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The government have set out a UK prospectus for opportunities beyond Horizon Europe, should it be required.
Dr Catriona Manville, AMRC Director of Research Policy, said:
“Collaboration is at the heart of international science and is essential for charities to deliver maximum patient benefit. Full UK association to EU programmes remains the best way to provide confidence and stability in the UK research system, and we’re pleased that the government has confirmed this as the preferred option.
“However, we understand the need to plan for an alternative outcome and welcome the Government’s commitment to engage with the research community in developing this. Following recent discussions between leaders in the UK and Europe, we remain hopeful that an agreement on full association can be reached.”
Dr Mark Downs, Chief Executive of The Royal Society of Biology, said:
“The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published its Horizon Europe alternatives prospectus, Pioneer. The Royal Society of Biology and wider science community continue to reiterate that in the interests of UK scientific success, and the economic and societal benefits this brings, the priority for the government must be association with Horizon Europe, as soon as possible.
“RSB understands the need for a clear plan B and we are reassured that Pioneer will only be used if association negotiations are not successful. If Pioneer does end up being the only option going forward, it is vital that it has the support and confidence of the scientific community via the chance to shape it. Learned societies have a unique perspective and breadth of members across all sectors of the scientific community, and we are pleased to see the government’s commitment to wider engagement of the scientific community with the detail of Pioneer. We aim to help support and convene these conversations with our biosciences community, going forward.
“The UK needs a clear and comprehensive vision for research and development, which are central to our economic growth and global standing. Association to Horizon Europe remains a key pillar to achieving this.”
Dr Owen Jackson, Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, said:
“Whilst there are positive aspects in the government’s alternative programme to Horizon Europe, they don’t match the opportunities offered by association.
“Association to Horizon Europe would offer unparalleled opportunities for the UK to foster international collaborations and will help make the UK an attractive destination for world-leading scientists. No-one can beat cancer alone, and Horizon Europe offers a ready-made structure for scientists to bid for funding to tackle global problems.
“UK-based cancer scientists are in a strong position to win funding from Horizon Europe and the EU’s Cancer Mission. But they will be at the margins, rather than at the centre, of these important opportunities if we don’t get association over the line.
“Horizon Europe association is the best outcome for cancer research in the UK and the EU. It’s Plan A for a reason, and we should stay the course with it. We welcome the openness to engage in negotiations and encourage the UK and EU to redouble their efforts to deliver it.”
Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), UKRI, said:
“We welcome the Secretary of State’s discussions in Brussels seeking a way forward on association to Horizon Europe. However as the key delivery partner for the alternatives set out in the prospectus published today by the government, UKRI will continue to work closely with DSIT and the sector to ensure that, should they be required, we are ready to implement alternatives.
“We have already invested £1bn through the Horizon Europe Guarantee Fund to mitigate the challenges faced by our research and innovation communities during the delay to association, ensuring UK expertise is still able to participate.
“As a result, thousands of projects tackling vital research are going ahead and researchers and businesses in other countries are continuing to build Horizon Europe consortia with UK-based partners.
“UKRI will continue to support researchers and entrepreneurs across the whole of science, underpin collaborations across the world, and deliver outcomes which benefit everyone in our society and globally.”
Martin Smith, Head of Policy Lab at Wellcome, said:
“The Government is right to publish more information on its Horizon back-up plans. We continue to hope that they won’t be needed, but seeking feedback on the fallback option reflects the significance of the Horizon issue to the research community. It’s particularly encouraging to see this engagement being done publicly now.
“Association to Horizon remains the best outcome for research. It was a very positive development to see this week that discussions on finalising the Horizon agreement are now beginning – and that association remains the Government’s preference. Suitable terms were found before, and can be found again with the right spirit of cooperation and pragmatism.
“Getting this right would be a further demonstration for leaders in the UK and Europe following the Windsor agreement that the UK and EU can find constructive solutions together and be reliable international partners. We wish negotiators well for the discussions over the coming weeks.
“Countries such as New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Norway, Israel have all either joined the programme or are currently in discussions to do so, which will further expand the geographic reach of the world’s biggest platform for multilateral research collaboration. Horizon is by no means limited to Europe, despite the name, and the UK would benefit enormously from joining the programme.
“Meanwhile, some of today’s proposals could be pursued alongside securing Horizon association – the plans need not be mutually exclusive. This would further bolster the UK’s increasingly ambitious science strategy.”
Professor Sarah Main, Executive Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), said:
“It has been a joy to see the signs of warmth and progress on Horizon Europe negotiations in the last week after a year of stalemate. Of course, it is sensible for the Government to prepare alternatives, and I’m pleased to see the emphasis on developing these with the R&D community; but let not the alternatives get in the way of the progress on both sides towards the goal of a full and cooperative research relationship between the UK and EU.”
Professor Julia Black, President of the British Academy, said:
“It remains the utmost priority for the British Academy and the wider research community that the UK associates to Horizon Europe. We therefore welcome the discussions between the UK and the EU on this issue and we wish to see them progress rapidly and to a successful conclusion.
“Should association prove not possible, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) has published its plans on how support will be put in place for the UK research community. This provides a useful opportunity for the community to engage with the Government. Together with the other National Academies and UKRI we have worked with DSIT to help develop the Discovery element of the proposals. However, our overriding priority is that we associate to Horizon Europe. We encourage the UK and EU to work swiftly to secure that mutually beneficial outcome.”
Tony McBride, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Institute of Physics, said:
“The position of the IOP and wider science community is clear: for the good of UK science and innovation, the government’s priority must be to secure association to Horizon Europe.
“We understand the need for a fallback position and are reassured by the fact that the government says these plans will only be used if negotiations are unsuccessful and that the UK funding guarantee will remain in place while negotiations continue.
“If these plans do end up being needed, it is absolutely vital that they win the support and confidence of the science community – which means the science community must have the chance to shape them. So we are pleased to see the government’s strong commitment to consult with researchers and businesses and we stand ready to help convene these discussions.
“The government must also remember there is more at stake here than money. Should it be needed, any alternative to Horizon must also make up for the loss of the established networks, partnerships and infrastructure the UK has benefitted from over many, many years, as well as for the disruption and uncertainty caused by these years of delay.
“Above all, the physics community is clear that UK needs a strong, comprehensive vision for R&D and a stable policy environment that will build confidence among the research community and potential investors. Association to Horizon is the best way to achieve this.”
Dr Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Russell Group, said:
“The start of serious negotiations in Brussels this week over the UK’s participation in EU programmes is a significant step forward. It is right that discussions take place over fair and appropriate terms, and we hope an agreement can be reached swiftly to finally get association over the line.
“The ambition of the proposals for Pioneer is welcome. If needed, it is vital that this package focuses on attracting and retaining talent and supporting global collaboration on discovery research through to innovation, all backed by funding commitments and with the necessary transition measures in place.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with Government on the development of Pioneer and will scrutinise the proposals carefully. However, we have always been clear that it will be a challenge to replicate the full benefits of the world’s largest collaborative research programme, with ready-made routes for talent flow, facilities access and collaboration with multiple countries.
“This should not be viewed as an either-or scenario. Strengthening our links with Europe and beyond through Horizon can sit alongside a roll-out of elements of the Government’s alternative plans, giving the UK the best opportunity to cement our status as a science superpower.”
Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:
“We welcome the Government’s restated intention to delivering association to Horizon Europe and acknowledge the very real commitment of the DSIT Secretary of State to achieving this.
“Given the long-drawn-out period of barriers to securing association, it was prudent and necessary for the Government to consider a back-up plan should association ultimately not be possible.
“The Government has today published for consultation their current thinking on such a back-up plan, the Pioneer prospectus, but against the background of the clear commitment to achieving association.
“The process of looking at this alternative plan has highlighted some gaps in support for the UK’s outstanding science base. Hopefully, that work can be put to good use as we build on association and continue to grow public and private investment in research and innovation.
“It is positive to see the pledged £20 billion a year for research and innovation by 2024/25 reaffirmed in this document.”
Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“The strong preference of the Academy and the wider global research and innovation community has always been for the UK to associate with Horizon Europe. The progress indicated by discussions in recent weeks suggests that we are now closer to confirming that agreement. We hope that all parties will work together quickly to reach fair and appropriate terms for the association that reflect the impact of two years of delays. The whole engineering community would celebrate an announcement of continued partnership between the UK and EU.
“Should association prove impossible even at this late stage the information in the prospectus for Pioneer will be helpful to the community in preparing for the measures that would be put in place under those circumstances. The Academy has worked closely with DSIT, our sister National Academies and UKRI to be ready to deliver the Pioneer Discovery elements of that plan.”
Dr Andrew Clark, Executive Director, Programmes at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“Pioneer Discovery is the current version of plans that have been developed over many years to cover scenarios in which the UK might be unable to associate with Horizon Europe. In the unwelcome event that these plans are needed, the Academy will work with our sister National Academies to deliver Pioneer International Fellowships, Discovery Fellowships, Research Professorships, and Entrepreneurship & Impact Awards. We are happy to discuss these plans with stakeholders who wish to know more and will engage with the community to maximise the effectiveness and accessibility of the schemes should they need to be implemented.
“Many elements of Pioneer would also be valuable additions on top of the opportunities provided by Horizon and current UK programmes. We hope that the government will seriously consider investing in those aspects of Pioneer once association with Horizon has been confirmed.
“Delayed association with Horizon Europe is not the only challenge for our international research and innovation partnerships. Ongoing uncertainties about the Official Development Assistance research and innovation budget mean that we and other UK delivery partners are unable to launch the next stage of partnerships with researchers and innovators across the Global South. There is still no clarity on whether funding will be confirmed even for the financial year that has already begun. Given the enormous potential of engineering innovation to improve the lives of the poorest people around the world, we call upon government to resolve these issues as soon as they can, so that we and others can restart our partnership programmes.”
Press Release | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-publishes-prospectus-for-opportunities-beyond-horizon-europe
Policy Paper | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pioneer-global-science-for-global-good
Declared interests
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