Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the European Union's research and innovation framework programme running from 2021 to 2027, with a total budget of approximately €95.5 billion. It is the world's largest transnational research funding programme, supporting scientific research, technology development and innovation through grants to universities, research institutes and companies across EU member states and associated countries. The UK re-associated to Horizon Europe in September 2023 following a post-Brexit gap, restoring UK institutions' eligibility to lead and participate in funded projects.

Horizon Europe is the funding source for the FAVOR project, providing £1.2m to a Liverpool John Moores University-led consortium to recommend a unified regulatory architecture for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships. The grant reflects the EU's interest in shaping the post-IMO MASS Code regulatory environment before national regimes diverge during the Experience Building Phase.

Horizon Europe's role in FAVOR illustrates a recurring pattern: EU research funding is used to develop the regulatory and standards architecture that complements EU legislative frameworks. For autonomous shipping, the MASS Code provides the global baseline and Horizon Europe-funded projects like FAVOR are expected to translate that baseline into European harmonisation proposals.