Horizon 2020

(asked on 1st June 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the UK providing and maintaining the funding allocated by the EU's Horizon 2020 programme at the same level after the UK leaves the EU.


Answered by
Sam Gyimah Portrait
Sam Gyimah
This question was answered on 6th June 2018

As part of our future partnership with the EU, the UK will look to establish an ambitious future agreement on science and innovation that ensures the valuable research links between us continue to grow. My Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has said that we want the option to fully associate to the excellence-based European science and innovation programmes – including Horizon Europe and Euratom R&T.

Both the UK and the EU fully intend UK entities’ eligibility in Horizon 2020 to remain unchanged for the duration of the programme, as set out in the Joint Report and reflected in the text of the draft Withdrawal Agreement. This includes eligibility to participate in all Horizon 2020 projects and to receive Horizon 2020 funding for the lifetime of projects. On this basis, the UK Government encourages the UK research and innovation community to continue to bid for Horizon 2020 funding and participate in Horizon 2020 projects.

In addition, the UK Government has committed to underwrite Horizon 2020 funding if necessary. This guarantees funding for UK participants in projects ongoing at the point of exit, as well as any successful bids submitted before the UK leaves the EU.

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