Experts see rocky road to any EU-UK research deal

Attempts to get deal by 2021 could flounder on trade deal and regulatory divergence issues

Policy experts have warned that a bumpy road ahead for UK’s trade negotiations with the European Union could result in the country dropping out of participation in EU research programmes.

Beth Thompson, head of policy and advocacy for UK & EU, at the Wellcome Trust, said that even if the transition period that runs to the end of the year is extended to smooth Brexit, there is no provision to continue association with the EU’s Framework R&D funding programmes.