Hopes of returning to the Horizon network fading

In early July, there were briefings that Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would make a joint announcement at the NATO summit that the UK would return in 2024.

This would have ended uncertainty and unease in a sector facing the prospect of losing vital projects, specialists and jobs during the limbo of the past three years.

However, the Prime Minister’s failure to make a deal means that the potential investment and economic benefits which follow successful research remain in danger of drifting to the EU, the US and elsewhere, diminishing the UK’s international standing still further.

The UK has many world-leading scientific institutions, but we cannot go it alone.

Major challenges, such as climate change, health, energy, and digital transformation do not stop at national borders.

While individual countries face unique circumstances, there’s plenty that they can learn from each other by working together.

International projects require collaboration between specialists from diverse disciplines that no single country has, in order to effectively respond to the challenges we face.

The Human Brain Project, for example, undertakes cutting-edge neuroscience research that will provide countless benefits in future medical treatments, received over €£1billion from Horizon, which enabled collaboration and additional investment from more than 100 institutions – universities, research centres, and industrial partners – across Europe.

UK scientists have been calling for the UK to re-join Horizon since our exit from the EU in January 2020, not least because the UK received €£7billion in research funding in the seven years up to our exit, with approximately 2,000 UK businesses participating and €£1.4 billion being awarded to UK industry.

The implementation of the Windsor agreement which resolved the reneging of the deal around Irish border issues, has in turn made our return to Horizon possible.

It was also hoped that the UK may rejoin the Copernicus Earth observation programme, part of the EU Space programme.

Rejoining Horizon would have signalled a pragmatic approach to mitigating some of the more egregious and unnecessary damage that Brexit is doing to the UK’s economy and its international reputation.

Sadly, it seems, we still have to wait for the UK Government to wake up and smell the coffee.

Barbara Callender, chairwoman
European Movement in Wandsworth & Merton

Generic Picture: Pixabay/stux