End to UK¡¯s Horizon roadblock in sight but deal on money needed

A Westminster-Brussels deal on 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol would clear 바카라사이트 political roadblock to 바카라사이트 UK joining Horizon Europe ¨C but fresh negotiations on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s financial contribution to 바카라사이트 European Union research programme would be required.

The European Commission blocked 바카라사이트 UK from finalising a?deal on?Horizon Europe association until agreement was reached on?바카라사이트 wider dispute over Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ¨C seen as?Brussels using 바카라사이트 research programme as?a political bargaining chip. But UK prime minister Rishi Sunak was said to be close to reaching a resolution with 바카라사이트 commission on 바카라사이트 treaty.

¡°The wider political disagreement over 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol has been 바카라사이트 big roadblock for getting Horizon done,¡± said Martin Smith, head of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust¡¯s Policy Lab. ¡°So?resolution of that¡­should unlock 바카라사이트 ability to finalise 바카라사이트 UK association to Horizon Europe.¡±

But given that 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Horizon association were agreed in a trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) between 바카라사이트 UK and EU signed in?2020, 바카라사이트re was a need to bring some issues up to date, meaning that association would not necessarily come ¡°바카라사이트 day after¡± any agreement on Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, Mr Smith added.

The seven-year Horizon Europe programme started in February 2021, so 바카라사이트 UK would be joining part way through ¨C a complicating factor when it comes to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s financial contributions, which will come to more than ?1?billion a?year. The Westminster government has been covering 바카라사이트 costs of participation for UK researchers via a?guarantee scheme.

¡°The financial contribution will have to be changed,¡± said Peter Mason, head of global research and innovation policy at Universities?UK International. ¡°At?바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 [TCA] sets out that 바카라사이트 UK will contribute towards all seven years of 바카라사이트 programme. Now, obviously, 바카라사이트 UK won¡¯t contribute towards all seven years, because we¡¯ve effectively paid for our contribution through 바카라사이트 guarantee for 바카라사이트 last two and a?half years.¡±

There are two elements to association financing: a core contribution and a participation fee for administration. Under 바카라사이트 TCA, 바카라사이트 administrative fee is set at 0.5?per cent of UK contributions in year one of 바카라사이트 programme, increasing gradually to 4?per cent, which leaves a question as to where 바카라사이트 fee will be set when 바카라사이트 UK joins part way through.

Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities, said that if 바카라사이트 UK ¡°would like to start negotiating its financial contribution again, 바카라사이트n this could lead to waste of time again¡±.

The hope on reaching agreement on 바카라사이트 financial aspect is that ¡°it would be done very quickly¡±, said Mr Mason.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트re were claims that 바카라사이트 UK government had reversed pledges to protect research spending after ?1.6?billion of unused funds earmarked for Horizon Europe association in 2022-23 was returned to 바카라사이트 Treasury.

Mr Mason said ¡°바카라사이트 loss of this funding is disappointing, but what is most important is that 바카라사이트 money is still 바카라사이트re for covering 바카라사이트 cost of association [in?바카라사이트 future], which would be 바카라사이트 best outcome for 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

Urging a swift resolution to talks with Brussels, Mr Smith added: ¡°I?do worry about patience wearing thin. It has been over two years that we¡¯ve been in this holding pattern.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com