The UK government is still preparing to leave the European Union鈥檚 鈧�100 billion Horizon research programme, the largest collaboration of scientists in the world, after Boris Johnson鈥檚 resignation as prime minister last week.
The UK鈥檚 participation in Horizon has been in doubt since it voted to leave the EU in 2016. Under the terms of the Brexit withdrawal agreement in 2020, it could still be included as an 鈥渁ssociate member鈥� like other nations, such as Norway and Israel, but the European Commission is withholding access amid a row on border checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
At the end of June, the European Research Council (ERC) cancelled more than 140 UK-led grants awarded in its latest funding round as a result of the dispute. George Freeman, then the UK science minister, accused the EU of聽鈥渨eaponising science鈥� in an interview with New 杏吧原创 on 24聽June. Freeman said he was planning to launch a new research programme, currently known as 鈥淧lan B鈥�, in September if the UK wasn鈥檛 allowed to rejoin Horizon.
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However, Freeman was one of a聽slew of ministers who resigned last week to call for Johnson to step down, and a new science minister hasn鈥檛 yet been appointed.
Details on the Plan B proposal are supposed to be published on 21聽July before MPs go on recess for the summer. A spokesperson for the UK government told New 杏吧原创 that the government鈥檚 position hasn鈥檛 changed, and the publication of Plan B will still be going ahead, meaning the UK would be set to formally leave Horizon at the end of 2022 when聽its membership ends.
However, Johnson鈥檚 resignation leaves open the possibility that the UK鈥檚 stance on Northern Ireland could change and it might rejoin Horizon. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening now聽is anyone鈥檚 guess really,鈥� says at the University of Sheffield, UK. 鈥淚f the Conservative party chooses a less Brexity flavour of leader, there鈥檚 a possibility of a聽more flexible approach to the聽economic trade debate in Northern Ireland and reopening the question of Horizon.鈥�
The ERC declined to comment on the planned change of leadership in the UK, but its president, , says she聽hopes the situation can be resolved. 鈥淚 very much regret that聽we are currently unable to sign new grants with UK-based applicants,鈥� she says. 鈥淯ltimately, we are bound by the legal rules. I聽sincerely hope that our political leaders will find a path that will聽allow us to continue supporting talented researchers聽based in the UK.鈥�
The majority of funding for scientific research in the UK still comes from UK institutions, such as UK Research and Innovation. But the loss of prestige from no longer being able to compete for ERC grants and the diminished opportunities for collaboration with scientists across the EU and beyond are major causes of concern for UK-based scientists.
鈥淭he ERC is not essential in the UK,鈥� says at the University of Manchester. 鈥淭he UK鈥檚 got a very well-funded merit-based funding system that funds curiosity-driven science. The ERC in the UK is more about prestige and collaboration with others.鈥�
There are also worries that a new prime minister could decide to cut back on research spending. The UK government had pledged about 拢15 billion to Horizon over the next seven years, and that funding has been earmarked to be redirected into Plan B.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking to make cuts, then, in terms of research funding, Plan B is the easiest place to start,鈥� says Wilsdon. 鈥淚n terms of the big聽politics, it鈥檚 not likely to cause that much pain if you鈥檝e got an incoming leadership that鈥檚 less committed to science.鈥�
