{"id":6563,"date":"2024-02-19T03:44:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T03:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/?p=6563"},"modified":"2024-02-19T03:44:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T03:44:00","slug":"who-needed-the-eu-brexit-britain-had-a-vibrant-scientific-research-programme-ready","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/2024\/02\/19\/who-needed-the-eu-brexit-britain-had-a-vibrant-scientific-research-programme-ready\/","title":{"rendered":"Who needed the EU? \u2013 Brexit Britain had a vibrant scientific research programme ready"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Part III of Facts4EU\u2019s review of the UK’s alignment with EU\u2019s \u2018Horizon Europe\u2019<\/h2>\n

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Montage \u00a9 Facts4EU.Org 2024<\/p>\n

Rishi Sunak should have walked away from the EU after three years of EU time-wasting<\/h3>\n

In Parts I and II of our report on scientific research, we showed how the EU\u2019s programme (called \u2018Horizon Europe\u2019) is typically expensive and was tied up in political wrangles and obstructionism from the EU Commission for years.<\/p>\n

Today we reveal the vibrant alternative from Brexit Britain, now obsolete because of the UK finally being allowed to join the EU’s version, together with the comments from the Minister responsible.<\/p>\n

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The UK remains a world leader in scientific research<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s time for the scientific powerhouse that is Brexit Britain to provide a global alternative to scientific research co-operation.<\/p>\n

It is a simple fact that scientists have always shared their research, via published papers in respected journals. There was nothing to stop talented EU scientists from coming to the UK and joining research teams. Given the number of visas being issued by the Home Office we would have barely noticed the difference.<\/p>\n

Facts4EU asked a leading British scientist for his views. He told us :-<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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\u201cHorizon Europe was always considered a minor player in terms of research funding. My own view is that it represented poor value for money and collaboration was (and still is) much easier outside of EU structures<\/b>. It\u2019s focus on harmonisation meant that it didn\u2019t always tie in with UK ambitions to focus on the science. Our department still has strong links across the EU, but this is all outside EU structures.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\u201cIt\u2019s sad that the EU have always used the programme to assert political \u201ccontrol\u201d, especially during negotiations, as was and is the case with Switzerland becoming an associate member.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

– A leading British scientist speaking to Facts4EU, 02 Aug 2023<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Was he right about Horizon Europe being “a minor player” in UK research funding?<\/h3>\n

To answer this question Facts4EU turned to a 32-page report from no less an august body than The Royal Society. In 2015 the UK was still a member of the European Union and The Royal Society looked at the EU’s role in funding UK research and development, according to the official definition of this, used by the Office for National Statistics.<\/p>\n

The report looks at a seven-year period, to ensure the percentages below are representative over time.<\/p>\n

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Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary<\/h3>\n

Who funded UK research and development?<\/p>\n