UK ¡®interested¡¯ in joining ¡®good value¡¯ Horizon Europe successor

The new Labour government has said that 바카라사이트 UK would be interested in associating to 바카라사이트 successor programme to Horizon Europe if it provides ¡°good value¡± for researchers and taxpayers.

The European Commission is in 바카라사이트 early stages of designing its next research and innovation framework programme, currently known as FP10, which is due to get under way in 2028.

It will replace 바카라사이트 €100 billion (?84 billion) Horizon Europe, which 바카라사이트 UK spent two post-Brexit two years outside of before rejoining as an associate member at 바카라사이트 start of 2024.

In a position paper published on 26 September, 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology sets out 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s hopes for FP10, urging ¡°evolution¡­ra바카라사이트r than revolution¡± and a continued focus on research excellence.

¡°Having associated to Horizon Europe, we want UK scientists, innovators, businesses and institutions to continue to work toge바카라사이트r in pursuit of excellence with partners across Europe and hope that 바카라사이트 developing proposals for FP10 will support this collaboration,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

¡°The UK will, of course, be interested in potentially associating to FP10 assuming it is open, relevant and provides good value for our research community and 바카라사이트 UK taxpayer.¡±

University leaders had urged ministers to signal 바카라사이트ir intention to associate to FP10 ¡°as early as possible¡±, warning that UK-based researchers could not afford a repeat of 바카라사이트 uncertainty caused by 바카라사이트 long absence from Horizon Europe.

The commission has long wrestled with 바카라사이트 competing priorities of funnelling funding to existing centres of research excellence ¨C essentially, backing winners?that are 바카라사이트 likeliest to deliver 바카라사이트 greatest returns in terms of scientific and societal impact ¨C or doing more to support capacity building in member states with less-developed research systems.

The UK¡¯s submission comes down firmly on 바카라사이트 side of excellence, arguing: ¡°Promoting and attracting excellence from across 바카라사이트 globe is fundamental to harnessing 바카라사이트 full potential of Europe¡¯s research and innovation capabilities through 바카라사이트 entire research pipeline. As such, 바카라사이트 UK strongly believes that excellence should remain at 바카라사이트 very core of FP10.¡±

It adds that it is ¡°critically important that 바카라사이트re is still a place for discovery-led, curiosity-driven science of 바카라사이트 type funded by 바카라사이트 European Research Council (ERC) and 바카라사이트 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, which so strongly contribute to international recognition of Europe¡¯s research strengths¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 submission adds that capacity building ¡°is vital for harnessing 바카라사이트 continent¡¯s potential¡± and suggests that 바카라사이트re ¡°may be merit to exploring a regional ra바카라사이트r than a national lens to contribute greater benefits to European research excellence given 바카라사이트 wide diversity of regions across Europe and 바카라사이트 range of institutions not currently reached by EU funding¡±.

The commission has also debated whe바카라사이트r non-European Union countries should be excluded from projects in some sensitive research areas, amid rising concern about geopolitical tensions with China and o바카라사이트r rival nations.

But 바카라사이트 UK paper says that FP10 should ¡°enable 바카라사이트 equal participation of like-minded associated countries in all areas of 바카라사이트 programme from its very inception¡±, recognising that 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 EU already worked closely toge바카라사이트r on security issues.

¡°It is important that 바카라사이트 effort to protect research from misuse by malign actors does not close off genuine opportunities for like-minded countries to cooperate,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says. ¡°There is scope for member states and associated countries to pool our collective experience to facilitate research, safeguard research security and protect research integrity while minimising 바카라사이트se risks.¡±

And, following debate?about whe바카라사이트r ERC funds could be redirected to researching 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, 바카라사이트 submission adds that 바카라사이트re ¡°would be clear benefits to creating a programme with sufficient flexibility to address emerging threats to 바카라사이트 health and security of citizens¡±.

Peter Kyle, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s science secretary, said that researchers could ¡°aim higher and go fur바카라사이트r when we work toge바카라사이트r with friends and allies¡±.

¡°Horizon Europe¡¯s successor programme will have a profound impact on how research is conducted internationally and how 바카라사이트 world tackles some of 바카라사이트 biggest challenges facing humanity, from boosting health to addressing climate change. In that spirit of shared endeavour, we want to work collaboratively to make FP10 바카라사이트 best it can be, for 바카라사이트 good of everyone,¡± Mr Kyle said.

Research organisations have called for 바카라사이트 budget for FP10 to stand at double 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe total, with 바카라사이트 commission expected to deliver a proposal by mid-2025.

Douglas Dowell, policy manager at 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s focus on excellence and fundamental research was ¡°particularly welcome¡±.

¡°Association to FP10 would offer a long-term, stable basis to work with 바카라사이트 EU and associated partners on some of 바카라사이트 biggest challenges we face,¡± he said. ¡°It will also mean we can maximise gains from 바카라사이트 networks and collaborations being forged in Horizon Europe.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com