Fantastic news over Christmas that the Brexit deal secures UK participation in Horizon Europe 🥳
@millie_dearman and I have been digging through the detail of the agreement text to find out more about how this all works.
Here's the 20+ tweet thread you've been waiting for! 🤓
@millie_dearman and I have been digging through the detail of the agreement text to find out more about how this all works.
Here's the 20+ tweet thread you've been waiting for! 🤓
First, a bit of guidance for anyone wanting to delve into this themselves.
The main Brexit deal has plenty of detail on how participation in programmes happens, including costs.
That's p365-382 of this now-famous pdf - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
The main Brexit deal has plenty of detail on how participation in programmes happens, including costs.
That's p365-382 of this now-famous pdf - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
But the other crucial document is a joint declaration on participation in programmes and a draft protocol with even more detail.
That's p15-23 of this less-famous document - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
That's p15-23 of this less-famous document - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
🤔Why is it divided up like this?
The joint declaration explains that, technically, Horizon Europe doesn't exist yet - a Regulation establishing it still needs to be ratified.
But once that happens we can get the quills out and sign on the dotted line of this draft.
The joint declaration explains that, technically, Horizon Europe doesn't exist yet - a Regulation establishing it still needs to be ratified.
But once that happens we can get the quills out and sign on the dotted line of this draft.
It means that association to Horizon Europe should happen very quickly once that's legally possible.
UK participation is all-but assured, barring a very unlikely change to the programme in the next few weeks.
UK participation is all-but assured, barring a very unlikely change to the programme in the next few weeks.
It also means that everything should be in place in time for the first Horizon Europe calls, expected in the next few months.
Second, the existence of ANY agreement at all is great news for research, since it bodes well for other non-EU countries that might want to join Horizon Europe too, but might have had the same concerns about how it would work.
Enough of the preamble, what does the deal say?
✅The UK will be able to participate in all parts* of Horizon Europe, including European Research Council, Marie Curie- Sklodowska Actions and ERICs. That's alongside being able to lead and participate in collaborative projects.
✅The UK will be able to participate in all parts* of Horizon Europe, including European Research Council, Marie Curie- Sklodowska Actions and ERICs. That's alongside being able to lead and participate in collaborative projects.
*The exception is the European Innovation Council Fund, which relates to equity investments in SMEs, and any specific exclusions on the basis of security - but the UK won't pay for those parts.
From the point of view of a researcher, this is just like it was pre-Brexit - you shouldn't notice any change in what you can do.
That's a really important message for researchers across the UK and EU - go forth and collaborate with confidence.
That's a really important message for researchers across the UK and EU - go forth and collaborate with confidence.
Anything beyond this point is nerdy detail, but I know you love it, so...
The UK will have observer rights on programme committees and the European Research Area Committee, but won't be able to vote. No surprises there, but these committees rarely vote and UK voices will still be heard.
The UK will pay into the programme based on its GDP relative to the EU27 GDP, as expected.
Costs were a sticking point in the negotiations - particularly in terms of how to deal with the uncertainty of how much the UK might win back in grants. So...
Costs were a sticking point in the negotiations - particularly in terms of how to deal with the uncertainty of how much the UK might win back in grants. So...
There's a set of handbrakes to cover disproportionate success (or lack of success).
If over two consecutive years the UK wins more than 8% above the amount that it pays in, then it'll need to top up its payments.
If over two consecutive years the UK wins more than 8% above the amount that it pays in, then it'll need to top up its payments.
On the other hand, if UK winnings are more than 12% below what it pays in, then the UK can call for a performance review. That can look at how to improve UK performance, check that the rules are working well etc.
If it slips to a 16% shortfall, then there's discussion of changes in procedures or contributions, and the right for the UK to withdraw if it wants to.
There's also a review point after 4 years in the programme to check that everything is working as it should.
There's also a review point after 4 years in the programme to check that everything is working as it should.
In my mind, this is all fair enough. If it's obviously no longer good value for money then it's reasonable to think again. But the commitment to the programme is here.
The message for UK researchers is clear. Go out there and win!
The message for UK researchers is clear. Go out there and win!
Back to the detail. Yes, there's also an admin fee to add on to the UK contributions, as expected. Intriguingly this starts of at the bargain rate of 0.5% in year 1, rising slowly to 4%. That's cheaper than anticipated.
On mobility: The UK and EU both undertake to "make every effort" to "facilitate the entry and residence of persons involved in the implementation of these programmes [...] including students, researchers, trainees or volunteers".
In practice, the Global Talent Visa does the implementation work on the UK side.
But intriguingly, there's also a requirement from the EU that the UK won't significantly increase fees relating to this - on pain of suspension. That could be one to watch in the future...
But intriguingly, there's also a requirement from the EU that the UK won't significantly increase fees relating to this - on pain of suspension. That could be one to watch in the future...
To summarise - the UK is joining the programme, and we can line up some champagne for when the ink is on the page 🍾
This is excellent news, and the emphasis now is to make the most of this opportunity. We worked hard to achieve this, and can rightly celebrate.
This is excellent news, and the emphasis now is to make the most of this opportunity. We worked hard to achieve this, and can rightly celebrate.
If you're interested in other aspects of the deal then check out this briefing from the Brexit Health Alliance on wha the deal means for continuity of supply of medicines
https://twitter.com/AMRC/status/1346433957089452032
For all your clinical trials concerns, check out this blog from Cancer Research UK scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2021/01/04/we-…
Meanwhile, there's been an extension to current personal data arrangements for up to 6 months while the EU makes its data adequacy decision. Another one to keep an eye on... diginomica.com/enterprises-li…
And of course, the development of a domestic replacement for the Erasmus scheme will be an important one for universities to engage with theconversation.com/erasmus-what-t…
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