The Government has published Collaboration on science and innovation: a future partnership paper. The paper outlines how continued collaboration in science and innovation is an important part of the UK’s future partnership with the EU.
Our Brexit Briefing revealed that Horizon 2020 and its predecessor schemes have invested significant sums of money in transnational historic environment research. Total investment 1998-2014 is estimated at £166.23 million. 2008-2013 EU funding for university-led heritage science for instance amounted to 19% of UK investment.
Page 11 of the paper sets out detail on the Government’s approach to Horizon2020. The Government notes that the UK is a highly active participant in Horizon 2020. It ranks first across the EU in the number of participants with signed contracts, with 7,360 so far.
The UK will work with the Commission to ensure payments when funds are awarded, and Horizon 2020 participants should continue to collaborate as normal.
Non-EU countries currently participate in Horizon 2020 either with associated country status or with automatic third country status. Currently, associated countries have the same level of access to Horizon 2020 as EU Member States. Associated countries do not have a formal vote over the work programme, but can attend programme committees, which provides them with a degree of influence.
Terms of association (including financial contributions) vary, and are determined by international agreements with the EU. All third countries without formal associate status can participate in specific parts of the programme, with some restrictions. Apart from a
few exceptions, these third countries are not eligible for EU funding and usually fund their own participation.
The paper concludes that ‘the UK will seek to agree a far-reaching science and innovation agreement with the EU that establishes a framework for future collaboration. There are a range of existing precedents for collaboration that the UK and the EU can build on, but our uniquely close relationship means there may be merit in designing a more ambitious agreement’.