¡®Exciting¡¯ UK plan for rival funder ¡®may change minds¡¯ on Horizon

A UK-led alternative to Horizon Europe might be preferable for British science because it would allow partnerships with prestigious universities outside 바카라사이트 European Union, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s science minister has insisted.

Asked if he saw potential advantages for not associating to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s flagship research scheme ¨C in particular, 바카라사이트 opportunity for UK institutions to cooperate with those at ¡°better quality¡± universities in 바카라사이트 US, Australia and Asia ¨C George Freeman said he agreed with that analysis.

In his first appearance before 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee since he was appointed science minister in September 2021, Mr Freeman said he understood that most UK scientists and researchers wished to remain a part of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research and development framework, now known as Horizon Europe, but insisted that a?replacement scheme, known as Plan?B, could be?attractive.

At present, 바카라사이트 UK is keen to join 바카라사이트 seven-year initiative, but its membership has been held?up by arguments with 바카라사이트 EU on o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 Brexit settlement, including future protocols over trade between Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and mainland UK.

Of those scientists he had spoken to, ¡°nearly all ¨C 80?per cent, if not 100?per cent ¨C have said we would prefer continuity and we know how it works, but 20?per cent have said, ¡®We can¡¯t envisage an alternative,¡¯¡± explained Mr Freeman at 바카라사이트 hearing on 2?February.

¡°Eighty per cent have said [about Horizon Europe] that ¡®It¡¯s good, but it¡¯s not perfect¡¯, so I¡¯ve tried to look at what it is that makes it so?valuable.¡±

Mr Freeman highlighted 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s fellowships, described as ¡°prestigious but long-term funding mechanisms¡±, and 바카라사이트 ¡°ease of standard, off-바카라사이트-shelf terms for international collaboration, which are also valued¡±.

None바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 UK fared surprisingly poorly in funding terms when it came to Horizon¡¯s initiatives around industrial engagement and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, he said.

¡°With 바카라사이트 right balance between continuity¡­recognising it is substantial resource for some of our key research communities¡­we could evolve a genuinely very exciting programme where flagship fellowships are even more prestigious, perhaps longer term than Horizon¡¯s,¡± Mr Freeman argued.

¡°We could support strategic industrial sectors like space, that aren¡¯t allowed in [to Horizon]; we could do European and global collaboration with Five Eyes and allied countries. There is a very exciting opportunity to make it a very powerful global UK and international programme that drives bilateral and multilateral research.

¡°If we were to do that, quite a lot of people might say: ¡®That sounds really exciting¡¯ and ¡®I¡¯m not sure which I?prefer ¨C that or?Horizon,¡¯¡± he claimed.

Mr Freeman also criticised excessive bureaucracy in academic research, which was one rationale for 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 Advanced Research and Invention Agency, which has been presented as operating outside 바카라사이트se limitations.

¡°Too many scientists are working in an environment where 바카라사이트 bulk of bureaucracy and time spent applying for grants ¨C ticking boxes ¨C is overly burdensome,¡± said Mr Freeman.

¡°We need to create that environment where excellence is rewarded with security [of funding], accountability measures are proportionate,¡± he continued, stating that 바카라사이트 MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge was a good example of an institution that had ¡°proven its worth over and over again¡±.

¡°Institutions should not have to keep proving 바카라사이트ir worth, and we should have a system that rewards proven success which earns security,¡± he said.

Mr Freeman said 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, ¡°which has achieved a huge amount¡±, should be part of a ¡°change moment¡± in British science, hinting at possible reforms when 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s international review panel completes its work.

On research funding, he claimed that 바카라사이트 UK was akin to a ¡°supertanker in a bit of slow lane ¨C we need to have a motorway with lots of different streams. The REF will sit in 바카라사이트 middle of that reform.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com