The UK and EU are currently locked in a debate about Britain’s participation in the Horizon Europe science funding programme, with the EU blocking the UK from taking part due to concerns about the Northern Ireland protocol.
The situation is very disappointing for scientists. Eighteen months ago, when the Brexit deal was signed in good faith, the UK government signed up to participate in the programme. This would have been a good thing. But it has now been turned into political football. As a result, 18 months later, scientists don’t know where they are. We’re apparently not in the programme, it looks like we’re out. But this row is running on and on, time is going by, and I’m just not sure how much longer Britain should wait.
If we can’t join the Horizon programme, can we build a parallel system which accomplishes all the things that Horizon does?
In the past, the UK was a net beneficiary from the Horizon programme.
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