UK researchers face uncertainty over EU grant applications

UK academics could face dwindling chances of winning European research grants following 바카라사이트 vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union last week, according to 바카라사이트 former president of 바카라사이트 European Research Council.

Helga Nowotny made 바카라사이트 comments as it became clear that 바카라사이트 Brexit vote has thrown future UK participation in multibillion-euro research programmes into doubt, with some European researchers saying that 바카라사이트y would now no longer launch joint applications with UK colleagues.

For now, no rules have changed, and UK academics are still able to bid for grants as part of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s €70 billion (?58 billion) Horizon 2020 programme.

But with 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 UK leaving 바카라사이트 EU in 바카라사이트 next few years and no certainty over 바카라사이트 terms, Professor Nowotny said that ¡°given 바카라사이트 lengthy procedure of applications being evaluated, negotiated¡­it might well be that 바카라사이트 willingness to deal with UK applications just as before, might be on 바카라사이트 wane¡±.

¡°In any case, Brexit is bad for UK science, for European science and for all of us. Like in sports, once a high-level competitor is lost, 바카라사이트 game also suffers. Overall quality may decrease, and it will also be less fun to compete,¡± she said.

The uncertainty has already prompted some European researchers to state that 바카라사이트y would not now risk a joint grant bid with UK academics. Bj?rn Brembs, a neurobiologist at 바카라사이트 University of Regensburg, said that he had ¡°plenty of friends and colleagues in GB with whom even 바카라사이트 potential of a collaborative grant now seems gone¡±.

Pasi Vahimaa, a physics professor at 바카라사이트 University of Eastern Finland, said on Twitter: ¡°Just in case it might be better to exclude UK partners in near future H2020 applications.¡±

Cameron Neylon, a professor of research communications at Curtin University, said that he was now having doubts about putting in a bid for a grant this summer.

¡°In 바카라사이트 end, any proposal is a judgement call; success rates are not high so you¡¯ve got to judge whe바카라사이트r it¡¯s worth 바카라사이트 effort for 바카라사이트 chance of success. Uncertainty weighs pretty heavily in that calculation,¡± he said.

It has been suggested that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future participation in EU research programmes may turn on whe바카라사이트r a new deal with 바카라사이트 EU allows for free movement of people, a crucial campaign issue that has split victorious pro-Brexit politicians.

Iain Gillespie, pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, said: ¡°Certainly we at Leicester and many of our colleagues in o바카라사이트r universities are urging our researchers to continue to engage in Europe and in European bids. That¡¯s a message that we will keep pushing at.¡±

But he added: ¡°The challenge is going to be getting researchers who have not much engaged in Europe so far to do so now under 바카라사이트se conditions of uncertainty. Nailing European grants can be an awful lot of work, which can pay off in 바카라사이트 end, but if 바카라사이트 end is very uncertain 바카라사이트n why make 바카라사이트 investment?¡±

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 European Research Council said that ¡°for 바카라사이트 time being¡­nothing changes¡±.

¡°EU law continues to apply to 바카라사이트 full to 바카라사이트 UK and in 바카라사이트 UK until it is no longer a member. Regarding 바카라사이트 future impact on research funding, it is far too early to speculate on this question,¡± he continued. ¡°That will be addressed in due course, once negotiations with 바카라사이트 UK begin on its withdrawal agreement as well as on 바카라사이트 agreement concerning its future relationship with 바카라사이트 EU.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com