UK and Switzerland to gain access to ‘strategic’ Horizon Europe calls

Researchers and companies in the UK, Switzerland and other countries associated to Horizon Europe are set to have access to a greater number of calls in strategic areas like quantum and space, under the 2025 Horizon work programmes pre-published last week.

The UK gained access to over 95% of Horizon calls when it associated to the programme in 2024, but the European Commission has previously excluded non-member states from some sensitive calls for quantum and space technologies deemed crucial for the EU’s technological independence.

“Thanks to this welcome news, the opportunities for British researchers and businesses working in quantum, space, and beyond are only set to grow,” said UK science minister Lord Patrick Vallance in a statement. 

Switzerland has also been approved for access to strategic calls in both Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme. Swiss entities were previously excluded from these calls.

Switzerland will have full access to calls in artificial intelligence, quantum, communication and network technologies, and space sensitive research topics. However, “access to certain calls for proposals in the field of space within Horizon Europe is currently still being clarified,” the Swiss state secretariat for education, research and innovation notes.

Since restrictions were first mooted in Brussels in 2021, scientific relations with the UK and Switzerland have improved, with both countries now de-facto back in Horizon Europe. Science|Business has asked the Commission to explain it has taken a more relaxed approach during this work programme. 

With the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency souring transatlantic ties, it could be that Brussels wants to improve relations with trusted neighbours, one science diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous, speculated. On May 19, the UK and EU are holding a major summit in London, designed to further repair relations after years of Brexit-related bickering. 

Earlier this month, Switzerland’s Federal Council approved an agreement allowing Swiss association to Horizon Europe, the Euratom atomic research programme and the Digital Europe Programme.

The deal is expected to be formally signed in November, but Swiss researchers have been allowed to apply for most Horizon Europe calls since the beginning of the year under a transitional agreement.

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Other associated countries will also have access to strategic calls. Under the 2025 work programme for the digital, industry and space cluster in Horizon Europe, in addition to the UK and Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Israel and South Korea are all eligible for calls on AI and quantum. However, Israel and South Korea are excluded from a number of calls on space which are open to the others.

MEPs from the European Parliament’s Left group have criticised the participation of Israeli organisations in Horizon Europe, claiming the programme risks supporting “funding initiatives linked to human rights violations, such as Israeli weapons and surveillance software used in occupied territory”.

The Commission has published the 2025 work programmes in draft form to allow organisations time to prepare for calls. The plans will be finalised in May.