What is Horizon Europe and why has the UK rejoined?
The Independent The UK has rejoined the European Union (EU)s 85 billion Horizon science research programme in a move hailed by the Prime Minister as the right deal for the country.
It is the latest sign of improved relations between London and Brussels, though it came after prolonged talks across several months.
But why does the scheme matter and what does it mean for UK-EU co-operation?
The scheme is a collaboration involving Europes leading research institutes and technology companies.
The latest iteration of the programme was initially launched in 2021 with a budget of 95.5 billion euro (81.8 billion).
The scheme, which runs until 2027, is open to all types of organisations across Europe and the world.
Given the scale of the funding, it is a hugely important source of support for some of the worlds most important research projects.
Before the UK left the EU, the country was a member of Horizon. Ongoing membership or some form of future relationship was a key ask from scientists and universities during the protracted negotiations that followed the 2016 referendum.
