The UK¡¯s association to Horizon Europe must be swiftly finalised, according to groups representing universities, learned academies and researchers which warn that current and future collaborations are ¡°rapidly reaching a crunch point¡±.

The terms of the UK¡¯s participation were set out in the Brexit agreement 11 months ago but confirmation of the country¡¯s involvement is yet to be agreed, with the issue reportedly becoming a ¡°bargaining chip¡± in wider ructions over the Northern Ireland protocol.?

In a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen published on 4 November, representatives of more than 1,000 universities across the continent say that ¡°the absence of a clear timeline for finalising UK association is now causing increasing concern¡±.

¡°This lingering uncertainty risks endangering current and future plans for collaboration,¡± warn the groups, also representing 56 academies of science, 33 rectors¡¯ conferences and 120 regional organisations.

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¡°We are rapidly approaching a crunch point. With the first Horizon Europe grant agreements approaching and new calls soon to be launched, UK association must be finalised without further delay.

¡°Now is the time for swift and decisive action. Further delays or even non-association would result in a missed opportunity and a major weakening of our collective research strength and competitiveness.¡±

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Organisations?that signed the letter include the European Universities Association, the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, and the League of European Research Universities. Germany¡¯s U15 and France¡¯s UDICE French Research Universities also signed.

¡°Notwithstanding current arguments in other areas of UK-EU relations, the question of science collaboration is not a zero-sum game,¡± said Jan Palmowski, the Guild¡¯s secretary general.

¡°If UK association to Horizon Europe is not realised, the capacity of science and innovation in the UK and in the EU are both weakened.¡±

Jan W?pking, secretary of the U15 ¨C the equivalent of the UK¡¯s Russell Group ¨C said that UK association to Horizon Europe was an ¡°obvious win-win for both parties¡±.

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¡°The UK is a world leader in science. So is the EU. British universities are among the closest, most trusted and strongest partners that our universities have,¡± Dr W?pking said.

¡°We will only solve the crucial challenges the world is facing by combining our strengths in research and innovation. We have no time to lose.¡±

Mariya Gabriel, the European commissioner for research, has stated that ¡°transversal issues¡± need to be addressed before the UK¡¯s association can be concluded.

On 25 October, David Frost, the UK minister in charge of overseeing the implementation of the Brexit deal, told the UK Parliament¡¯s?European Scrutiny Committee that? about the delays.?, the committee said that delays ¡°raise a concern about value for money¡±,?because UK researchers will have fewer chances?win back?the country¡¯s?contributions.

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A spokeswoman said that the commission ¡°continues to recognise the mutual benefit in cooperation in research, science and innovation¡± with the UK.

¡°The UK¡¯s association to Horizon Europe and other EU programmes will be finalised in due course. This requires a level of trust that the attached conditions will be complied with,¡± she said.

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Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International, has warned that delays could strengthen the hand of those in Westminster who were ¡°never that enamoured¡± about joining.

ben.upton@timeshighereducation.com