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EU Grant Funding Post Brexit - Good News for HE Institutions and Research Organisations

on Thursday, 25 October 2018.

Many people are finding that applying for EU funding has become more difficult since the UK referendum decision to leave the EU.

EU investment is an important source of funding for the HE sector. For example, the Horizon programme has contributed 4.6 billion euros of funding for the UK in the latest funding period, representing 14.3% of the total Horizon budget.

However for those that are successful, there is some good news in the UK government's 'No Deal' Brexit technical notes for EU funded programmes.

For those who successfully apply for EU funding before exit day, ie 29 March 2019, the UK government has committed to honour that funding for the duration of the project. This guarantee has also been extended to successful applicants during the transitional period until the end of December 2020, even in the event of a 'No Deal' Brexit.

The guarantee covers the EU funding programme 2014 - 2020 and aims to put UK organisations in the same position as they would have been if the UK to remain within the EU, to ensure competitiveness.

Like all offers and promotions, some terms and conditions and exclusions apply, depending upon the particular funding programme. These are set out in specific guidance notes. For example, UK research organisations can continue to apply for Horizon funding as third party participants although it is not clear how the rules will apply where UK participants are sub-contractors.

Links to the guidance notes are set out below:


For more information, please contact Stephanie Rickard, Head of our Procurement and State Aid team on 0117 314 5675.