The UK was excluded from the £85 billion scheme in a tit-for-tat retaliation over post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland in 2020. Tough negotiations have considered the price-tag of rejoining, with British researchers having lost out on two years of the programme. That “plan B” option would take the money earmarked for the UK’s participation in the Horizon scheme and invest it in UK science, research, technology and innovation. The spokesman said exclusion from the programme had “an impact on the participation rates for UK scientists” that had been agreed under the trade deal with Brussels. “UK science has been burning like Rome as Nero fiddles, but this is our opportunity to stem further damage and rebuild as a science superpower.”Horizon is a collaboration involving Europe’s leading research institutes and technology companies.

Source: The Times July 06, 2023 13:25 UTC