Horizon Europe international matchmaking: privacy notice
This privacy notice explains how we handle the personal data you provide through the Horizon Europe international matchmaking form.
This notice sets out how we will process your personal data, and your rights. It is made under Articles 13 and/or 14 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
This privacy notice is about the data provided by a user when filling the Horizon Europe matchmaking contact form, and how this is processed, protected and managed. The data you provide will be used to assess whether we can match you with a UK organisation to consider a future Horizon Europe bid.
For data protection purposes, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Innovate UK are joint data controllers for this project. They will work together to decide how your personal information is processed.
Your data
We will process the following personal data:
- Name
- Email address
- Job title
- The town/city and country you live in
Purpose
The purpose(s) for which we are processing your personal data is:
- To assess your suitability to be matched with a UK organisation, with the ultimate goal of partnering on a future Horizon Europe bid
- To understand which areas of the scheme you are looking to apply to
Legal basis of processing
The legal basis for processing your personal data under Article 6 of the UK GDPR is:
1(e)Public task: Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the data controller. In this case, that is to support high quality applications to Horizon Europe which involve UK organisations. This processing does that by facilitating links between UK and international organisations who may partner on future bids.
Recipients
Your personal data will be shared by us with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Innovate UK. We are sharing your data so they can consider whether we can match you with potential UK partners.
As part of our IT infrastructure, your personal data will be stored in the UK on systems provided by our data processors - Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. This does not mean we actively share your personal data with these entities; rather, they are technical service providers who host infrastructure supporting our IT systems.
Retention
Your personal data will be kept by us, UKRI and Innovate UK until 31st May 2026. It will then be deleted.
International transfers
Your personal data will only be processed in the UK.
Your rights
You have the right to request information about how your personal data are processed, and to request a copy of that personal data.
You have the right to request that any inaccuracies in your personal data are rectified without delay.
You have the right to request that any incomplete personal data are completed, including by means of a supplementary statement.
You have the right to request that your personal data are erased if there is no longer a justification for them to be processed.
You have the right in certain circumstances (for example, where accuracy is contested) to request that the processing of your personal data is restricted.
You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data where it is processed for direct marketing purposes.
You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data.
To exercise your rights please contact the data protection officer using the contact details below.
Contact details
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Innovate UK are joint data controllers for your personal data. DSIT will be the point of contact for any data protection queries. You can contact the DSIT data protection officer at:
DSIT Data Protection Officer
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
22-26 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2EG
Email: dataprotection@dsit.gov.uk
If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your personal data, please write to the department’s data protection officer in the first instance using the contact details above.
Complaints
If you consider that your personal data has been misused or mishandled, you may make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who is an UK independent regulator. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Any complaint to the Information Commissioner is without prejudice to your right to seek redress through the courts.
Updates to this notice
If this privacy notice changes in any way, we will place an updated version on this page. Regularly reviewing this page ensures you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we will share it with other parties. The ‘last updated’ date at the bottom of this page will also change.
If these changes affect how your personal data is processed, we will take reasonable steps to let you know.
Last updated: 11 February 2026