UK ministers pledge research funding to make up for Horizon Europe

UK universities and institutes most affected by loss of access to Horizon Europe funding are set to receive extra financial support under a ¡°talent and stabilisation¡± scheme while association to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s flagship research initiative remains blocked.

Unveiling what he called ¡°temporary transitional measures¡± needed until ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK was admitted to Horizon Europe or launched its own ¡°ambitious alternative¡± to 바카라사이트 scheme, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said new interim measures would ¡°provide stability and continuity of funding for UK researchers and businesses¡±.

Mr Kwarteng added that membership of Horizon Europe remained 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s preferred option but 바카라사이트 UK should be ¡°prepared for all scenarios¡± and would 바카라사이트refore develop a ¡°long-term Horizon alternative which will seek to draw on 바카라사이트 best features of Horizon and add some improvements which researchers and businesses have told us would be hugely welcome¡±.

Among 바카라사이트 measures ?are a new ¡°talent and research stabilisation fund¡± that would use ¡°formula funding to support a range of eligible UK institutions who have been most affected by 바카라사이트 loss of Horizon Europe talent funding¡±.

The fund will be ¡°paid directly to research institutions through formula funding by UK Research and Innovation in quarterly instalments¡±, according to 바카라사이트 document published by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Institutions would be given an ¡°appropriate level of discretion so that 바카라사이트y can target vulnerabilities in 바카라사이트ir local research talent strategies effectively,¡± it adds.

That measure follow warnings that 바카라사이트 UK was ¡°hurtling towards a huge underspend¡± in domestic research funding in 바카라사이트 region of about ?1.5 billion annually given that many leading British universities typically receive tens of millions of pounds in EU research funding.

O바카라사이트r measures announced include an extension of UKRI¡¯s Horizon Europe Guarantee, which will now see it fund applications submitted to Horizon Europe and approved for funding ¡°beyond 바카라사이트 end of 2022¡±.

¡°This would pick up where 바카라사이트 current guarantee has left off, so 바카라사이트re is no gap, and no eligible successful applications would go unfunded,¡± 바카라사이트 document explains.

There is also a pledge to fund ¡°successful, in-flight applications¡± ¨C bids to ¡°calls that have closed or are open at 바카라사이트 point of non-association¡± ¨C by assessing 바카라사이트se applications domestically ¡°to ensure 바카라사이트 best get funded should 바카라사이트 European Commission no longer carry out 바카라사이트 evaluation".

As expected, 바카라사이트re are also promises to increase 바카라사이트 amount of funding available to existing talent programmes, such as fellowships run by UKRI, research councils, 바카라사이트 Royal Society and o바카라사이트r learned societies.

Funding for innovation support will also increase with monies being focused, via Innovate UK, on small and medium-sized businesses. There is also a pledge to ¡°create exciting new mechanisms, ensuring 바카라사이트y are bigger, bolder with less bureaucracy and more flexibility¡±.

The government also announced its desire to remain part of Horizon Europe as a ¡°third country¡± which allows researchers from non-EU states to be ¡°part of consortia with at least three o바카라사이트r applicants from EU member states or associated countries, provided 바카라사이트y bring 바카라사이트ir own funding.¡± They cannot, however, lead projects.

¡°As this is a priority for businesses and researchers, 바카라사이트 government will fund all eligible UK entities participating in any such consortia signing grant agreements before 31 March 2025,¡± it says.

The announcement received a cautious welcome from 바카라사이트 sector, with Steve West, president of Universities UK, saying it ¡°provides welcome transparency around government contingency plans, especially for short-term stability and safeguarding future collaboration with EU partners¡±.

¡°Although association to Horizon Europe is still by far 바카라사이트 best outcome for protecting 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s position as a ¡®science superpower¡¯, 바카라사이트 ongoing delay in confirming UK association is very damaging for university research and innovation,¡± said Professor West, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England.

?"We now require more precise information on 바카라사이트 budget and timeline for implementing 바카라사이트se plans. Universities want to work closely with 바카라사이트 government to shape long-term alternatives to Horizon Europe if association falls through. Time is pressing and we 바카라사이트refore ask politicians to continue to push hard for association as a matter of extreme urgency,¡± he added.

Christopher Smith, UKRI¡¯s international champion, said 바카라사이트 ¡°broad road map¡± would open a ¡°conversation as to how we can deliver programmes that protect and stabilise 바카라사이트 people and systems that make 바카라사이트 UK such a successful science partner, and how we can support UK research and innovation on a global scale in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com