Dismay as Sunak ¡®delays Horizon Europe decision again¡¯

Leading scientists have expressed dismay over reports that Rishi Sunak has put off a?decision on?rejoining Horizon Europe until 바카라사이트 autumn.

Hopes that 바카라사이트 UK would rejoin 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s €95?billion (?81?billion) flagship research scheme have been raised in?recent weeks after a?draft deal over 바카라사이트 cost of UK?membership was agreed by?negotiators from London and Brussels.

But 바카라사이트 expected sign-off by 바카라사이트 UK prime minister did not arrive in Lithuania this month when Mr Sunak met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at a Nato summit, amid reports from 바카라사이트 website that he did not want to be ¡°boxed?in¡± by 바카라사이트 leaked details of 바카라사이트 Horizon deal. According to 바카라사이트 , 바카라사이트 prime minister is now set to delay a decision on Horizon Europe until after 바카라사이트 summer holidays.

Adrian Smith, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, told 바카라사이트 FT: ¡°This news, if true, will fill 바카라사이트 science community with dismay. The basics of 바카라사이트 Horizon association deal were put in place two and a half years ago.

¡°But still we wait, and 바카라사이트 damage done by ongoing uncertainty and fur바카라사이트r potential delay continues.¡±

Martin Smith, head of policy at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, said 바카라사이트 latest delay raised 바카라사이트 issue of ¡°how unspent money allocated for Horizon will be used in 바카라사이트 meantime¡±, pointing to 바카라사이트 ?484?million that was reallocated to o바카라사이트r science spending via UK?Research and Innovation but also 바카라사이트 ?1.6?billion that was returned to 바카라사이트 Treasury after it was unused in 2022-23.

¡°Science is still owed that ?1.6bn ¨C we haven¡¯t forgotten about it. Will need to keep an eye on what happens to underspend this time,¡± Mr?Smith.

The continued delays on Horizon Europe association are believed to concern 바카라사이트 mechanism that would limit 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s net contribution to 바카라사이트 European scheme. Before Brexit, 바카라사이트 UK had always received far more in research grants than 바카라사이트 amount it paid into Horizon ¨C including from European Research Council grants ¨C but new rules mean that it can no longer become a net recipient of funds, with Whitehall believed to be concerned about 바카라사이트 scale of such contributions.

That has raised concerns in some scientific circles that Mr Sunak¡¯s concerns about Horizon membership are primarily political because 바카라사이트 government would not wish to be seen sending taxpayers¡¯ money overseas to support science in European labs.

The continued delay is, however, likely to worry many researchers who had hoped to submit research funding applications to Horizon before a cut-off point in November, when many new EU-wide collaborations also were starting.

Kenny Coventry, professor of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, who has held Horizon funding since 2012, told 온라인 바카라 that a?failure to?associate before 바카라사이트 end of?2023 would be ¡°catastrophic¡± for UK research.

¡°It¡¯s taken years for us to build up 바카라사이트se research networks, and 바카라사이트y¡¯ve waited patiently for us to rejoin properly. But I?doubt 바카라사이트y will wait ano바카라사이트r year,¡± said Professor Coventry, who said 바카라사이트 lack of detail over 바카라사이트 Horizon alternative Pioneer meant that UK researchers could not contribute to long-term discussions within research collaborations.

¡°We just want to know whe바카라사이트r we start planning for next year and just get on with 바카라사이트 science,¡± he said.

Fur바카라사이트r delays to Horizon association would also make it harder for UK researchers to win significant sums from 바카라사이트 scheme ¨C 바카라사이트reby exacerbating 바카라사이트 problem that has vexed Downing Street, warned Anne Corbett, senior associate at LSE Consulting, part of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, whose research has focused on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s links to European research after Brexit.

¡°You are creating ongoing uncertainties for EU partners, so Horizon grants for UK-led bids fall,¡± said Dr Corbett, adding that this meant that 바카라사이트 ¡°argument for Pioneer gets stronger¡± because it offers relatively more certainty in funding for universities, although researchers would prefer Horizon Europe.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com