Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Treasury underwrite of Horizon 2020 funding awarded before the UK leaves the EU will cover European Research Council grant holders who were working at institutions outside of the UK when they signed their grant but who want to relocate to complete their research at a UK institution.

The UK is eligible to fully participate in all aspects of the Horizon 2020 programme, including the European Research Council (ERC), while we remain a member of the EU.

In addition, the Joint Report presented by EU and UK negotiators states that: “following withdrawal from the Union the UK will continue to participate in the Union programmes financed by the MFF 2014-2020 until their closure”. This includes participation in Horizon 2020.

This means that, subject to the Withdrawal Agreement, ERC grant holders will continue to be eligible to relocate their grants to and from the UK.

However, the Government’s underwrite guarantee remains in place in the event that commitments made in the Joint Report are not met. This ensures UK participants who successfully bid for competitive EU funds, including those delivered through the ERC, before the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will receive funding.