CESAER has published a statement urging the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) to prioritise the safeguarding of a collaborative relationship through association of the UK to the whole of Horizon Europe and of the successor of Erasmus+ after Brexit.
So far, there is no indication of the status of the UK in Horizon Europe, nor on the post-Brexit immigration system, leaving uncertainty for research, for scientists and for students in both the UK and the EU.
The UK and the EU have a long history of collaboration in research, education and innovation, a relationship which has been enhanced programmes such as the EU Framework for Research & Innovation and Erasmus+ alongside a wider range of collaborations outside the EU, including the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
Joint investment in research, education and innovation should be a win-win for both sides as long as the costs and benefits of UK participation provide advantages to both the UK and the EU. The alternative risks weakening the science and innovation base across Europe as a whole.
Free circulation of knowledge and its bearers are necessary for the investment of both sides to reach its full potential. This requires effort on both sides to guarantee a solution that will enable the scientific community to continue to collaborate on a truly European scale and remain competitive on the global level.
For more information and enquiries, please contact our Communication Officer Calum MacKichan.