CaSE policy review on Brexit 2018

To mark the anniversary of the triggering of article 50 on 29th March 2017, CaSE has published a new Brexit report with policy asks from the science and engineering sector on people, funding and regulation.

CaSE’s mission is to ensure the UK has the policies, funding and skills to enable science and engineering to thrive. On that basis, this report makes recommendations for Government to guide negotiations and development of domestic policy as the UK leaves the European Union. 

These asks are based on evidence CaSE has gathered of impacts of Brexit on research organisations over the last year (on recruitment, relocation, income etc), including data and quotes. CaSE’s membership organisations, which have provided this data, represent 380,000 people employed in the U.K. and global R&D investment of £43 billion a year. 

The report makes a series of recommendations to Government under two headings:

1. Secure an ambitious agreement on research and innovation with the EU

• Reciprocal frictionless movement for science and engineering professionals
• Secure full UK participation in Framework Programme 9
• Prioritise stability and harmonisation of regulation in established areas
• Seek influence on regulation that impacts on UK science and engineering 

2. Coordinate Government efforts to unleash UK science and engineering potential  

• Take radical action to deliver diversity in STEM
• Transform recruitment and retention of teachers
• Equip providers to deliver high-quality STEM education
• Abolish the Tier 2 (General) cap
• Permit research activity overseas in Indefinite Leave to Remain rules
• Promote the UK as a place to learn, earn and contribute
• Create an immigration system that supports the retention, access and movement of those who lead, undertake and support research and innovation 
• Assess and mitigate impact of likely EU funding changes
• Increase public investment in R&D to 0.7% of GDP by 2022
• Create a cross-government international research and innovation strategy 
• Lead the world in regulation of emerging areas of science and innovation 
• Access and use scientific and technical expertise and advice

This Brexit briefing is the third and final policy review to be published by CaSE this spring, each with recommendations for government. The first policy review was on diversity and inclusion in STEM, and the second on immigration.

A fortnight ago CaSE published a letter to Number 10 Downing Street calling on the Prime Minister to exempt roles on the Government’s ​Shortage Occupation List and PhD level roles from the Tier 2 visa cap (one of the asks above). The letter was supported by over 45 organisations from across business, universities, ​professional institutes, and research charities.