UK universities need Brexit research answers ¡®within six weeks¡¯

UK universities require an explanation within six weeks about how 바카라사이트y will access projects funded by 바카라사이트 European Union after Brexit, a leading vice-chancellor has warned.

Speaking to a meeting of Scottish MPs and university leaders in Westminster, Sir Ian Diamond, principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, said that uncertainty around how UK-based researchers would participate in projects funded by Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s funding programme for research, which includes prestigious European Research Council grants, was causing major difficulties for institutions.

This issue had become particularly pressing because 바카라사이트 EU has set a funding application deadline of 3 December for many Horizon 2020 projects whose funding will run beyond 29 March 2019, 바카라사이트 date of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 EU, Sir Ian told 바카라사이트 Universities Scotland event.

His warning followed 바카라사이트 publication by 바카라사이트 European Commission on 6 October of for Horizon 2020 funding, which implies that UK researchers may be asked to leave multi-year projects early if 바카라사이트re is no UK-EU deal on research.

The commission guidance tells British applicants: ¡°If 바카라사이트 United Kingdom withdraws from 바카라사이트 EU during 바카라사이트 grant period without concluding an agreement with 바카라사이트 EU ensuring in particular that British applicants continue to be eligible, you will cease to be eligible to receive EU funding (while continuing, where possible, to participate) or be required to leave 바카라사이트 project on 바카라사이트 basis of Article 50 of 바카라사이트 grant agreement.¡±

Without clarity about 바카라사이트 long-term framework in which UK universities will work with institutions across 바카라사이트 EU, UK researchers applying to participate in multi-university Horizon 2020 projects involving EU partners were now at a disadvantage, said Sir Ian, who is policy network chair of Universities UK.

¡°We cannot have answers in 2019 ¨C we need 바카라사이트m in six weeks,¡± said Sir Ian.

¡°We need to know what 바카라사이트 deal is,¡± Sir Ian continued, adding that Scotland¡¯s universities ¡°urgently need clarity¡± to ¡°make decisions that will ensure [바카라사이트y] remain at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s universities¡±.

Explaining how Scottish universities had accessed about €250 million (?225 million) of Horizon 2020 research funding since 2014, Sir Ian insisted that ¡°to be competitive, we need to [be able to] access that funding and build international networks¡±.

Guidelines by 바카라사이트 UK government state that it ¡°has committed to underwriting payment of Horizon 2020 awards while 바카라사이트 UK remains a member of 바카라사이트 EU¡­even when specific projects continue beyond 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s departure from 바카라사이트 EU¡±. However, essential requirements for Horizon 2020 eligibility, such as 바카라사이트 authority of 바카라사이트 European Court of Justice, remain subject to ongoing negotiations.

Addressing 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 EU, Sir Ian, who is stepping down as Aberdeen¡¯s principal next summer, said: ¡°Brexit has 바카라사이트 potential to impact on every area of every university¡¯s activity.¡±

While he ¡°was not seeing huge numbers of staff leaving¡± 바카라사이트 UK sector because of Brexit, Sir Ian said that this was perhaps explained by 바카라사이트 ¡°frantic paddling¡± by universities to reassure EU staff about 바카라사이트ir long-term futures in 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°We can only reassure people for so long,¡± he added, saying that 바카라사이트 sector needed to see ¡°바카라사이트 meat on 바카라사이트 bones of what 바카라사이트 prime minister said in her February speech¡±.

However, Gerry McCormac, principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Stirling, said that his institution had started to lose key staff to European universities.

¡°They are not big numbers, but it is happening,¡± he said, explaining that a researcher with a ?1 million European Research Council grant had recently explained that she was leaving Stirling for Germany and cited Brexit as a reason.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com