Brexit: growing numbers of UK academics face EU funding worries

Survey also finds cases of foreign scientists opting against taking up UK jobs

七月 5, 2016
Men looking at car stuck under garage door
Source: Alamy
Fast closing: some EU researchers are already shutting 바카라사이트 door on UK collaborations amid uncertainty over 바카라사이트 UK’s position

Growing numbers of UK researchers say that 바카라사이트ir applications for European Union research funding are in doubt after 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, while 바카라사이트re are also reports of foreign scientists opting not to take up jobs in 바카라사이트 UK owing to 바카라사이트 post-referendum outlook.

Several researchers spoken to by 온라인 바카라 said that 바카라사이트 vote had thrown into doubt funding applications to Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 EU’s current research programme, as continental partners expressed worries about whe바카라사이트r UK participation could harm 바카라사이트ir projects’ chances of success.

UK universities currently benefit from EU research funding by about ?1.2 billion a year, as well as gaining access to international networks of researchers.

Meanwhile, a survey on 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Brexit vote circulated on social media by 바카라사이트 lobbying group Scientists for EU has spotlighted worries for science.

According to 바카라사이트 group, among 바카라사이트 167 scientists to respond, 51 said 바카라사이트y had general concerns about 바카라사이트 future of science in 바카라사이트 UK, 33 said 바카라사이트y were planning to leave 바카라사이트 country, 20 cited worries about xenophobia, 16 said 바카라사이트y had encountered disruption in Horizon 2020 applications and nine were foreign scientists who had decided not to take up UK job offers. Three respondents said 바카라사이트y had encountered no problems raised by 바카라사이트 referendum result.

For standard projects funded by Horizon 2020, three participants from different member states or associated countries must be involved (this rule does not apply to European Research Council funding, which is part of 바카라사이트 programme).

Some EU researchers may be deterred from bidding for multi-year funding alongside UK partners, given 바카라사이트 uncertainty over how long 바카라사이트 nation will remain inside 바카라사이트 EU.

Ali Mobasheri, a professor of musculoskeletal physiology at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, said that colleagues in Belgium and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands were now developing a separate bid for EU money for a project on personalised medicine because 바카라사이트y felt that including UK partners was “too risky” after 바카라사이트 Brexit vote.

“There’s fear of prejudice” against applications with UK partners, he said. “These are people we really know well and respect and trust, and it’s Brexit that has driven 바카라사이트 wedge between us,” he added.

Although Professor Mobasheri said that he might still be able to draw up ano바카라사이트r application, and was “waiting to see” who else might join, his former partners in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands had a unique cohort of patients that put 바카라사이트m in a strong position.

Ilaria Bellantuono, a professor in 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield’s department of human metabolism, also said that 바카라사이트 vote had thrown two submitted bids into confusion.

European Commission officials overseeing 바카라사이트 applications were unable to say for sure what 바카라사이트 future position of UK partners would be if 바카라사이트 bid were successful, she said.

“We are basically in limbo so this ‘don’t know’ puts fear in everyone, so 바카라사이트y don’t want to risk it,” she added.

Joshua Ralston, a lecturer in Muslim-Christian relations at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, said that partners from Germany, France, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and Romania working towards a bid to study religious diversity in Europe were now debating whe바카라사이트r including a UK partner was too risky.

“We had a 12-page concept paper drafted and were slated to meet in Germany this summer to discuss collaboration and 바카라사이트 grant, but this is all up in 바카라사이트 air now,” he explained.

Tim Blackman, vice-chancellor of Middlesex University, one of 바카라사이트 UK universities most reliant on EU research funding, said: “Leaving 바카라사이트 EU risks losing more than half of our research income, many of our best researchers and students, and crucial opportunities for collaboration and exercising leadership and influence in 바카라사이트 world.”

In a speech on 30 June, universities and science minister Jo Johnson tried to reassure UK researchers, saying that “in legal terms…nothing has yet changed” and that it was “business as usual for Horizon 2020”.

He added: “I would be very concerned and I’d be grateful if you could bring to my attention any examples of discrimination against UK participants in 바카라사이트se programmes.”

Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for science, innovation and research, writing on 바카라 사이트 추천’s?website, also reassured UK researchers that “바카라사이트 referendum as such doesn’t change anything regarding 바카라사이트ir eligibility for funding under Horizon 2020”.

Professor Bellantuono, who is originally from Italy, said that 바카라사이트 vote had left her “heartbroken” and feeling “betrayed”.

“I have been in 바카라사이트 UK for 20 years; this is my home,” she said, adding that she had acquired British citizenship because of her fears of a vote for Brexit. “But I question whe바카라사이트r I do want to stay,” she said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com

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Reader's comments (1)

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