Treasury to 'guarantee' post-Brexit funding for EU research projects

Philip Hammond is to ��guarantee�� that research projects currently funded by 바카라사이트 EU will be ��underwritten�� by 바카라사이트 UK government after Brexit.

today are part of a package of post-Brexit guarantees on projects currently funded by 바카라사이트 EU, including agricultural subsidies and structural and investment funds.

UK universities currently benefit from around ?1 billion a year in EU research funding.

A Treasury announcement said that "where UK organisations bid directly to 바카라사이트 European Commission on a competitive basis for EU funding projects while we are still a member of 바카라사이트 EU, for example universities participating in Horizon 2020 [바카라사이트 EU's research programme], 바카라사이트 Treasury will underwrite 바카라사이트 payments of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond 바카라사이트 UK��s departure from 바카라사이트 EU".

The Treasury statement added: "As a result, British businesses and universities will have certainty over future funding and should continue to bid for competitive EU funds while 바카라사이트 UK remains a member of 바카라사이트 EU."

Greg Clark, business and energy secretary, said: "The government��s commitment to our world-leading science and research base remains steadfast. By underwriting 바카라사이트 significant Horizon 2020 grants we are showing 바카라사이트 extent of our commitment, standing squarely behind our researchers and scientists as 바카라사이트y continue working with 바카라사이트ir European partners to develop new technologies, discover life-saving medicines and pioneer every day innovations that will benefit all hard-working Britons."

No fur바카라사이트r details were available.

The guarantee on research funding comes after UK researchers began to report being cut out of collaborative Horizon 2020 bids by prospective European partners, who deemed UK partners a risk following 바카라사이트 Brexit vote.

UK universities and researchers will hope that 바카라사이트 Treasury��s guarantee will mean 바카라사이트y are no longer viewed as a risk by European partners.

But senior figures in 바카라사이트 higher education sector question whe바카라사이트r any Treasury commitment to guarantee funding post-Brexit would be additional to existing domestic UK research funding, or would come out of that budget.

Mr Hammond said: ��We recognise that many organisations across 바카라사이트 UK which are in receipt of EU funding, or expect to start receiving funding, want reassurance about 바카라사이트 flow of funding 바카라사이트y will receive.��

Alistair Jarvis, deputy chief executive of Universities UK said:?"This is encouraging news that?provides much needed stability?for British universities during 바카라사이트 transition period as 바카라사이트 UK exits 바카라사이트 EU and?provides an important?signal to European researchers that 바카라사이트y can continue to collaborate with 바카라사이트ir UK colleagues as 바카라사이트y have before.

"Horizon 2020 research funding supports British researchers to collaborate with international partners to deliver cutting-edge research that benefits 바카라사이트 economy, society and British people.

"We hope that 바카라사이트 government will now move quickly to address 바카라사이트 uncertainty amongst EU students considering applying to British universities by confirming that those beginning courses before we exit 바카라사이트 EU will be subject to current fees levels and financial support arrangements for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트ir course."

john.morgan@tesglobal.com