Rishi Sunak has ordered accelerated work on a “proper blueprint” for a new UK global science strategy, as a stand-off over Britain’s participation in the EU’s €95bn Horizon research programme persists.
The prime minister has asked George Freeman, science minister, to step up work on a “bold” plan B for global science collaboration outside of the Horizon Europe framework.
The UK’s associate membership of Horizon was foreseen in the Brexit deal but has been blocked by the EU because of a bitter dispute over post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland.
“Rishi is seriously considering an alternative to Horizon,” said one ally of the prime minister. “He has been delving into this and looking at what we get out of the current arrangements, compared with what we put in.
“He has been taking advice on this and has asked [the business department] to draw up a proper blueprint on what our own version would be. But no decisions have been taken.”
Freeman has been working on a plan B to Horizon for many months and he told the Financial Times this week: “Plans to develop ambitious alternative ways for UK researchers to collaborate internationally are well under way.”
He said that in spite of the EU’s “disappointing weaponising of our science collaboration” he was determined to strengthen Britain’s international commitment to science.
Freeman also said Britain was building closer relationships with countries including Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand. Last week he announced in Tokyo a £119mn “international science partnerships fund”.
Sunak’s intervention will be seen in Brussels as the prime minister trying to increase pressure on the EU to let Britain participate in Horizon, although one Downing Street insider said: “This is not sabre-rattling.”
Britain’s university leaders have pleaded with the government to break the deadlock. European scientists also value their collaboration under Horizon with UK researchers and Britain’s elite academic institutions have petitioned the European Commission.
Hopes are rising in London and Brussels that the deadlock on Horizon could be broken early in 2023 if a solution can be found to the corrosive row over the trading arrangements contained in the Northern Ireland protocol, part of the Brexit deal.
The mood music around UK-EU talks on the protocol has improved and both sides hope to strike a compromise on reformed arrangements before the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement next Easter, although significant differences remain.
Maroš Šefčovič, the Brexit commissioner, has made it clear that UK participation in Horizon is on hold until Britain implements the protocol.
“Why would we sign another agreement with the UK until they comply with the ones we already have?” said one EU official.
Sunak’s allies declined to say what the prime minister would do if the EU reopened the door to British participation in Horizon in 2023, but confirmed this option was still on the table.
Brussels has signed Horizon membership agreements with 17 non-EU countries, with New Zealand the latest on December 20. They include Albania, Turkey and Montenegro. Canada is in talks to join.
