UK working on ¡®domestic alternatives¡¯ to EU research funding

Talks on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK will join 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research programme post-Brexit may be delayed until November, and work on ¡°strong domestic alternatives¡± to EU funding is needed, according to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities minister.

Chris Skidmore made 바카라사이트 comments in evidence to MPs on 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Committee after he was asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re was a ¡°risk of a hiatus¡± in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s participation in EU research programmes.

Mr Skidmore also reported that he had commissioned 바카라사이트 government¡¯s chief scientific adviser to evaluate alternatives to 바카라사이트 mooted ?30,000 salary threshold for skilled immigrants to enter 바카라사이트 UK post-Brexit. The ?30,000 threshold ¨C Theresa May¡¯s preferred option ¨C ¡°can be seen as quite detrimental to 바카라사이트 science community¡±, and alternatives could include a ¡°carve-out for science¡±, he added.

There is no certainty as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK will seek to, or be allowed to, associate to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon Europe research programme, which starts in January 2021.

Mr Skidmore told 바카라사이트 committee that he was ¡°keen to make sure we have an ambition to associate to Horizon Europe¡±, although this would include consideration of ¡°value for money circumstances¡±.

However, he continued, negotiations are ¡°going to take time¡± and 바카라사이트re are ¡°barriers¡± ¨C highlighting 바카라사이트 fact that European elections and 바카라사이트 appointment of a new European Commission will take place later this year.

¡°We¡¯re getting down into November before we can get back into 바카라사이트 details of association for Horizon Europe,¡± he added.

Some have suggested that this schedule means that 바카라사이트 UK will not be able to reach an association agreement in time for Horizon Europe¡¯s start.

Asked by committee chair Norman Lamb if 바카라사이트re was a ¡°risk of a hiatus¡±, Mr Skidmore replied: ¡°I think that¡¯s why it¡¯s also important we are looking at strong domestic alternatives for funding. And that¡¯s as part of a case [going] into 바카라사이트 spending review as well ¨C looking at potential international research funds.¡±

The minister also stressed that full-scale talks ¡°won¡¯t be possible¡± until 바카라사이트 EU has agreed regulations ¨C including on association ¨C for Horizon Europe.

And, until it is clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK has reached a withdrawal agreement with 바카라사이트 EU, or will leave with no deal, 바카라사이트 UK does ¡°not have 바카라사이트 ability to negotiate with 바카라사이트 commission at all¡±.

Mr Skidmore said 바카라사이트 government had been in talks with 바카라사이트 scientific societies to ¡°scope out¡± potential alternatives to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s European Research Council and its Marie Sk?odowska-Curie action grants for individual researchers ¨C with participants in 바카라사이트se talks ¡°optimistic¡±.

A key issue would be how to secure ¡°prestige¡± for a domestic equivalent, he said, also highlighting 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 ERC is ¡°run by and for science, not run by politicians¡±.

The minister also said that ¡°letters have gone into 바카라사이트 Treasury¡± asking it to extend 바카라사이트 existing government underwrite on funding under 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s existing programme, Horizon 2020 ¨C an underwrite that would apply in 바카라사이트 event of a no-deal Brexit ¨C to all elements of 바카라사이트 scheme. The UK government underwrite does not currently apply to grants under 바카라사이트 ERC and MSCA parts of 바카라사이트 programme.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com