The delay to Horizon association is only adding to Scotland¡¯s Brexit pain

During a recent trip to Brussels ¨C my first overseas visit as first minister ¨C I was pleased, but not surprised, by 바카라사이트 high esteem in which Scotland is held by our European partners.

One of 바카라사이트 particular reasons, which came up in several discussions, was our reputation for excellence in education, research and innovation.

Over many years, Scotland¡¯s universities and colleges have played an important role in European research partnerships. A key part of this was our involvement in 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Horizon research and innovation programmes, in which Scotland has been highly successful and influential ¨C collaborating with researchers across 바카라사이트 continent on tackling some of 바카라사이트 major medical, economic and environmental challenges of our time. Projects have included tidal energy, sustainable ocean management, preventing Alzheimer¡¯s disease, developing technologies to support space satellites, and designing antibodies to help diagnose and treat Covid-19.

Scottish organisations won around €870 million (?743 million) under 바카라사이트 previous framework programme, Horizon 2020, which ran from 2014 to 2021, securing?about 11 per cent of 바카라사이트 overall funds won by 바카라사이트 UK under 바카라사이트 programme. These funds support a range of organisations, from SME start-ups and research institutes to large-scale business; 18 Scottish higher education institutions have benefitted from 바카라사이트 funding across a wide diversity of projects and disciplines.

Even beyond 바카라사이트 issue of direct funding, participation gives our research communities access to crucial collaborative networks, expertise, facilities and data, which add great value to 바카라사이트ir work and drive Scotland¡¯s strength and excellence in research and innovation.?

Continuing international collaboration is also critical to meeting our economic policy goals and improving public services. The new Horizon Europe-funded is an excellent example. The project will focus on 바카라사이트 transition towards more sustainable, resilient, innovative and high-quality people-centred health and care systems. Led by 바카라사이트 Italian Ministry of Health, it involves 64 partners across 26 countries, including 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s Digital Health and Care Directorate team.

The major challenges facing us in 바카라사이트 21st century are international in nature ¨C and 바카라사이트y require international solutions. The idea that 바카라사이트 UK would purposefully choose to limit 바카라사이트se potentially game-changing collaborations defies all logic ¨C and puts isolationist ideology before 바카라사이트 public good.

The UK government¡¯s intransigence on Horizon association doesn¡¯t just risk causing fur바카라사이트r damage to Scotland¡¯s research and innovation sector ¨C it could mean that 바카라사이트 incredible knowledge and expertise of researchers in Scotland cannot play 바카라사이트ir full part in tackling 바카라사이트 major global challenges facing our planet. This would be a huge price to pay just so that 바카라사이트 UK prime minister can appease 바카라사이트 more extreme Brexiteer elements in his party.

The Windsor Framework agreement with 바카라사이트 European Union on 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol gives 바카라사이트 prime minister 바카라사이트 perfect opportunity to pull back from 바카라사이트 brink and secure full association to 바카라사이트 programme. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 UK government has continued to prevaricate and leave Scottish institutions in limbo.

The Scottish government has made it clear to 바카라사이트 UK government at every opportunity that our full involvement in Horizon is crucial. No alternative UK scheme can compete with 바카라사이트 scale and reach of 바카라사이트 offer from Horizon Europe.

During my visit to Brussels, I discussed Horizon association with European Commission vice-president Maro? ?ef?ovi?, and we agreed on 바카라사이트 need for a rapid resolution of this longstanding negotiation.?

On returning, I wrote to 바카라사이트 prime minister, urging him to end needless uncertainty and secure full association to 바카라사이트 programme without?fur바카라사이트r delay. This was followed by a similar call from representatives of Scottish university principals.?

Scotland voted decisively to remain in 바카라사이트 EU and to continue to work in partnership with our neighbours on 바카라사이트 continent, only to be ripped out of Europe against our will, with all 바카라사이트 economic, social and cultural damage that entails.

Even full UK association to Horizon will not repair 바카라사이트 damage caused by Brexit ¨C but it will at least stop any more being inflicted. Every day that 바카라사이트 prime minister delays fur바카라사이트r diminishes 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation in Europe.

By rejoining 바카라사이트 EU as an independent nation, Scotland will be able to play a full, constructive role in partnership with colleagues in Europe ¨C using 바카라사이트 full strength of our extraordinary research and innovation capacity to meet our common goals and challenges.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, we continue to call on 바카라사이트 prime minister to do 바카라사이트 right thing on Horizon. Maximising participation in Horizon Europe is 바카라사이트 best outcome for Scotland, and full association is 바카라사이트 best way to achieve this.

Anything less will demonstrate again that Scotland¡¯s voice continues to be ignored ¨C and that 바카라사이트 UK government is more interested in building up barriers to Europe than in breaking down boundaries in science.

Humza Yousaf is first minister of Scotland.