The British Academy: SHAPE & Horizon Europe

The UK’s SHAPE researchers have been phenomenally successful in the latest European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants results. UK researchers secured 56 awards, the highest across all countries, including 25 grants in the social sciences and humanities – an impressive 31.25 per cent share. We are especially pleased that several grantees attended our ERC Advanced Grants webinar last year, underscoring its impact in helping applicants succeed. Looking ahead, registration is now open for two more ERC webinars focusing on the Synergy Grants (September 8) and the Starting Grants (September 24).

Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe (in which project consortia respond to specific programme calls), however, remains a challenge for UK researchers. As we await the proposals for the EU’s next Framework Programme, it is critical that we continue to boost the UK’s participation across all parts of Horizon Europe. The European Commission is now publishing draft Work Programmes from Pillar 2 on its website, so it is possible to see what the likely calls will be for 2026 and 2027 well in advance of their formal publication. The UK’s Horizon Europe Hub helpfully provides links to those currently available, so please do look through if you are thinking of applying to future Horizon Europe calls. The page is kept regularly updated and future draft Work Programmes will be posted there in the coming months. Wider support is available through the Hub.

I am also delighted to announce the two latest calls for Global Innovation Fellowships, with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the German Council on Foreign Relations providing opportunities to UK-based early- and mid-career researchers from across the humanities and social sciences.

Best wishes,

Professor Patrick Haggard FBA

Foreign Secretary and Vice-President of the British Academy