Research: EU Grants and Loans

(asked on 19th April 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what contingency plans have been made to replace EU research funding in the event that the UK is unable to conclude a withdrawal agreement with the EU.


Answered by
Sam Gyimah Portrait
Sam Gyimah
This question was answered on 26th April 2018

Science and research are vital to the UK’s prosperity, security and wellbeing, and are at the heart of the Government’s industrial strategy. As part of our future partnership with the EU, the UK will look to establish an ambitious future agreement on science and innovation that ensures the valuable research links between the UK and the EU continue to grow.

The Joint Report sets out that the UK and the EU fully intend UK participants’ eligibility in Horizon 2020 to remain unchanged for the duration of the programme. This includes eligibility to participate in Horizon 2020 projects and to receive Horizon 2020 funding for the lifetime of projects. The Government encourages the UK research and innovation community to continue to bid for Horizon 2020 funding and participate in Horizon 2020 projects.

The Government's underwrite guarantee of Horizon 2020 funding remains in place in the event that commitments enshrined in the Joint Report are not met. This guarantees funding for UK participants in projects ongoing at the point of exit. It also includes projects that are only informed of their success or sign a grant agreement after the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

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