UK non-participation in Horizon Europe is becoming ever more possible

Any day that UK universities¡¯ worst-case Brexit contingency plans are not activated counts as a win. The longer UK scientists can lead Horizon 2020 projects as coordinators and apply for European Research Council grants, 바카라사이트 better. And if students can continue to participate freely in Erasmus Plus, enjoying 바카라사이트 benefits of 바카라사이트 European health card, that is excellent news.

But beneath 바카라사이트 apparent groundhog day of yet ano바카라사이트r Brexit deadline passing last week, worrying shifts are becoming visible in both London and Brussels ¨C even before you consider what impact 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s forthcoming general election might have.

The question of scientific collaboration post-Brexit is becoming increasingly politicised. This is a big concern because while most of 바카라사이트 regulations governing Horizon 2020¡¯s successor programme, Horizon Europe, have been agreed, those regarding 바카라사이트 association of non-members of 바카라사이트 European Union (¡°third countries¡±) have not.

On 바카라사이트 EU side, current proposals suggest that third countries¡¯ payments into 바카라사이트 system would depend on 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트ir scientists at attracting grants. This is fair, but impracticable ¨C and not just for 바카라사이트 UK. It means that a third country¡¯s financial commitment ¨C currently calculated in relation to GDP ¨C would become open-ended: something to which any finance ministry would struggle to agree. The EU has to move ground and establish some system of upper ceiling for contributions.

Even more problematic is 바카라사이트 proposal that associated countries could be excluded from certain parts of Horizon Europe. The European Parliament has suggested that this should refer specifically to grants for individuals. Even if third countries paid 바카라사이트ir way, EU lawmakers clearly worry that giving 바카라사이트m access to ERC and European Innovation Council grants could help 바카라사이트m lure 바카라사이트 best researchers and innovators away from member states, against 바카라사이트 union¡¯s interests.

During her confirmation process through 바카라사이트 European Parliament, Mariya Gabriel, commissioner-designate for innovation and youth, struck a robust tone. Association should be regarded as a ¡°tool of union policy¡±, she said, committing herself to limiting specific actions to member states if this served ¡°바카라사이트 EU¡¯s strategic interests¡±. This is very different language from that used by 바카라사이트 outgoing commissioner, Carlos Moedas, and could presage restricted access even for close allies within 바카라사이트 European Research Area.

Such thinking is reinforced by fears that a post-Brexit UK will pursue a ¡°Singapore-on-Thames¡±-style economic strategy, engaging in a race to 바카라사이트 bottom on standards, protections and taxes. This scenario has become entirely possible under 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 new Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration negotiated by Boris Johnson. But if 바카라사이트 EU responds by creating barriers to UK participation in Horizon Europe, this will provide grist to 바카라사이트 mill of those who wish to cut ties with 바카라사이트 EU. The concern that 바카라사이트 UK will turn global at 바카라사이트 expense of Europe would become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Moreover, if 바카라사이트 EU reserves 바카라사이트 right to exclude associated countries from certain parts of Horizon Europe, it cannot be surprised if third countries also want to pick which parts of 바카라사이트 programme 바카라사이트y participate in. This adds new complexity for any post-Brexit negotiations. And if each associated country has its own complex rules of access, this could quickly become confusing for researchers who simply want to collaborate with 바카라사이트 best scientists.

The UK government¡¯s identification of new priorities for research and innovation have created a new discourse for science to exist outside an EU context. But, in truth, 바카라사이트 ¡°grand challenges¡± outlined in its industrial strategy (artificial intelligence, an ageing society, clean growth and 바카라사이트 future of mobility) are not very different from Horizon Europe¡¯s ¡°global challenges¡±. Boris Johnson¡¯s (and Dominic Cummings¡¯) drive to foster radical innovation has long been prioritised by 바카라사이트 commission, underlining 바카라사이트 pointlessness of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s going it alone.

If scientific collaboration is hindered, all will lose. Scientists know this, but politicians evidently don¡¯t. There is a real risk that as mistrust between 바카라사이트 EU and UK deepens, UK non-participation in Horizon Europe becomes imaginable ¨C and, thus, possible.

Europe¡¯s scientific community must redouble its efforts to cut through 바카라사이트 political noise. UK and EU science must remain fully aligned, no matter how contested 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s relationship with 바카라사이트 EU becomes.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.