The UK government has taken decisive action to protect EU research and innovation funding in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
UK businesses and organisations are urged to register their details to ensure continued access to Horizon 2020 funding.
Government Urges Businesses to Register
Government has urged UK businesses benefiting from the EU’s biggest research and innovation programme to register their details. This is to ensure continued funding if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Science Minister Chris Skidmore stated that the government has guaranteed that UK organisations receiving Horizon 2020 funding will continue to do so after Brexit. He encouraged businesses to register their details on an online portal for Horizon 2020 grants, noting that it takes just 10 minutes per grant to input data.
Overview of the Online Portal
The Government’s online portal was launched in September 2018 following the announcement that the government would guarantee all successful UK funding bids submitted before Brexit. This includes the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.
So far, there have been approximately 5,500 registrations to the portal out of a potential 8,200. Around 4,500 registrations are from higher education institutions, and around 1,000 are from businesses, research organisations, public bodies, and charities.
Role of the Portal in Funding Continuity
The online portal, managed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is a crucial step in ensuring funding continuity for UK organisations with awarded grants.
It requires recipients to input basic information so that UK researchers and businesses can be kept informed of further steps if the government needs to underwrite Horizon 2020 funding.
‘I’d like to thank everyone who has already registered their information on UKRI’s portal or submitted multiple grants using our template,’ said Anne Dixon, Operations Director at UKRI.
Government’s Funding Guarantee
The government’s guarantee covers all successful Horizon 2020 bids by UK participants before the UK exits the EU, ensuring funding for the full duration of the projects.
Horizon 2020 is the EU’s largest research and innovation programme, financially supporting researchers and businesses in EU member states to bring their innovations and discoveries to the market.
Impact on Higher Education and Businesses
Higher education institutions have shown significant engagement, with around 4,500 registrations out of the total 5,500.
This highlights the importance of Horizon 2020 funding for universities, which rely on it to sustain critical research projects and innovation initiatives.
Businesses and research organisations have also been proactive, contributing around 1,000 registrations. This demonstrates the programme’s value to the commercial and research sectors.
Further Steps for Stakeholders
The Government encourages continuous engagement from all stakeholders. This includes updating details and managing multiple grant submissions on the portal.
Ongoing communication about the next steps is pivotal for ensuring that all UK-based Horizon 2020 participants remain well-informed and can access guaranteed funding.
The Operations Director, Anne Dixon, emphasised the necessity of further registrations, particularly from businesses and other organisations with UK Horizon 2020 grants.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The UK Government’s efforts reflect a firm commitment to maintaining the stability of research and innovation funding amidst Brexit uncertainties.
The Government’s steps to secure Horizon 2020 funding highlight a commitment to supporting the research and innovation ecosystem during the Brexit transition.