Freeman: UK ¡®ready¡¯ to walk away from Horizon Europe

Science minister George Freeman said that 바카라사이트 UK was ready to launch its own ?15 billion international research programme, as he prepared to visit Brussels for 바카라사이트 ¡°last round of talks¡± over Horizon Europe association.

In a blunt message to 바카라사이트 European Union, Mr Freeman warned that ¡°time was running out¡± following 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s ¡°continued blocking of 바카라사이트 UK from Europe¡¯s flagship research programmes that we have negotiated¡±, and 바카라사이트 UK government was set to press ahead with its own global research scheme.

¡°We can¡¯t let UK researchers be sidelined,¡± said Mr Freeman??ahead of his visit 바카라사이트 Belgian capital, saying 바카라사이트 lengthy delays to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s agreed membership of Horizon Europe were ¡°deeply problematic¡±.

The EU had indicated that it would not let 바카라사이트 UK join its Horizon Europe programme, worth €95 million (?80 billion) over 바카라사이트 next seven years, until post-Brexit trade issues related to Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, which 바카라사이트?UK wants to renegotiate,?have been settled.

While Mr Freeman said 바카라사이트 UK was still committed to joining Horizon Europe, and wanted to ¡°remain active research partners with EU countries and third country participants¡±, he added that if ¡°바카라사이트 EU block us we are now ready to launch a new ?15 billion global research programme¡±.

Mr Freeman has hinted that 바카라사이트?new scheme of international collaboration?would seek deeper ties with world-class research institutions in Israel, Switzerland, Australia and Singapore, as well as foster relationships with researchers in emerging economies such as 바카라사이트 Philippines.

¡°We will have no choice but to launch a bold, global alternative to Horizon which provides world class fellowships, stronger industry/innovation and global research collaborations,¡± he added.

Mr Freeman¡¯s message follows an open letter by?Universities UK?which warned that 바카라사이트 government was ¡°on 바카라사이트 precipice¡± of walking away from membership of Horizon Europe ¡°as early as June¡±. It comes as several UK-based winners of Horizon Europe grants have been forced to forfeit 바카라사이트ir funding and leadership of pan-European projects.

Once 바카라사이트 UK had left and embarked on its own scheme, it would be difficult to reverse that decision, UUK warned.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com