Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with Horizon Europe on UK-based research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Space research in Horizon Europe is covered under Pillar 2, in the cluster ‘Digital, Industry and Space’. DSIT encourages UK researchers to take part in the available funding opportunities to support international cooperation.
The EU has restricted the participation of associated countries in a small part of the programme, which includes some calls focused on space technology. DSIT is working constructively with the EU to address these restrictions. We do not pay for areas in which we do not participate.
Making Horizon Europe association a success is DSIT’s priority and DSIT is working to boost UK participation and remove barriers to international R&D collaborations.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has he made of potential opportunities for research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences through Horizon Europe.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Space research in Horizon Europe is covered under Pillar 2, in the cluster ‘Digital, Industry and Space’. DSIT encourages UK researchers to take part in the available funding opportunities to support international cooperation.
The EU has restricted the participation of associated countries in a small part of the programme, which includes some calls focused on space technology. DSIT is working constructively with the EU to address these restrictions. We do not pay for areas in which we do not participate.
Making Horizon Europe association a success is DSIT’s priority and DSIT is working to boost UK participation and remove barriers to international R&D collaborations.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with businesses on the Government's approach to research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities, including space stakeholders, on a range of issues although there have been no discussions on space weather and its consequences.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with universities on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities, including space stakeholders, on a range of issues although there have been no discussions on space weather and its consequences.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with ARIA on support for research into space weather since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Ministers have had no such discussions and ARIA does not currently have a programme focused on space weather.
As set out in ARIA’s Framework Agreement, ARIA has maximum autonomy over its research and project choice. Decisions on the programme portfolio are set by ARIA, and allocation of funding to research projects is decided by those with relevant technical expertise.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Ministers have had no such discussions.
However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had since with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Ministers have had no such discussions.
However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Arts and Humanities Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Ministers have had no such discussions.
However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with UK Research and Innovation on their approach to research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Ministers have had no such discussions.
However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Innovate UK on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Ministers have had no such discussions.
However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.