Colleagues from across the University celebrated the announcement of an agreement for UK participation in Horizon Europe and Copernicus with the President of the European Research Council (ERC).
Dozens of ERC-funded and awarded researchers joined Professor Maria Leptin and Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and International Partnerships, at an informal lunch reception held in the University’s Student Services building in the centre of Cambridge.
It comes after the government announced earlier this month that the UK would have access to Horizon, which is the world’s largest research collaboration programme, and Copernicus, the European Earth Observation programme.
Addressing the event, Professor Ferguson-Smith said: “It’s hard to express the joy we’ve all been feeling at the announcement of the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus.
“It really is cause for celebration because this is a decision that will have enormous benefit to the whole UK research landscape.
“I am delighted also to welcome back Professor Maria Leptin, who as many of you know is no stranger to Cambridge.
“The ERC means a lot to us, not just because of the way it supports fundamental research but because of the way it helps nurture both early career researchers and those at subsequent stages giving them the freedom to do exciting original work.”
Professor Leptin then addressed the event, saying: “It’s good to be back in Cambridge, I love being here. It’s especially good to see so many researchers from across sciences and humanities gathered here today.
“It’s great that we are back together like this, because this is about the unity of research from across Europe.”