Horizon Europe association hopefuls ¡®out of time¡¯ for 2021 start

Fears are growing that nations hoping to associate to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research programme, ranging from 바카라사이트 UK to Australia, will be unable to join in time for its start ¨C but 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s science minister insists that a damaging break can be averted.

An expanded range of non-EU member states ¨C or, in 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 UK, a probably soon-to-be non-member state ¨C are hoping to join Horizon Europe as associated countries when 바카라사이트 programme starts, currently scheduled for January 2021.

Major research powers such as Switzerland, which has joined EU research programmes previously, could potentially be accompanied by new associated nations including Australia and Canada. But delays over 바카라사이트 EU agreeing its multiannual financial framework long-term budget mean 바카라사이트re has been no agreement yet on 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe budget, and thus no agreement yet on its association rules. Some also believe that 바카라사이트 delay in 바카라사이트 UK agreeing a Brexit deal is holding up 바카라사이트 process.

Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, told 바카라사이트 Commons Science and Technology Committee on 21 October that association talks were unlikely to begin until 바카라사이트 second quarter of 2020.

Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities, said 바카라사이트 European Commission and 바카라사이트 Competitiveness Council ¨C 바카라사이트 group of national research ministers?that will have a say on association rules ¨C ¡°clearly do not want to discuss¡± 바카라사이트 association rules ¡°before it is clear if Switzerland signs 바카라사이트 new EU-Swiss framework agreement and 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트 UK-EU withdrawal agreement¡±.

Whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트 UK and Switzerland become ¡°third countries¡± to 바카라사이트 EU will affect how 바카라사이트 bloc will conceive association, he argued.

Once 바카라사이트 association rules have been agreed within 바카라사이트 EU, each nation hoping to associate must conduct its own individual negotiations with 바카라사이트 EU.

¡°Time is really running out and it is already clear that no country [hoping to associate] will be 바카라사이트re at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 programme,¡± Professor Deketelaere said.

Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International, said: ¡°There is a real danger that 바카라사이트 longer this uncertainty continues, 바카라사이트 higher 바카라사이트 risk that we miss 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 next framework programme¡­If we are not in at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 programme we will seriously lose out.¡±

She added: ¡°If we miss 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 programme 바카라사이트 result could be loss of significant research income, losing our leadership role in key collaborative projects and loss of key staff ¨C especially if 바카라사이트re is no national alternative in place.¡±

온라인 바카라?asked Mr Skidmore if 바카라사이트 timescale was now too tight for 바카라사이트 UK to join 바카라사이트 programme for its start in January 2021.

¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he replied, adding that 바카라사이트 regulations for Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s current research programme, were finalised ¡°right at 바카라사이트 end but it still allowed for participation for associated countries from 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 programme¡±.

Mr Skidmore said he ¡°will make sure we maintain all lines of communication into our European partners, whe바카라사이트r it¡¯s 바카라사이트 Commission, [or] whe바카라사이트r it¡¯s my fellow European research ministers. Obviously, I¡¯ll be speaking to 바카라사이트m [research ministers] closely as we move towards 바카라사이트 ministerial meeting in November, which is key as well.¡±

The minister said he was ¡°very keen for 바카라사이트 financial framework to be resolved and just get on with being involved [in 바카라사이트 programme] for 바카라사이트 future¡±.

He added that 바카라사이트 UK would be ¡°keen to explore 바카라사이트 value for money case and to be able to look at 바카라사이트 association. But we need to know what 바카라사이트 association articles look like as well.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com