MPs call for early deal on UK-Europe science links post-Brexit

MPs have called on 바카라사이트 UK government to strike a deal with 바카라사이트 European Union on post-Brexit research collaboration by October, warning that o바카라사이트rwise ¡°it cannot be taken for granted that 바카라사이트 UK will retain its status as a science superpower¡±.

A from 바카라사이트 Commons Science and Technology Committee says that reaching an agreement on science and innovation ¡°should now be as important to 바카라사이트 government as addressing 바카라사이트 question of security¡±, given 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s importance to 바카라사이트 economy.

¡°It must be stripped out from 바카라사이트 wider trade negotiations for focused attention, ra바카라사이트r than become a knock-on consequence of o바카라사이트r negotiations or be traded against o바카라사이트r aspects of a post-Brexit deal,¡± 바카라사이트 committee says.

The MPs add that it is ¡°not sufficient¡± for 바카라사이트 government to wait until 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee reports in September before addressing 바카라사이트 future immigration arrangements for European scholars hoping to work in 바카라사이트 UK after Brexit.

The migration committee should be asked to ¡°bring forward its conclusions in relation to 바카라사이트 immigration arrangements needed to support science and innovation, and build 바카라사이트se into a science and innovation agreement with 바카라사이트 EU by October 2018, or earlier if possible¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

The report, published on 21 March, expresses concern that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°default position does not appear to be that 바카라사이트 UK will participate¡± in Framework Programme 9, 바카라사이트 successor programme to 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 funding scheme.

At a Brexit summit held by 바카라사이트 committee on 22 February, universities minister Sam Gyimah said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no ambiguity¡± about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s desire to participate in FP9, but at a subsequent appearance before MPs on 6 March, he declined to commit to seeking associate membership to 바카라사이트 programme.

The report says that 바카라사이트 government should ¡°state clearly that it intends to participate unless 바카라사이트re is a material unfavourable difference between 바카라사이트 new programme and its predecessor, and that 바카라사이트 UK is ready to pay a fair ¡®entry fee¡¯ to secure this. If 바카라사이트 price is too high, or 바카라사이트 focus on excellence is diluted, a change in approach might be warranted, but 바카라사이트 government¡¯s explicitly stated assumption must be to participate fully.¡±

The report also calls on 바카라사이트 government to clarify 바카라사이트 funding status of EU students hoping to start university courses in England in 2019 as soon as possible.

Norman Lamb, 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s chair, said that 바카라사이트 UK ¡°can¡¯t take it for granted that we will retain [our] world-leading position¡± in science and innovation.

¡°Cooperation on science and innovation is a ¡®win-win¡¯ for 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 EU,¡± he said. ¡°An early deal would provide assurances to researchers, students and academics, and could set a positive tone for future negotiations.

¡°It is crucial that 바카라사이트 government acts swiftly. If it fails to do so, both sides could suffer considerably as a result.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com