EURAXESS UK Newsletter September 2025

Connecting Researchers Across Borders

News

This section highlights policy updates, research initiatives, mobility programmes, or major events relevant to international researchers.

Strengthening UK–EU Research Links through Horizon Europe

As the UK’s association to Horizon Europe becomes more embedded, 2025 is providing the first clear and encouraging indicators of renewed and stabilising collaboration between UK researchers and their European counterparts. For researchers and institutions across Europe, recent data paints a promising picture of how the UK is actively re-engaging with the programme and where partnership opportunities are expanding.

According to figures available as of September 2025, UK-based institutions have been involved in 43% of all evaluated Horizon Europe proposals submitted this year. This level of engagement highlights the continued willingness of UK researchers to contribute to European research initiatives and reflects strong bilateral ties in the academic and innovation communities. In the same period, UK researchers secured 56 European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants, worth approximately €140 million in total funding. This is the highest number awarded to any country in this round, demonstrating that UK research continues to excel in some of the most prestigious and competitive funding streams available.

Looking at funding shares more broadly, the UK is gradually improving its position across multiple sectors. In Pillar 1, which covers frontier research including the ERC and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the UK has received around 12% of allocated funding in 2024. Meanwhile, in Pillar 2, the largest component of Horizon Europe by budget, which supports collaborative research and innovation—the UK’s share currently stands at approximately 5%. Within Pillar 2, participation is particularly strong in Clusters 1, 5, and 6, which focus on health, climate and mobility, and food and natural resources respectively. These areas align closely with established UK strengths and priorities, signalling strategic engagement with the programme’s key themes.

Although performance in areas such as Pillar 3 and among smaller organisations is still developing, early trends suggest growing confidence and momentum among both UK and European partners. This progress is supported by increased institutional investment in collaborative research projects and government-backed initiatives like pump priming. These initiatives provide essential early-stage funding to help researchers establish and sustain cross-border partnerships, enhancing their ability to compete successfully for Horizon Europe grants.

While the UK’s reintegration into Horizon Europe is ongoing and will require continued effort, the latest data points to a return to more consistent and constructive joint research activity. For European researchers and institutions, this represents a timely opportunity to explore new collaborations, strengthen existing partnerships, and engage with UK organisations across a wide range of scientific and innovation fields.

With Horizon Europe’s future also in discussion through the development of Framework Programme 10, the UK’s position as a key partner in European research cooperation looks set to remain significant in the years ahead. Now is an excellent time to connect with UK colleagues and contribute to the vibrant network of shared research excellence.

Unlocking UK–EU Research Opportunities

If you are a researcher, innovator, or organisation in Europe looking to work with UK partners on Horizon Europe projects, the newly updated Horizon Europe UK Business Connect platform is a great place to start. It brings together everything you need including funding information, practical guidance, and support to make collaboration between the UK and Europe easier.

The platform explains how UK organisations get involved in Horizon Europe calls, join consortia, and lead projects with European partners. It also highlights key areas where the UK excels such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital innovation, and health research. Plus, you will find information on upcoming brokerage events and webinars designed to help you find collaborators and navigate the application process.

There are also national contact points offering personalised advice on applying and managing joint projects. For anyone hoping to work with UK researchers, this platform is a handy and reliable resource.

Find out more at the Horizon Europe UK Business Connect platform

Jobs

Explore a diverse range of academic and research roles. From postdoctoral and research associate positions in global change ecology, psychological medicine, and sustainable technologies, to fellowships in cancer sciences, slavery studies, and neuroscience – there’s something for every discipline. Institutions across the UK and Europe, including Northumbria, King’s College London, Queen’s University Belfast, and universities in Poland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, France, Finland, and Belgium, are actively recruiting. Whether you’re interested in theoretical chemistry, educational sciences, functional genomics, or international relations, these roles reflect a vibrant and collaborative research landscape.

United Kingdom

1. Post-doctoral Research Associate in Global Change Ecology | EURAXESS – Northumbria University
2. Qualitative Research Associate in the Department of Psychological Medicine | EURAXESS – Kings College London
3. Lecturer in International Relations | EURAXESS – Queens University Belfast
4. Research Associate of Slavery in War (Information Science / Data Management) | EURAXESS – Kings College London
5. Research Fellow A in Psychology | EURAXESS – University of Surrey
6. Research Fellow in Sustainable Batteries for Seamless Textile Electronics for Healthcare | EURAXESS – University of Southampton
7. Research Assistant/Post Doc – Plant Biology Institute | EURAXESS – Ellison Institute of Technology
8. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography | EURAXESS – Durham University
9. Doctoral candidate in Theoretical Chemistry or Solid State Physics (Modelling charge transport in doped polymeric semiconductors) in EU Training Network FADOS | EURAXESS – University of Liverpool
10. CRUK Research Fellow, School of Cancer Sciences | EURAXESS – University of Southampton

Beyond

1. Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Białystok with the consent of the Rector announces a competition for the position of academic teacher | EURAXESS – University of Bialystok, Poland
2. Junior Professor of Educational Sciences with a Focus on Empirical Classroom-Based Research and General Didactics | EURAXESS – Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
3. Research assistant in Functional Genomics | EURAXESS – IIGM Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, Italy
4. ESTG/CIICESI/BI/2025/02 – PhD Student Research Grant | CIICESI | EURAXESS – School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal
5. POST-DOCTORAL POSITION IN DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE AND CELL BIOLOGY | EURAXESS – Vision Institute, France
6. a PhD candidate within DECADOCS-project, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA DN) | EURAXESS – Faculty of Arts – University of Helsinki, Finland
7. German Language Teacher | EURAXESS – Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Polskich Olimpijczyków we Wrocławiu, Poland
8. Doctoral fellow – Department of Literary Studies | EURAXESS – Ghent University, Belgium
9. Practices and Repertoires of Italian Music | EURAXESS – Conservatorio Antonio Vivaldi, Italy
10. 2 years Postdoctoral fellowship – Virome biogeography at global scale | EURAXESS – Consortium Virome@tlas, France

Funding

Access key funding calls and fellowships.

This month’s spotlight includes a range of international research and academic initiatives. The Max Planck School of Cognition in Germany is offering integrated Master’s and PhD programmes, while the Osteology Foundation presents a global research scholarship in oral tissue regeneration across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the USA. The MSCA and Citizens 2025 initiative is preparing for the next European Researchers’ Night, promoting public engagement with science. Additional highlights include the Thesiger-Oman International Fellowships for geography research in the Middle East, and the ISPF Legal Amazon Workshop hosted by the British Council in the UK. These opportunities reflect the vibrant cross-border collaboration and mobility supported by EURAXESS.

1. Max Planck School of Cognition (Master’s and PhD | Germany) | EURAXESS –
   Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Germany
2. Osteology Research Scholarship (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, USA | oral tissue regeneration) | EURAXESS – Osteology Foundation, Switzerland
3. MSCA and Citizens 2025 (European Researchers’ Night) | EURAXESS – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Belgium
4. Thesiger-Oman International Fellowships (geography | Middle East) | EURAXESS – Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), United Kingdom
5. ISPF Legal Amazon Workshop | EURAXESS – British Council, United Kingdom

Living in the UK: Spotlight on Healthcare

This quarter, we focus on healthcare – an essential service that can vary widely from what you may be used to in other countries. To support your understanding of the UK’s system, we’ve updated the Healthcare section of the EURAXESS UK website with clear, current guidance on:

• Accessing the National Health Service (NHS), including how to register with a doctor (GP), what’s covered, and what to expect in terms of care
• The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)—who pays it, what it includes, and how it affects your entitlements
• Regional differences in healthcare provision and costs across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Other key services, such as dental care, optometry, prescriptions, and mental health support
• Support for dependants, including children’s healthcare and maternity services

You’ll also find practical tips for navigating the system, trusted sources of advice, and steps you can take before and after arrival to make sure you’re prepared.

Explore the pages at:
https://www.euraxess.org.uk/united-kingdom/essential-information/healthcare

Training and Opportunities

Science is Wonderful 2026 – Call for Applications

MSCA are pleased to inform you that the European Comission have opened a call for MSCA fellows and alumni to showcase their research at Science is Wonderful! 2026 – the annual science fair organised by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The event invites EU-funded researchers from around the world to come to Brussels and explain their work to over 5000 pupils coming from all corners of Belgium to see science come alive.

The deadline for applications is 8 October 2025 at 12.00, CEST. We kindly invite you to share the news among your networks & on social media:

· Article: Showcase your research at Science is Wonderful! 2026: https://link.europa.eu/KChy3b

· Application form: https://link.europa.eu/6FndkW

Summer School for Refugee , Displaced and at Risk Researchers – Materials Available

We are pleased to disseminate materials from a recent Summer School for Refugee, Displaced and at Risk Researchers. The training was organised by Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski as a joint initiative of the Transform4Europe Alliance and the EURAXESS ERA Talent project, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the inclusion of refugee researchers in the European labour market.

Presentation and other materials can be found at:

https://www.euraxess.bg/bulgaria/news/t4eu-summer-school-refugee-displaced-and-risk-researchers-sofia-bulgaria-01-05092025

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