UK
Last week, the British government released a policy paper detailing the relationship the country will have with the EU in regards to scientific collaboration and funding. The paper indicates that the UK prefers remaining a member of Horizon 2020 and any succeeding scientific innovation funding programs. In January, the UK announced plans to provide an additional £2 billion ($2.7 billion) each year in R&D funding by 2020–2021, as well as to raise R&D expenditures as a percentage of GDP to 2.4% by 2027 and 3% thereafter.
The paper states that the UK has contributed close to 20% of all research within EU health programs between 2007 and 2016, and highlights the collaborative past the UK has had with the EU in space, clean energy, pharmaceutical and medical research. At the same time, the paper states that the collaboration agreements would have to be negotiated by the UK with EU member states, especially in regards to funds the UK contributes, “which the UK would need to weigh against other spending priorities.” The paper states that citizens of EU countries would not be able to come into the UK without a visa, though it will be open to accepting top talent from those nations.
