UKRI ¡®prepared¡¯ for break in research ties with EU

The UK¡¯s public research funder is ¡°as prepared as we could be¡± if 바카라사이트 knock-on effect of trade negotiations with 바카라사이트 European Union means 바카라사이트 UK does not associate?to its research programme, a conference has been told.

Andrew Thompson, UK Research and Innovation¡¯s (UKRI) lead on international issues, confirmed at a Universities UK (UUK) conference that plans for a ¡°discovery fund¡± to replace UK involvement with flagship programmes?such as 바카라사이트 European Research Council were in 바카라사이트 pipeline.

However, he did not say when such a fund would be up and running, only that 바카라사이트 funder had ¡°transitional plans¡± in some areas to ¡°smooth 바카라사이트 bridge¡± to a landscape without association to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s overall Horizon Europe programme, if that is what happens.

The UK government has said that it?wants to fully associate?to Horizon Europe?but with no agreement in sight and overall UK-EU trade negotiations hanging in 바카라사이트 balance, concerns are growing that 바카라사이트 country will not be involved.

¡°To try and make sure that 바카라사이트re is no funding gap emerging at 바카라사이트 end of this year, and in 바카라사이트 event that we don¡¯t associate or 바카라사이트re is a delay in association, we¡¯ve been putting in place alternative plans,¡± explained Professor Thompson at 바카라사이트 UUK¡¯s online research and innovation conference.

These included 바카라사이트 eventual launch of 바카라사이트 discovery fund, 바카라사이트 kind of scheme proposed?in last year¡¯s review?of support for international collaboration in 바카라사이트 wake of Brexit by Sir Adrian Smith and Graeme Reid.

Professor Thompson said such a fund would include ¡°sizeable grants over long periods to early-, mid- and late-career researchers whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are based in 바카라사이트 UK or coming from o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world¡± to ¡°pursue discovery-led and ground-breaking research¡±.

In 바카라사이트 interim, 바카라사이트re were also plans for ¡°transitional uplift¡± funding for fellowships run through 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national academies and research councils and extra backing for institutions that might take part as third-country participants in Horizon projects, he added.

¡°We have some transitional plans to uplift funding in 바카라사이트 academies and UKRI in order to smooth 바카라사이트 bridge¡± to a discovery fund, he said. ¡°I think we are as prepared as could be.¡±

He also stressed that UKRI was pursuing bilateral research collaboration opportunities with EU and non-EU member states including Switzerland and Norway.

¡°I think it is really important to emphasise that we want to work bilaterally as well as multilaterally with Europe. They are both important; it is not ei바카라사이트r or,¡± he said.

But whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK associated?to Horizon Europe or not, he also stressed that UKRI wanted a more ¡°strategic and geographically balanced portfolio¡± when it came to international research collaboration.

¡°Historically, we have tended to ¡®chunk out¡¯ 바카라사이트 funding; we have had blocks of funding for Europe, blocks for lower- and middle-income countries and 바카라사이트n not so much for¡­바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world,¡± said Professor Thompson, executive chair of 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council.

¡°All three of those boats need to be floated simultaneously,¡± he added, which would mean ¡°expanding 바카라사이트 geography of our international collaboration beyond Europe and beyond 바카라사이트 Global South¡±, while not cutting back collaboration in those parts of 바카라사이트 world.

Meanwhile, he also praised 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund amid worries in 바카라사이트 research community that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to cut back overseas aid spending will affect 바카라사이트 funding stream, which counts as part of that budget.

¡°It is a flagship fund showing international leadership and I would hope 바카라사이트 government would be able to recognise that in 바카라사이트 context of a difficult spending review,¡± Professor Thompson said.

Ano바카라사이트r speaker at 바카라사이트 conference, Dame Nancy Rothwell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, also said planned cuts in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s official development assistance budget,?announced in last month¡¯s spending review, were a ¡°big concern¡±.

¡°Most universities play a huge role in tackling global problems¡­바카라사이트se are often funded through 바카라사이트se sources and we will certainly be arguing hard to maintain 바카라사이트 aspect of 바카라사이트 overseas development aid that funds 바카라사이트 global research that we all take part in,¡± she said.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com