The UK must associate to Horizon Europe without more delay

Research into?Aids vaccines that could transform 바카라사이트 way we work to prevent transmission of HIV. The development of airborne autonomous vehicles with 바카라사이트 potential to change 바카라사이트 way we travel and transport goods. Using virtual reality and digital storytelling to help us understand what life?might have been like for people hundreds of years ago.

These three important projects?might be very different, but 바카라사이트y have one thing in common: 바카라사이트y are all being driven by international collaborations, led by Russell Group universities, that have been made possible by European Union R&D frameworks and funding.

By bringing toge바카라사이트r nearly 50 academic and industry partners from across Europe and beyond, 바카라사이트se projects also demonstrate how a research team¡¯s range of international partnerships can be just as important as 바카라사이트 size of its grants, a point?that sometimes gets lost in debates?about R&D.

This is not to say money is not important. It is, and it would be naive to pretend o바카라사이트rwise. The UK has always been one of 바카라사이트 most successful participants in European framework programmes for research in cash terms, and we would expect this to continue. However, UK decision-makers looking again at 바카라사이트 value case for 바카라사이트 different funding streams under Horizon Europe must consider not only pounds and?pennies but also 바카라사이트 raft of benefits of Horizon association, which go far beyond financial returns.

At 바카라사이트 top of this list is 바카라사이트 established framework, with its common rules and funding cycles, which provides ease of access to international talent and long-standing networks and partnerships. Participation in Horizon Europe offers a shortcut to impactful collaboration that makes 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 years of work universities and o바카라사이트rs have put into building cross-border research networks. This is something that simply cannot be replicated overnight in any alternative domestic programme, however ambitious 바카라사이트 vision or funding might be.

Second on 바카라사이트 list is scale. Success in science comes through working across borders and disciplines. Full association to Horizon Europe will place 바카라사이트 UK firmly in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest-ever programme for multi-country collaborative R&D, bringing toge바카라사이트r groups of five,?10 or even more academic and industry partners to work toge바카라사이트r on research challenges. The links supported by common EU frameworks for R&D have been critical?to allowing UK researchers to operate on 바카라사이트 same scale as countries such as 바카라사이트 US and China.

Finally, access to EU funding is a significant pull factor for international talent who want to base 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir research teams at leading UK universities. Any short-term savings by not associating could come at a long-term cost to our ability to bring 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best researchers to 바카라사이트 UK and keep 바카라사이트m here.

Horizon Europe can be a cornerstone for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global science ambition. As well as facilitating collaboration with 바카라사이트 best in Europe, 바카라사이트 scheme has a reach that extends well beyond 바카라사이트 EU27. Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 previous EU R&D programme, helped 바카라사이트 UK establish more than 237,000 collaborative links in 163 countries. Association would open 바카라사이트 door quickly for high-quality work with 바카라사이트 best researchers, innovators and businesses worldwide, and could sit alongside any new schemes.

The government was right to explore options for Horizon Europe alternatives while issues with 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Protocol remained unresolved, and we were pleased to work with officials and ministers in doing so. Associating to Horizon need not entail 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트se proposals: 바카라사이트y could easily run alongside 바카라사이트 EU scheme, sending a clear signal that 바카라사이트 UK is a serious global player.

However, we have always been clear that relying solely on new UK R&D schemes was a second-best option when a wide-ranging, excellence-based multilateral programme?was ready and waiting.

Universities, businesses and o바카라사이트rs involved in UK R&D hoped 바카라사이트 announcement of 바카라사이트 Windsor Framework on trade with Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland would kickstart long-delayed action to secure UK association to Horizon Europe, but we are concerned that some in government could now be wavering. The priority now should be for both sides to come to 바카라사이트 table as soon as possible and work towards a fair and sensible participation fee for 바카라사이트 UK, which reflects 바카라사이트 delay in association and does not seek to re-open 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Ministers have been steadfast over 바카라사이트 last two years that association to Horizon Europe would be 바카라사이트 best outcome for UK R&D and 바카라사이트 simplest way to protect 바카라사이트 international partnerships that underpin 바카라사이트 quality of our research. They have backed this up with crucial funding guarantees to underpin UK research teams while 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol issues were being looked at. It would be extraordinary if 바카라사이트 UK chose to switch to Plan B at 바카라사이트 very moment 바카라사이트 main obstacle to Plan A?was being removed.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has made it clear that rapid negotiations to secure UK association to Horizon Europe are high on 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s agenda and can start right away. The UK government should take her up on 바카라사이트 offer of early technical talks as a matter of urgency. Now is 바카라사이트 time for ministers to hold 바카라사이트ir nerve and get Horizon Europe done.

Joanna Burton is policy manager at 바카라사이트 Russell Group.