Gordon Brown: Horizon scheme ‘cannot be replicated nationally’

Former prime minister says national research programmes do not offer same mobility and collaboration opportunities

The European Union’s framework programmes cannot be replicated nationally, former prime minister Gordon Brown has warned as he renewed calls for the UK to associate fully with Horizon Europe, the EU’s R&D framework programme for 2021-27.

National programmes “cannot compete with international programmes for the opportunities that are given for mobility of scientists, collaboration, sometimes competition and certainly for career prospects”, Brown said during a Labour Party conference fringe event organised by the campaign group Scientists for Labour on 20 September.