Scottish study looks at participation of non-EU countries in Horizon Europe

The Scottish research project "Voices from the Horizon" was presented at Scotland House in Brussels on 24 March 2025. The research project had looked in detail at what it means for a non-EU country to participate in Horizon Europe, and what could be envisaged for the next Research Framework Programme.

Based on interviews with thirteen participants from nine countries, several factors were identified as top incentives for associating to Horizon Europe:

1. scale - Horizon Europe is the largest multilateral research programme in the world;
2. excellence and competition - high standards entail high quality;
3. international relations;
4. programming, i.e. bureaucracy in a positive sense, meaning that only the best intruments "survive";
5. visibility and prestige;
6. financial spects.

The project also identified some top challenges for participation as an associated country:

1. financial challenges - it is difficult to understand how calculations work;
2. participation, timelines, delays;
3. synergies;
4. restrictions (e.g. restricted calls);
5. other challenges, such as different time zones and language.

With regard to FP10, the project finds great interest of third countries to participate, however, the association process should be made simpler, and the third countries would like to be involved in designing FP10. They also call for evolution rather than revolution for FP10, as stability is required.

Study 'Voices from the Horizon: Third Countries' Experiences Guiding the Design of FP10'