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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that Brexit could have on the ability of UK business schools to (1) recruit academic talent, and (2) attract research funding.

The Government is committed to ensuring that institutions including UK business schools continue to be able to recruit academic talent and attract research funding after the UK has exited the European Union. Academic institutions in the UK recruit talent from within the UK and from overseas and an immigration system that supports this is an important component of their continuing success. The Government published the Immigration White Paper, outlining the future immigration system in December 2018 and is currently running an engagement programme with businesses and other stakeholders before publishing the Immigration Rules setting out the detail of the future system. In addition, since January 2018, the Government has implemented an extensive and wide-ranging package of changes to the immigration rules, aimed at supporting science, research and innovation including setting up a new Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) Scheme to make it easier to sponsor the temporary movement of international researchers.

Business schools attract funding for research from a range of sources including Horizon 2020, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. Until the UK exits the EU, the UK will continue to participate in Horizon 2020, as a Member State. If ratified, the Government’s proposed Withdrawal Agreement would ensure that following exit the UK could continue to participate in EU programmes such as Horizon 2020 for the lifetime of projects. In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal at the end of the extension period, the Government has confirmed that the funding commitments made under the guarantee and its extension still stand. Through these commitments, the Government will underwrite funding for all successful competitive eligible UK bids to Horizon 2020 that are submitted before the end of the Programme - including those involving UK business schools. This guarantee will apply for the lifetime of projects and will provide funding for UK participation in Horizon 2020.

Looking ahead, the Government would like the option to associate to the future excellence-based European research and innovation programmes, including Horizon Europe. We are actively engaging in the development of the Horizon Europe proposal in line with UK interests.

BEIS is working with the National Academies, the Devolved Administrations and UKRI to develop ambitious and credible alternatives to association, through which we will enable world class collaborative research. BEIS has also commissioned Sir Adrian Smith to provide independent advice on international collaboration – specifically on potential future UK funding schemes in the context of the UK’s future ambitions for European and international collaboration on research and innovation. His advice will help inform the direction for the implementation of the Government’s ambition to ensure the UK continues to be a global leader in science, research and innovation, and an attractive country for individuals to study and work.