The British Academy (with the support of the Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Royal Academy of Engineering) is inviting proposals from UK and EU/Associated Countries-based researchers to pump prime collaborations to support the effective uptake of the opportunities provided by the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.
Proposals are welcome in all disciplines:
- engineering
- natural sciences
- medical
- health sciences
- humanities
- social sciences.
This programme will provide pump priming funding to seed collaborations for applications to specific Horizon Europe topics in Pillar 2, which comprises the following ‘clusters’:
- Health
- Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
- Civil Security for Society
- Digital Industry and Space
- Climate, Energy and Mobility
- Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Within Pillar 2, the calls and topics that this pump priming funding can be used to target (i.e. calls and topics with 2025 in the call code) are listed on the Horizon Europe funding portal as either ‘open for submission’ or ‘forthcoming’.
Additional 2025 calls will appear on the Horizon Europe Portal soon. Details of the expected calls can be found in the pre-published work programmes.
Please note that Innovate UK are leading a separate scheme focused on supporting SMEs to develop and join proposals. This is open to both Pillar 2 and Pillar 3 of Horizon Europe. The lead applicant of the Innovate UK scheme must be a UK-based businesses that meets the criteria of a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) and similarly, research organisations can be included in bids as consortia members. For more information, please visit the website.
ELIGIBILITY
- Each project must be led by a named Principal Investigator (PI).
- The PI must be a researcher from an eligible UK-based organisation and must be of postdoctoral or above status (or have equivalent research or innovation experience).
- The PI’s position must last at least the duration of the grant funded by the Academy.
- The PI is expected to direct and manage the grant and has responsibility for the overall project reporting requirements.
- An individual cannot be the PI on more than one bid under this call.
Proposals that involve working closely with UK SMEs are strongly encouraged. They can also seek to engage with any other type of organisation eligible for Horizon Europe funding (based in the UK and/or the EU/Associated Countries) as appropriate to the selected call and topic, including third parties, end users and similar bodies/organisations such as:
- hospitals
- libraries
- regulators
- commercial partners
- creative industry partners
- museums
- local authorities and associations
- NGOs
- charities
- companies
VALUE AND DURATION
Awards are worth up to £10,000. This will cover collaboration preparation activities to enable multinational consortium building, as well as costs for developing the project ideas and gaining a better understanding of the market opportunities.
The expectation is that this funding will be utilised in a variety of ways but could include feasibility studies, application advice and training, partnership building, and dedicated resource to take forward an application.
Funding may be used to support:
- costs for concept or proof of market work and proposal development
- costs of meetings for the organisations involved in the UK or the EU to prepare the proposal
- travel and subsistence, including costs to participate in information days, brokerage events directly related to Horizon Europe objectives, relevant discussions with European Commission officials or similar
- research and/or clerical assistance (based in the UK or internationally)
- due diligence work on partners
- costs towards child or parent care if activity is conducted away from home and it is not possible to make alternative arrangements
- contributions towards support services such as proposal writing not exceeding 50 per cent of the total value sought
- contributions towards research assistance not exceeding 50 per cent of the total value sought
Award activity and use of funds must conclude with an interim report by the deadline of the Horizon Europe call being applied to. Awards will be required to provide further reporting on their award, including in relation to the outcome of their application to Horizon Europe.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 11 June 2025
Full details can be found on the opportunity webpage and in the guidance documents below.
See also FAQs.