British universities have called for an urgent resolution to a row about UK access to the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe. Universities UK (UUK), which represents 140 institutions, fears ministers could be about to abandon the Horizon scheme.
The BBC reports about the letter sent by UUK to the European Commission on 30 May, which describes the situation as “close to the precipice.”
The EU has indicated UK participation is tied to the row about post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland. The UK’s associate membership was agreed in principle under the 2020 Trade and Co-operation Agreement, but ministers have been drawing up alternatives after complaining access was being blocked by Brussels.
“Failure to secure UK association to Horizon Europe would be a lose-lose for health, wealth and wellbeing and would do a disservice to future generations in Europe and beyond”, says Prof. Paul Boyle, Vice-Chancellor at Swansea University in Universities UK International’s letter to European Vice-President in charge of the UK and Swiss relations, Maroš Šefčovič.
UUK believes a decision by ministers to abandon association and trigger the plan B could come within weeks in what it anticipates would be an irreversible move. The UK minister for science, research and innovation, George Freeman, has said membership remains the priority but a plan B is being kept on standby.
Scientists and academics have for months raised the alarm that delays in access are creating problems because funding cannot be released to UK collaborators without a formal agreement. And they have expressed concerns that EU researchers will not include UK scientists in their projects.
Read the full article under the BBC website: Universities warn of EU-UK research scheme ‘close to precipice’
An additional article has been written by Research Professional which can be consulted here: Research Professional – UK close to abandoning Horizon Europe plans, universities fear
Science Business also reported about the current worries from the UK R&I actors and on the Plan B under preparation: UK plans “bigger, better” rival to the European Research Council, as time runs out on Horizon Europe association