Helping UK companies engage with European funding programmes and create collaborations.

The European Union represents one of the world’s largest international market, with more than 500 million people generating over €14 trillion in economic activity – approximately 22% of global nominal GDP. Although we are due to leave the EU, the UK is still a key player in this market.

With a budget of approximately €80 billion over a seven-year period (2014-2020), Horizon 2020 (H2020), the European Commission research and innovation programme, represents a significant opportunity for UK companies to access finance for research and development and innovation. It is an opportunity to form collaborations in new supply chains, for SMEs to build relationships with multinational partners, and gives a route for businesses to reach new markets, facilitating uptake of new technologies by end users and customers. The collaboration is important – it is not just about funding.

KTN provides advice and support for UK companies that want to engage with Horizon 2020, for example, the recent Horizon 2020 Green Deal, as well as other funding programmes such as EUREKA, Interreg and Life Programme.

How can KTN help?

In light of the uncertainties caused by leaving the EU, there is an increasing need for UK organisations to be proactive about identifying and connecting with potential European project partners. In partnership with the National Contact Points (NCPs) and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), KTN helps UK businesses to access European programmes and informs funding priorities to match UK business need. This increases the rate of delivery of new or improved products, processes or services for economic, environmental and societal benefit.

You can get help from KTN to:

  • Find funding opportunities
  • Form partnerships
  • Develop your project proposals

KTN also highlights Financial Support for Third Parties (FSTP) or Cascade Funding. The main objective of this financing method is to simplify administrative procedures with SMEs, thus allowing some projects financed by the EU to issue, in turn, open calls to obtain more funding. You can find all of the current open calls here.

Follow the KTN Global team on Twitter for news on EU funding and other international opportunities.

Future UK Participation in European R&I Framework Programmes 

Going forward, the UK aims to maintain a close relationship with European partners and negotiations are ongoing with the EU to agree a fair and balanced deal for participation in the next European research and innovation Framework Programme: Horizon Europe.  In the event that the UK does not associate to Horizon Europe, funding will be made available to allow UK partners to participate in European schemes open to third countries.  In addition, if we do not associate, the government have stated their ambition to implement ambitious alternatives as quickly as possible from January 2021 and to pursue strategic opportunities to strengthen our research and innovation relationships with individual European nations.

KTN participation in European projects

KTN participate in European research and innovation projects that align with KTN’s and UK R&I strategy and show positive impact to support businesses.

To find out more about EU Programmes and opportunities to get involved with European funding calls, please contact a member of our EU Programmes Team if you would like support in engaging: