Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on negotiations to re-join the EU Horizon programme, including agreement on the UK’s financial contribution; and whether the Horizon programme or the UK-based Pioneer programme is their preferred choice to fulfil their goal of the UK as science superpower.

The Government is moving forward with discussions on the UK’s involvement in Horizon Europe and hope these will be successful. That is the UK’s preference. While the Government hopes negotiations will be successful, participation must work for UK researchers, businesses and taxpayers.

Talks are ongoing and therefore a deal has not yet been agreed. A deadline for these talks has not been set but to provide the industry with certainty, the UK must come to a resolution as quickly as possible. The Government has set out Pioneer, the UK’s bold alternative, which we are ready to implement if association cannot be secured.