UK to return to EU’s flagship Horizon science research program
The UK government's decision to rejoin the Horizon Programme as an associate member has been met with a resounding applause.
Collaboration is once again wafting through the corridors of British academia and research institutions. The United Kingdom is poised to rejoin Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship £85 billion science research programme. This monumental decision comes as a breath of fresh air, especially for scientists languishing in a state of uncertainty due to the UK's previous exit from the programme.
The Horizon Europe programme is a veritable treasure trove of opportunities, funding research projects addressing critical issues ranging from the climate crisis to terminal diseases and food to energy security. Britain's initial membership was agreed upon as part of the post-Brexit trade deal in 2020 but was never ratified due to a contentious row between the EU and the UK over Northern Ireland's Brexit arrangements. The long-awaited return is a diplomatic win and a triumph for science and innovation.
Prof Carsten Welsch, a physicist at the University of Liverpool, encapsulated the collective sentiment perfectly when he expressed his elation over the UK's return. His research project on a novel plasma generator for cancer treatment lost its leadership when the UK was excluded from Horizon. Now, the future looks promising for him and countless other scientists who have been yearning for this moment.
However, the journey back to Horizon Europe was not without its hurdles. Mike Galsworthy, the chair of European Movement UK, criticised the government for the delay in rejoining, stating that the UK's science community has been losing opportunities and funds at an alarming rate. The standoff over the UK's annual contribution to the programme has finally been resolved, with an agreement reached at the highest echelons of the European Commission. The UK is expected to contribute about £2bn a year, with effective rebates if the grants from the programme do not match the country's contributions.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been holding out for an "underperformance clause" to be readjusted, ensuring a more significant rebate if Britain failed to achieve previous levels of grants from the programme. This clause was a point of contention but has now been settled, paving the way for the UK's return.
The EU member states still have to agree to the UK's re-entry officially, but the path has been cleared since the dispute over Northern Ireland was resolved earlier this year. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, had promised a "swift" decision, and it appears that the time has come for that promise to be fulfilled.
Before Brexit, the UK was one of the top beneficiaries of the Horizon programme, receiving about £2bn in research funding, approximately £500m more than it contributed. The government's decision to rejoin is not just a diplomatic manoeuvre but a strategic investment in the UK's future of science and technology.
In conclusion, the UK's return to Horizon Europe is a monumental step forward in fostering global scientific collaboration. It's a win-win situation for the EU and the UK, as they benefit immensely from shared knowledge and resources. For you, whether you're a scientist, a student, or simply someone who values the advancement of knowledge, this is a moment to celebrate. The horizon has never looked brighter.
Source: The Guardian