportunity for UK and EU Partners

In September 2021, the UK’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched an opportunity to provide pump-priming funding to seed collaborations between UK and EU or Associated Countries-based researchers in preparation for applications to Horizon Europe calls in Pillar 2: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.

The opportunity is being delivered by the British Academy (BA), the Science & Innovation Network in Europe (SIN Europe), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and KTN with the support of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).

Despite uncertainty over the UK’s association to the Horizon Europe programme, applications to this opportunity have been accepted on a rolling basis since the call’s launch, with the initial ambition to accept proposals until all funding had been allocated. BA has now confirmed that the final deadline for applications will fall on 12 January 2022.

Applications must identify a specific call in Pillar 2 that they will apply to on the back of this pump priming funding. The chosen call may be in any discipline, including engineering, natural sciences, medical sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Only Pillar 2 calls that open between 1 September 2021 and 31 January 2023 are in scope.

The specific purpose is to give the UK-based partners the resources they need to collaborate with EU organisations and stakeholders to further develop the idea and the market opportunities. Funding can be used to cover collaboration preparation activities to enable multinational consortium building, as well as staff time for developing the project ideas and gaining a better understanding of the market opportunities. Within this context, the grant can be used in a variety of ways, including feasibility studies, application advice and training, partnership building, and dedicated time to take forward an application.

Projects must be led by a Principal Investigator (PI) of postdoctoral or above status (or with equivalent research/innovation experience) based at an eligible UK-based organisation. The PI’s position must last at least the duration of the grant. Applications must include at least one named Co-Applicant who will actively assist in the direction and management of at least parts of the project.

Proposals are welcome from research institutes and universities based in the UK. Proposals that involve working closely with any other type of organisations eligible for Horizon Europe funding (based in the UK and/or the EU/associated countries) including third parties, end users and similar bodies/organisations are particularly encouraged.

Associated Countries include those countries in the process of associating as listed here. Third country partners, such as Switzerland, can also be considered as appropriate, but projects and proposed consortia must demonstrate that they will address necessary eligibility and impact criteria.

Individual projects may apply for a maximum of £10,000.

The final deadline for applications is 12 January 2022 (17:00).