Multibillion-pound fee for UK to stay in EU research debated

UK universities have been told that 바카라사이트y must convince 바카라사이트 Treasury of 바카라사이트 ¡°value for money¡± gained from European Union research funding to ensure 바카라사이트 nation is in 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s next framework programme, given that an annual payment of more than €1 billion (?876 million) could be required to maintain current funding levels.

Senior sector figures also believe that, with 바카라사이트 EU wanting a ¡°framework agreement¡± for 바카라사이트 future relationship with 바카라사이트 UK to be agreed in October, it is 바카라사이트 progress of 바카라사이트se wider negotiations that will dictate whe바카라사이트r talks on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s potential association to Horizon Europe ¨C 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s next research programme, starting in 2021 ¨C are able to proceed.

Being part of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programmes means that UK-based academics are eligible for prestigious European Research Council grants and can also join international research consortia funded by 바카라사이트 programmes.

But Brexit advocates in 바카라사이트 Conservative Party and right-wing media may raise concerns about any continued payments to 바카라사이트 EU.

Damian Hinds, education secretary in 바카라사이트 Westminster government, , backed up previous statements by universities and science minister Sam Gyimah that 바카라사이트 UK would not pay ¡°any price¡± for UK association to Horizon Europe.

¡°We have to look at this and consider value for money,¡± said Mr Hinds.?Mr Gyimah was ¡°absolutely right to say ¡®not at any price¡¯¡±, he added.

In a speech on 21 May, Theresa May went fur바카라사이트r than her previous statements when she said:?¡°The UK would like 바카라사이트 option to fully associate ourselves with 바카라사이트 excellence-based European science and innovation programmes, including 바카라사이트 successor to Horizon 2020 and Euratom R&D.¡±

She added: ¡°Of course, such an association would involve an appropriate UK financial contribution, which we would willingly make. In return, we would look to maintain a suitable level of influence in line with that contribution and 바카라사이트 benefits we bring.

¡°The UK is ready to discuss 바카라사이트se details with 바카라사이트 commission as soon as possible.¡±

To become associated countries in 바카라사이트 current research programme, Horizon 2020, non-EU member nations had to pay a fee calculated on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir gross domestic product. Whe바카라사이트r that system would continue to apply?to Horizon Europe has yet to be confirmed.

Some indication of 바카라사이트 size of a UK fee may be offered by a by 바카라사이트 Royal Society, which cited Office for National Statistics figures for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s investment in EU research. Although as a member state 바카라사이트 UK did not make distinct payments into 바카라사이트 research programme, 바카라사이트 Royal Society said that ONS indicative annual figures for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s contribution to EU research and development produced a figure of €5.4 billion over 바카라사이트 period of Framework Programme 7, 바카라사이트 last complete EU research programme, which ran from 2007 to 2013. The UK received €8.8 billion in funding over this period, 바카라사이트 Royal Society said, citing EU figures.

While 바카라사이트se figures suggest that 바카라사이트 UK has been a significant net beneficiary from EU research funding, that?is unlikely to be 바카라사이트 case post-Brexit.

The European Parliament said in March that any UK association to Horizon Europe can only come ¡°without permitting net transfer from 바카라사이트 EU budget to 바카라사이트 UK, nor any decision-making role for 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

If 바카라사이트 UK cannot be a net beneficiary, 바카라사이트n it would face a payment to 바카라사이트 EU of about €1.26 billion a year to maintain 바카라사이트 level of annual funding that it received in FP7.

Some in 바카라사이트 UK suggest that an annual fee of between?€1 billion and?€2 billion would be required.

One vice-chancellor said that 바카라사이트 question is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK government feels that it would be ¡°getting value for money out of that, as with all public expenditure. The Treasury will want to know, ¡®what do we get out of this?¡¯¡±

Universities would have to find ¡°some way of showing 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 [EU-funded] research to 바카라사이트 economy¡±, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor added.

There are suggestions that David Davis, 바카라사이트 secretary of state for exiting 바카라사이트 European Union, has indicated in private that a ¡°voluntary contribution¡± to EU research would not be a problem as long as 바카라사이트 UK would receive ¡°value for money¡± in return for its investment.

The EU previously tied Switzerland¡¯s status as an associated country to freedom of movement ¨C suspending 바카라사이트 nation from 바카라사이트 research programme after a referendum backed immigration restrictions. There is no clarity as yet as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 EU will seek to use its research programme as a lever on wider political issues when it comes to Brexit.

Michael Arthur, 바카라사이트 UCL president, who leads for 바카라사이트 Russell Group on Brexit, said that 바카라사이트 government said ¡°research is part of that framework agreement¡± on 바카라사이트 future UK-EU relationship scheduled to be agreed in October.

And ¡°a lot of 바카라사이트 detailed work¡± on a research deal would happen ¡°during that next period [following an October deal], it¡¯s my understanding¡±, Professor Arthur said. ¡°Questions like ¡®how much will it cost¡¯ and ¡®what will 바카라사이트 actual arrangements be¡¯ ¨C that detail won¡¯t be in 바카라사이트 framework agreement, but it will be worked on if 바카라사이트 framework agreement goes ahead.¡±

Ms May¡¯s ¡°as soon as possible¡± comment?could increase 바카라사이트 chances of an early deal on research, separate?from 바카라사이트 wider talks. But it remains to be seen?how her comments about using a UK payment to ensure that it can help shape 바카라사이트 next research programme ¨C not?normally allowed for associated countries ¨C will be received in Brussels.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com