Research funding
Our Research Excellence Grant (REG) supports world-leading research in Scottish universities, ensuring Scotland remains globally competitive and attractive to the best researchers.
Our Research Postgraduate Grant (RPG) invests in the environment needed for high quality research training and supports postgraduate research students to contribute to research in Scotland.
Further information is available at Funding for Research
Horizon Europe
UK Government Horizon Europe guarantee notice and guidance
On 17 December 2021 the UK government announced guaranteed funding for the first wave of eligible, successful UK applicants to Horizon Europe who are unable to sign grant agreements with the EU prior to formalisation of the UK’s association to the programme.
The funding will be delivered through UK Research and Innovation who have published Horizon Europe guarantee guidance. This gives details on:
- Eligibility for the guarantee scheme.
- Scope of the scheme.
- How to apply.
It also includes a Q&A. Any questions on the guarantee guidance should be directed to eugrantsfunding@ukri.org.
Background
The agreement reached by the European Commission and the UK Government in December 2020 confirmed that the UK will be able to fully associate to Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation funding programme. Horizon Europe is the successor to Horizon 2020 and will run from 2021-2027. Agreement has also been reached to participate in a number of other programmes which are listed on the Scottish Funding Portal.
As an Associated Country the UK will be able participate in Horizon Europe on equivalent terms as Member States and other Associated Countries. Researchers can therefore continue to access funding via all parts of the Framework Programme. As with other Associated Countries, on very limited occasions there may be limited access to some topics under exceptional and justifiable circumstances.
The UK is yet to formally be associated to the programme. The European Commission has produced a
Q&A on the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe which confirms that UK entities are already eligible to apply. It explains the process, scope and main features of the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.
European Research Council funding calls
The European Research Council (ERC) is the premiere European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. The first ERC grants within Horizon Europe were announced on 22 February 2021 and countries that are negotiating association agreements with the EU, including the UK, may apply to the calls.
More information about the grants now open is available and the ERC UK National Contact Point service is open for anyone who is currently based in the UK or who wishes to apply with a UK-based organisation for an ERC grant.