CaSE welcomes Government’s plan for EU-UK scientific partnership

CaSE has responded to the Framework for the UK-EU Partnership on science, research and innovation, published by the UK Government today.

The framework document sets out the Government’s ambition for future scientific engagement between the UK and the EU in more detail.

Commenting, CaSE Executive Director Dr Sarah Main said:

“This document is positive and pragmatic. It will prompt a sigh of relief among the science community as many of the uncertainties that have begun to bite are addressed with purposefulness and enthusiasm. It provides welcome clarification of UK intentions on researcher mobility, the remit of the ECJ, and association with Horizon Europe. 

It shows that the science and innovation community have been heard and are at the heart of the Department for Exiting the EU’s thinking on the future partnership between the UK and EU. The document acknowledges the win-win of an early agreement on science. As it says, science is an area where we do not need to wait.”

CaSE published a Brexit report with policy asks from the science and engineering sector on people, funding and regulation earlier this year. The recommendations from the briefing are as follows:

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 with sustainable resources 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