Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether universities that received Horizon Europe guarantee funding were required to meet Horizon Europe Gender Equality Plan eligibility criterion.

In November 2021, the Government announced the Horizon Europe Guarantee to address the delays in formalising the UK's association to Horizon Europe. Eligible, successful applicants to Horizon Europe receive the full value of their funding for the lifetime of their grants. Successful awardees do not need to leave the UK to receive this funding. As of 31 October 2023, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) has issued 2,736 Grant Offer Letters for awards of £1.43 billion.

Guarantee award winners are asked to develop and maintain gender equality plans for the project in line with Horizon Europe’s standard procedures.