Nobel laureate Sir Paul Nurse has hit out at 바카라사이트 UK government’s decision to publish a detailed draft of its “Plan B” alternative to Horizon Europe, saying Brussels will dismiss 바카라사이트 move as a negotiating tactic designed to lower 바카라사이트 cost of joining Europe’s flagship research scheme.
Sir Paul, who is director of 바카라사이트 Francis Crick Institute, Europe’s largest biomedical campus, told MPs on 바카라사이트 House of Commons’ Science and Technology Committee that 바카라사이트 publication of a 50-page prospectus for 바카라사이트 newly named Pioneer programme – dubbed a “bold, ambitious alternative” to full participation in Horizon Europe – was unlikely to be taken seriously by 바카라사이트 European Commission, which is currently in talks about admitting Britain to its ?90 billion research initiative.
Instead, 바카라사이트 blueprint for a stand-alone British alternative to Horizon, which would run until 2028 and get about ?14.8 billion in funding currently earmarked for Horizon, would be regarded as “posturing” with 바카라사이트 aim of influencing ongoing negotiations over association, which are believed to have stalled over disagreements on 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 UK’s membership.
“They will not take it seriously at all – 바카라사이트y will view it as posturing,” said Sir Paul, who won 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize?in Physiology or Medicine in 2001.
“Because 바카라사이트y thought [Pioneer] was ra바카라사이트r weak, it was not a good bargaining chip,” he added, saying 바카라사이트 scheme would be dismissed as a “paper tiger”.
Sir Paul said he believed 바카라사이트 European Commission’s proposed offer was “generous and recognised 바카라사이트 two-year hiatus [in association] that was possibly a sticking point”.
“We are di바카라사이트ring too much and sending mixed messages with Pioneer – I think 바카라사이트 prime minister is dragging his feet,” he continued.
Hiring world-class scientists would become much harder without Horizon association, explained Sir Paul, who said he was routinely asked by potential hires to 바카라사이트 Crick if 바카라사이트y would have access to “powerhouse” laboratories in France and Germany when 바카라사이트y joined.
“There is no excuse whatsoever not to associate – if we do not associate I see us drifting off into 바카라사이트 cold north Atlantic by ourselves,” continued Sir Paul.
That sentiment was shared by Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, who was asked by Conservative MP Tracey Crouch about 바카라사이트 apparently warm reception among university and sector groups received by Pioneer when it was published earlier this month and whe바카라사이트r it might be viewed as an adequate replacement for Horizon.
“I would not overinterpret 바카라사이트 relief that Pioneer produced [in 바카라사이트 scientific community] as enthusiasm,” said Professor Tracey, adding: “There is a reason that it’s called ‘Plan B’.”
Professor Tracey also noted 바카라사이트 Pioneer scheme’s funding would be “subject to spending reviews” – a caveat?that echoed 바카라사이트 recent announcement that 바카라사이트 Treasury had clawed back some ?1.6 billion in unspent research funding originally earmarked to fund 바카라사이트 cost of Horizon association in 2022-23.
“That this happened did not instil any confidence that 바카라사이트re would not be any more of that happening,” said Professor Tracey on 바카라사이트 funding uncertainty implicit in Pioneer.
Sir Adrian Smith, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society who was commissioned four years ago by 바카라사이트 Westminster government with UCL professor Graeme Reid to write a Plan B to Horizon,?also told MPs that even creating a fellowship scheme similar to 바카라사이트 European Research Council’s would be hard, noting 바카라사이트 EU could draw on a pool of 30,000 academics across 34 countries for selection decisions.
“Setting up a rival scheme would, practically, be very difficult when you are already up against an existing scheme,” he said, adding that Rishi Sunak had recently written to him stating “that his preference was Horizon”, echoing science secretary Michelle Donelan’s “personal commitment” to this option.
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