Westminster Higher Education Forum

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The future for UK international research partnerships - Horizon programme | re-establishing relationships | policy and funding | non-EU countries and the Global South | maximising impact and research capacity

January 2024


Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF


This conference discussed the future for UK international research partnerships, and took place in light of the UK’s new deal to re-join the EU’s Horizon research programme.


It brought together policymakers, regulators and stakeholders to consider priorities for the UK’s international research strategy, including:


  • strategies to re-establish relationships with Horizon partners, develop effective partnerships and realise the full potential of re-joining the Horizon programme 
  • identifying research areas within which the UK can lead internationally
  • the alignment of domestic research funding with international objectives

Speakers were expected to assess the nature and degree of influence the UK can achieve within the Horizon programme, as well as the likely overall effect on quality and quantity of research.


We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council; and International Champion, UK Research and Innovation; and Jonathan Adams, Chief Scientist, ISI; Vice President, Consulting, Clarivate and Visiting Professor, Policy Institute at King’s College, London.


Further sessions will also considered:


  • opportunities for research partnerships outside Horizon and with countries outside the EU, and unlocking the potential benefits 
  • utilising international research for tackling global challenges, and supporting impact and research capacity in target countries
  • identifying and building relationships with emerging partners, and deepening collaboration with the Global South
  • further establishing partnerships tentatively set up when UK Horizon membership was uncertain, and the future for these relationships
  • attracting EU and global research talent to the UK amidst concern over a potential European brain drain, looking at entry routes, and retaining and supporting international researchers
  • supporting university-led international research, maximising impact and research capacity with emerging partners

The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DBT; Defra; Department for the Economy, NI; DESNZ; DfT; DHSC; DSIT; DSTL; EA; FCDO; GO-Science; IPO; OLS; UKHSA; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government - as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons.



This pack includes

  • Dropbox video recording of the conference
  • PDF transcript of the discussion, including all speaker remarks and Q&A
  • PDFs of speakers' slide material (subject to permission)
  • PDFs of the delegate pack, including speaker biographies and attendee list
  • PDFs of delegate articles