THE EU is the world鈥檚 science superpower and the UK is in the driving seat. The union of 28 nations produces a 鈥� 34 per cent more than the US. That gap has widened by 4 per cent over the past six years. Collectively, Europe .
The EU is the glue that has networked European countries into a powerful hub with global reach. A common budget, common policies and freedom of movement harness an economy of scale to lower barriers, unleash academic freedom and return huge added value.
EU researchers form a talent pool from which universities and small businesses can hire without visa hurdles. Its science programmes are growing rapidly, facilitating multinational research between . On policy, EU members collaborate to design science programmes, common academic standards and the innovation standards of the single market.
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All of these magnify British science. Whether it鈥檚 UK technical standards becoming EU standards then global standards thanks to the single market鈥檚 size, or the fact that international collaborations have 50 per cent more impact than domestic research, it鈥檚 all about increased value through team play.
The overwhelming majority of UK researchers and engineers 鈥� 93 per cent in a 鈥� regard the EU as a 鈥渕ajor benefit鈥� to UK research. It鈥檚 less about the money, which 鈥渙nly鈥� and about 5 per cent of the total UK research landscape. It鈥檚 more that cross-border policies and funding cannot be replaced at national levels. The EU is the glue between European institutions catalysing our multinational capacity.
Brexiteers regularly argue that the UK could buy back into the EU science programme from outside, citing examples of small non-EU countries. Their presumptions show little understanding of the balance of interests for the remaining EU members. Yes, the UK would get some access, most probably partial access like Switzerland has. However, full associated status is most likely to be dependent upon retaining a freedom of movement agreement and also some net financial contribution. Even then, there鈥檚 no guarantee and the UK would have given up its policy voice.
Some might muse that issues of science are trivial relative to the issues of 鈥渄emocracy鈥� or 鈥渟overeignty鈥� proclaimed with zeal from some quarters. To quote the English novelist John Galsworthy: Those that work in science policy see the EU鈥檚 democratic processes working well for science and the UK鈥檚 leading voice in decision-making.
EU science works. That鈥檚 why every UK minister for universities and science for the last 25 years has warned against leaving, and there isn鈥檛 one UK university vice chancellor that supports Brexit.
For another point of view, read 鈥淰ote Brexit and British science will still be a powerhouse鈥�
鈥� and find out more about the science of Brexit
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淏rexit, or not? The UK should stay鈥�