The EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee has published its report ‘Brexit: the Erasmus and Horizon programmes’. The report highlights the impact of Brexit on UK participation in the EU’s international exchange and research and innovation programmes, including Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020. The report also examines implications of a ‘no deal’ Brexit and future UK policy for research and international mobility.
Key findings in the report include:
- The Withdrawal Agreement would ensure that UK participation in Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 could continue largely unchanged, but only until the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework period.
- Greater clarity is needed over the Government’s commitment to underwrite funding from Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 until the end of 2020 in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. More information is needed on how this guarantee would work in practice, including who will disburse the funding and what terms and conditions will apply.
- The UK’s research community is concerned about a ‘no deal’ Brexit and losing access to Horizon 2020 funding streams, including the European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which are not open to third country participation and so are not covered by the underwrite guarantee. The Government should confirm how it intends to replace this funding as soon as possible.
- It is in the UK and the EU’s mutual interest to preserve current close levels of cooperation on research and innovation and educational mobility, and the UK should seek full participation in the Erasmus and Horizon Europe programmes as an ‘associated third country’.
- If the Government is not willing or able to secure association to the forthcoming Erasmus and Horizon programmes, alternative UK funding schemes would be needed.
In response to the report, Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO said:
“As the UK is the second largest beneficiary of Horizon 2020, it is important we have clarity over the UK Government’s plans to replace funding in the event of a ‘no deal’.
“Programmes such as Horizon 2020 can bring benefits to the UK video games industry. EU funding to UK developers can contribute to the release of video games and support work on interactive technologies, including AR and VR.
“Losing this vital funding without a replacement could have adverse effects on UK businesses and innovation. We look forward to the Government’s response to the Committee’s report.”
The full report from the EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee can be found here.
The Government’s technical notice on Horizon 2020 funding if there’s no Brexit deal can be found here.