Time to commit to Horizon Europe

The muddle surrounding the UK’s Brexit policy is toxic for research; instead the government needs to make the EU a generous offer, says Ludovic Highman.

The government’s response last week to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s report Brexit, Science and Innovation offers no assurances that science and innovation won’t be snared in the politics of the overall post-Brexit deal.

This is the worst-case scenario for UK research, which could end up sacrificed to so-called higher national interests, such as trade and security, despite its central role in building the UK’s knowledge economy.