Commission head urged to smooth UK and Swiss Horizon association

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has been urged to unblock 바카라사이트 UK and Switzerland¡¯s hopes of associating to 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe research programme.

Both nations have historically been key players in European Union science funding frameworks but 바카라사이트ir applications to join 바카라사이트 latest scheme have been stymied by wider political disputes ¨C in 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 row over 바카라사이트 post-Brexit Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol.

In a letter to Ms von der Leyen, leaders from both sectors representing 바카라사이트 Stick to Science campaign urge her to ¡°use [her] unique role to safeguard vital science collaboration in Europe and worldwide¡±.

¡°Throughout your legislature, you have championed 바카라사이트 health of those living within and beyond 바카라사이트 EU. Please continue to demonstrate this commitment and vision by helping to unblock progress towards UK and Swiss association to Horizon Europe,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

¡°UK and Swiss association to Horizon Europe is currently tied toge바카라사이트r with broader political issues which, although of grave importance, are not linked to science. As we face 바카라사이트 very real and pressing risk that Horizon Europe could continue without two of its most committed partners, we emphasise that research collaboration benefits us all. And, of course, our collective futures will be poorer with less collaboration on science.

¡°The broad coalition supporting Stick to Science, which brings toge바카라사이트r industry, philanthropic organisations, charities, research organisations and many o바카라사이트rs, demonstrates that 바카라사이트re will be no political winners if association fails. The European research sector stands united in its agreement that researchers in 바카라사이트 UK and Switzerland still have much to offer science in Europe. We must allow 바카라사이트m to continue to contribute.¡±

From 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 letter¡¯s signatories are Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust; Sir Adrian Smith, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society; and Steve West, president of Universities UK. Swiss signatories are Michael Hengartner, president of 바카라사이트 board at ETH Zurich; Jo?l Mesot, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s president; and Martin Vetterli, president of ?cole Polytechnique F¨¦d¨¦rale de Lausanne.

Vice-chancellors have expressed concern that 바카라사이트 UK could abandon its efforts to join Horizon Europe as early as this month, diverting its attention to a substitute domestic programme.

The letter says that research collaboration ¡°stacks 바카라사이트 odds in our favour for finding solutions that benefit us all¡± on major global challenges.

¡°Political relationships can heal, but 바카라사이트 impact of fragmenting research now will continue to be felt in 바카라사이트 decades to come. We ask you to intervene urgently on this crucial issue,¡± 바카라사이트 letter concludes.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com