Thread by @mikegalsworthy

But @Dominic2306

You’re talking about a no-deal Brexit here, which would’ve instantly shafted “our science & tech agenda”.

It would’ve frozen all UK Horizon 2020 projects with UK as coordinator (issue wasn’t technically solved), wrecked future collabs, UK reputation [thread]

Also, there would have been instant cessation of data passing between UK and Single Market labs/sci teams. That’s because there would have been no contractual underpinning for data security.

There would also have been no deal on movement of experts/ qualification recognition…

Supplies of sensitive/dangerous/ biological substances would be put on hold (eg DNA or test samples that need chilled/ deep freeze transport) for lack of known regulation and insecurity around time to transport materials that require special shipping conditions…

Our ability to join in Horizon Europe would be instantly blown without a foundational deal.

That may not mean much to you if you had other national ideas, but it means a helluva lot to UK science community- and young scientists who want opportunity to lead multinational collabs.

As to any notion that you don’t need EU collabs for UK science to thrive… why cause huge damage to UK European sci leadership when we’ve absolutely dominated the programme for coordination roles?

And with unis & business, the ability to draw on European science talent is huge-

And I think you overestimate how much talent flow is driven by “lowering barriers” for talent and vastly underestimate how much is driven by lab-to-lab contact and what young talent thinks of the politics, environment and global reputation of a country that they may work in.

If there’s outright hostility between the UK & rest of Europe, that makes it a much less attractive place - whether for unis, startups... The instability and hostility spooks people. It’s not a smart play.

and the UK sci & tech community wld never vouch for no deal as a route.

And finally, for now, note that *just the threat* of no-deal Brexit reduced our H2020 collaborations with Europe by >1,700 projects, costing us £1.5bn relative to Germany from 2017-2020.

See diagram. So even though we retained full access, the context & uncertainty cost £1.5bn.