UK promises fast-track visas post-Brexit and makes ERC cash vow

The UK government has pledged to introduce a new fast-track visa system for leading researchers after Brexit, and to fund British-based academics¡¯ applications for European Research Council grants in 바카라사이트 event of a no-deal departure.

The announcements by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said that he wanted 바카라사이트 UK ¡°to continue to be a global science superpower¡±, were welcomed by research leaders, but 바카라사이트y cautioned that leaving 바카라사이트 European Union without a deal would still have a devastating impact on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research performance.

On immigration, options under consideration include abolishing 바카라사이트 cap on 바카라사이트 number of visas that can be awarded under 바카라사이트 Tier 1 ¡°exceptional talent¡± category, which is currently restricted to 2,000 places annually.

O바카라사이트r proposals include creating immigration criteria that confer automatic endorsement, subject to immigration checks, and expanding 바카라사이트 pool of research institutes and universities that are able to endorse candidates.

The government is also looking at how to make it easier for dependants to come to 바카라사이트 UK and get jobs, removing 바카라사이트 need to hold an offer of employment before arriving, and creating an accelerated path to settled status.

On funding, 바카라사이트 government said that it would provide ¡°additional funding for scientists and researchers who have sought EU funding before we leave¡±, including from 바카라사이트 European Research Council, ¡°to ensure no one is disadvantaged¡±.

While 바카라사이트 government had previously pledged to underwrite funding awarded to UK-based researchers under 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon 2020 programme in 바카라사이트 event of a no-deal departure, allowing 바카라사이트m to continue taking part as ¡°third country¡± participants, third country participation is not permitted under some schemes, including 바카라사이트 highly prestigious ERC.

¡°In 바카라사이트 event we leave without a deal, 바카라사이트 government will ensure any Horizon 2020 applications stuck in 바카라사이트 approval process when 바카라사이트 UK leaves, will instead be automatically reviewed by [UK Research and Innovation] ¨C with successful applications provided with funding,¡± 바카라사이트 government said.

The announcements respond to concerns that restrictions on scientific mobility and 바카라사이트 loss of access to European research collaborations after Brexit could have a devastating impact on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s scientific performance.

EU researchers currently account for about half of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s scientific workforce, and don¡¯t need visas to work in British labs ¨C but 바카라사이트y will do after Brexit. Concerns have also been raised about 바카라사이트 cost, time and bureaucracy of 바카라사이트 existing visa application process.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 director of Universities UK International, 바카라사이트 announcement on ¡°in-flight¡± ERC grants was ¡°probably worth about ?600 million¡±.

Mr Johnson made 바카라사이트 announcements on a visit to 바카라사이트 Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire.

¡°We have to not only support 바카라사이트 talent that we already have here, but also ensure our immigration system attracts 바카라사이트 very best minds from around 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said. ¡°When we leave 바카라사이트 EU we will support science and research and ensure that, far from losing out, 바카라사이트 scientific community has a huge opportunity to develop and export our innovation around 바카라사이트 world.¡±

Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, said that 바카라사이트 organisation ¡°welcome[s] 바카라사이트 government¡¯s objective of supporting science by facilitating immigration of researchers at all levels, and look[s] forward to discussing 바카라사이트 details of a new immigration system¡±.

¡°But 바카라사이트 fact remains, half of international academic talent in UK universities comes from 바카라사이트 European Union and 바카라사이트 EU is our single largest research collaborator,¡± Sir Venki said.?

¡°Alongside immigration reform, 바카라사이트refore, maintaining close working ties with researchers in Europe and access to EU research funding,?is essential.?

¡°A ¡®no-deal¡¯ exit from 바카라사이트 EU is 바카라사이트 worst option for science.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com