U.K. rejoining Europe’s Horizon science programme

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Msc

Context:

Britain is rejoining the European Union’s $100 billion science-sharing program Horizon Europe, the two sides announced on September 7.

Details:

Britain is also rejoining the Copernicus programme.
Deal signed between: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British PM Rishi Sunak.
Earlier the EU blocked the U.K. from its Horizon programme due to dispute over trade rules with Northern Ireland, the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with an EU member, the Republic of Ireland.

What is Horizon Europe?

It is a Research and innovation funding programme until 2027.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion.
It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.
It creates jobs, fully engages the EU’s talent pool, boosts economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and optimizes investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area.
Legal entities from the EU and associated countries can participate.

Copernicus:

Named after a great European scientist and observer: Nicolaus Copernicus.
Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space programme, looking at our planet and its environment to benefit all European citizens. It offers information services that draw from satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-space) data.
The European Commission manages the Programme.
It is implemented in partnership with the Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies and Mercator Océan.
Vast amounts of global data from satellites and ground-based, airborne, and seaborne measurement systems provide information to help service providers, public authorities, and other international organizations improve European citizens’ quality of life and beyond. The information services provided are free and openly accessible to users.