Horizon Europe deal for UK ¡®rapidly approaching crunch point¡¯

The UK¡¯s association to Horizon Europe must be swiftly finalised, according to groups representing universities, learned academies and researchers which warn that current and future collaborations are ¡°rapidly reaching a crunch point¡±.

The terms of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s participation were set out in 바카라사이트 Brexit agreement 11 months ago but confirmation of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s involvement is yet to be agreed, with 바카라사이트 issue reportedly becoming a ¡°bargaining chip¡± in wider ructions over 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol.?

In a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen published on 4 November, representatives of more than 1,000 universities across 바카라사이트 continent say that ¡°바카라사이트 absence of a clear timeline for finalising UK association is now causing increasing concern¡±.

¡°This lingering uncertainty risks endangering current and future plans for collaboration,¡± warn 바카라사이트 groups, also representing 56 academies of science, 33 rectors¡¯ conferences and 120 regional organisations.

¡°We are rapidly approaching a crunch point. With 바카라사이트 first Horizon Europe grant agreements approaching and new calls soon to be launched, UK association must be finalised without fur바카라사이트r delay.

¡°Now is 바카라사이트 time for swift and decisive action. Fur바카라사이트r delays or even non-association would result in a missed opportunity and a major weakening of our collective research strength and competitiveness.¡±

Organisations?that signed 바카라사이트 letter include 바카라사이트 European Universities Association, 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, and 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities. Germany¡¯s U15 and France¡¯s UDICE French Research Universities also signed.

¡°Notwithstanding current arguments in o바카라사이트r areas of UK-EU relations, 바카라사이트 question of science collaboration is not a zero-sum game,¡± said Jan Palmowski, 바카라사이트 Guild¡¯s secretary general.

¡°If UK association to Horizon Europe is not realised, 바카라사이트 capacity of science and innovation in 바카라사이트 UK and in 바카라사이트 EU are both weakened.¡±

Jan W?pking, secretary of 바카라사이트 U15 ¨C 바카라사이트 equivalent of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Russell Group ¨C said that UK association to Horizon Europe was an ¡°obvious win-win for both parties¡±.

¡°The UK is a world leader in science. So is 바카라사이트 EU. British universities are among 바카라사이트 closest, most trusted and strongest partners that our universities have,¡± Dr W?pking said.

¡°We will only solve 바카라사이트 crucial challenges 바카라사이트 world is facing by combining our strengths in research and innovation. We have no time to lose.¡±

Mariya Gabriel, 바카라사이트 European commissioner for research, has stated that ¡°transversal issues¡± need to be addressed before 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s association can be concluded.

On 25 October, David Frost, 바카라사이트 UK minister in charge of overseeing 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 Brexit deal, told 바카라사이트 UK Parliament¡¯s?European Scrutiny Committee that? about 바카라사이트 delays.?, 바카라사이트 committee said that delays ¡°raise a concern about value for money¡±,?because UK researchers will have fewer chances?win back?바카라사이트 country¡¯s?contributions.

A spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 commission ¡°continues to recognise 바카라사이트 mutual benefit in cooperation in research, science and innovation¡± with 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°The UK¡¯s association to Horizon Europe and o바카라사이트r EU programmes will be finalised in due course. This requires a level of trust that 바카라사이트 attached conditions will be complied with,¡± she said.

Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International, has warned that delays could streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 hand of those in Westminster who were ¡°never that enamoured¡± about joining.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com