The UK is intent on continuing to collaborate with European Union scientific research and innovation programmes once Brexit is complete, according to the latest position paper from the government on EU withdrawal.

Maintaining momentum in research

The paper was published on the day the Times Higher Education rankings of universities worldwide put Oxford and Cambridge in the top two places, partly as a result of a growth in EU funding in research programmes over the past year.And coinciding with release of the position paper was a warning from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) that, unless UK universities remained part of EU research programmes after Brexit, it would be “a real challenge” to keep British institutions at the top of international league tables.The government position paper sets out how the UK would like to see continuing collaboration in pan-European projects, including pharmaceuticals, nuclear research and space exploration.Brexit Secretary David Davis said, “This paper sends a clear message to the research and innovation community that we value their work and we feel it is crucial that we maintain collaboration with our European partners after we exit.“We want to attract the brightest minds to the UK to build on the already great work being done across the country to ensure that our future is bright and we grow this important sector.”Science Minister Jo Johnson added, “From space exploration and developing better and safer medicines, to nuclear fusion research, the UK and Europe have a long history of close collaboration to meet the world’s great challenges.“It’s in our mutual benefit to maintain this successful partnership, and this paper clearly outlines our desire to have a full and open discussion with the EU to shape our joint future.”

Ensuring the UK retains its lead

But James McGrory, executive director of Open Britain, a campaign group lobbying for a ‘soft’ Brexit, said, “The government is going to need to do more than cross its fingers and hope if it wants to reassure British scientists and researchers who are worried sick about the possible consequences of Brexit.“Cooperation with our European partners is vital to Britain’s science and tech sectors, and any reduction in that cooperation will damage our universities and put British jobs at risk.“And ministers need to explain how their desire to continue close cooperation with the EU on science can possibly be squared with their red line on ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.”

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Meanwhile, Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, told the Universities UK annual conference that ministers should secure permanent associated country status for Britain to enable universities to continue to participate in research projects, and should also increase domestic research funding.“Today EU schemes makes up a sixth of our total research funding,” she said. “Replacing that would be a real challenge. But this isn’t just about money, it is about international leadership and giving the UK a voice in setting standards.“Domestic research spending is not yet high enough. We are significantly behind China and Japan on levels of spending and we don’t yet do well enough on commercialisation.“That’s a huge shared challenge for universities and businesses. That’s why the CBI wants to see spending on research and development raised to three per cent of GDP, as a shared goal for the public and private sector.”For related news and features, visit our Enterprise section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit

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