British science will suffer if it remains outside Horizon

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Last week, the UK government made some pragmatic decisions in relation to post-Brexit issues. It allowed most companies to continue using the EU’s CE scheme instead of switching to the “UKCA” quality assurance mark. The introduction of border controls on animal and plant products from the EU was also delayed to prevent extra costs for businesses. Now, the government should demonstrate further realism by agreeing to rejoin the EU’s €95.5bn Horizon Europe science initiative.

Horizon Europe is the world’s largest multilateral research programme, providing grants and facilitating cooperation in various fields, including climate change, cancer research, and AI. Non-EU countries like Israel, Turkey, and New Zealand have already become associate members, and South Korea and Japan have expressed interest in joining. As an EU member, the UK’s universities benefited from substantial funding through Horizon Europe.

In the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK negotiated associate membership of Horizon Europe. However, rejoining has been delayed due to the ongoing dispute over trading arrangements with Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak resolved that dispute in February, but a decision to rejoin has been postponed until after the summer break. This delay has disappointed scientists.

The government is currently negotiating the terms of re-entry and questioning the cost-effectiveness of the UK’s annual contribution of £2bn. Since the UK is joining the new seven-year programme two years late and is no longer an EU member, there are concerns about receiving less funding than it provides. The government is pushing for “value for money” terms going forward, especially considering the economic challenges faced by the country.

London is also raising concerns about a correction mechanism in its EU trade deal that exposes it to significant downside risks. Officials argue that the government cannot justify spending £2bn annually during a cost of living crisis without ensuring its effectiveness.

Although Britain’s universities and scientific community recognize the importance of value, they urge the government to reach a deal and rejoin Horizon Europe. They believe that the benefits of cross-border collaboration and access to talent in a global research environment justify a “pay to play” approach. The government’s alternative funding scheme called Pioneer is seen as an inferior substitute.

To enhance its attractiveness as a research partner, the UK could remove visa frictions for scientists. Furthermore, the EU could show flexibility by offering a correction mechanism similar to those negotiated with other associate members. While EU officials may wish to avoid renegotiating elements of the trade deal, the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe is crucial for its ambition to become a “science and technology superpower.”