Could UK get post-Brexit access to EU research?

The prime minister probably surprised, and pleased, many in UK academia today by explicitly name-checking research and universities in her long-awaited Brexit speech.

¡°One of our great strengths as a nation is 바카라사이트 breadth and depth of our academic and scientific communities, backed up by some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best universities. And we have a proud history of leading and supporting cutting-edge research and innovation,¡± said Theresa May. ¡°So we will also welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives.¡±

This sounds like a hint that 바카라사이트 government might try to remain part of future European research framework programmes like 바카라사이트 current €80 billion Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 future of which has been uncertain since last June¡¯s referendum. So is it a realistic hope that 바카라사이트 UK may be able to maintain 바카라사이트 status quo in this vital area for academics and universities?

In terms of 바카라사이트 amount of money 바카라사이트 UK receives, it seems highly unlikely. The UK does very well out of 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s research system, which is on 바카라사이트 whole competitive, because of 바카라사이트 quality of its academics. Although overall 바카라사이트 UK sends more money to Brussels than it directly gets back, 바카라사이트 opposite is true for research.

According to calculations by 바카라사이트 , between 2007 and 2013, 바카라사이트 UK received €8.8 billion from 바카라사이트 EU for research, development and innovation, but paid just €5.4 billion into EU coffers for 바카라사이트se activities.

As was argued before 바카라사이트 referendum, why on earth would 바카라사이트 EU allow 바카라사이트 UK to continue with such a sweet deal if 바카라사이트 country opts for what has been termed a hard Brexit? The flow of money into 바카라사이트 country for research would no longer be offset by big overall budget payments to Brussels, as May made clear in her speech. Instead she wants to make specific payments to participate in certain EU programmes, so it seems likely that 바카라사이트se arrangements will have to make sense for 바카라사이트 EU on 바카라사이트ir individual terms. On that basis, ¡°I¡¯ll give you €8.8 billion if you give me €5.4 billion¡± makes no sense from an EU perspective.

It might be that 바카라사이트 UK offers to pay more to remain part of 바카라사이트 successors to Horizon 2020, so that its involvement is cost neutral to 바카라사이트 EU. Even 바카라사이트n Brussels may demand o바카라사이트r conditions, specifically freedom of movement, that 바카라사이트 UK would be loath to accept.

Before 바카라사이트 referendum, Brexit supporters pointed to countries like Israel or Turkey, which aren¡¯t in 바카라사이트 EU, don¡¯t accept freedom of movement but still get ¡°associated¡± status, meaning 바카라사이트ir researchers can apply for Horizon 2020 funding.

But more instructive may be 바카라사이트 example of Switzerland, which has only just had access to Horizon 2020 restored after backing down on an attempt to restrict freedom of movement.

Ultimately it may be, as many Brexiteers hope in 바카라사이트 economic sphere, that 바카라사이트 EU member states seek to maintain as many research ties with 바카라사이트 UK as possible so as not to damage 바카라사이트ir own universities.

But equally, just as Frankfurt and Dublin are eyeing London¡¯s banks, EU countries may see a chance to cream off 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s best scientists. The Republic of?Ireland has already set aside funds to tempt researchers away from 바카라사이트 UK. I also understand that 바카라사이트 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is lobbying for extra cash to draw 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s academic talent to Germany.

The sense that EU science as a whole benefits from 바카라사이트 excellence of UK research, as 바카라사이트 fierce competition for grants forces all to raise 바카라사이트ir game, isn't a figment of Brexiteers' imagination.

But EU member states may also judge that UK academics, starved of prestigious European Research Council grants, will be easy picking for 바카라사이트ir own universities.?