The UK wants to continue playing a major role in creating a brighter future for all European citizens by strengthening collaboration with European partners in science and innovation after Brexit.
This is one of the conclusions from a paper published today that outlines Britain’s objectives for ‘an ambitious science and innovation agreement with the EU’ following Brexit.
The paper highlights projects where the UK is working with EU and non-EU nations in furthering research into areas that include space, nuclear fusion, and medicine and suggests the potential merit in ‘designing a more ambitious agreement’ that should be broad and make room for new areas of research.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said: “This paper sends a clear message to the research and innovation community that we value their work and we feel it is crucial that we maintain collaboration with our European partners after we exit.”
In reference to the UK’s vitality in international research, the paper states that the share of EU co-authored publications in the top ten per cent of highly cited publications is higher when collaborating with the UK. It further added that freedom of movement will cease to apply in Britain, but that exceptions would be made for suitably qualified researchers and that ‘migration between the UK and the EU will continue after the UK leaves the EU.’
“It is vital we ensure research communities can continue to access the high level skills that support the science and innovation sector,” said science minister Jo Johnson. “From space exploration and developing better and safer medicines, to nuclear fusion research, the UK and Europe has a long history of close collaboration to meet the world’s great challenges. It’s in our mutual benefit to maintain this successful partnership.”
The report concludes that the ‘UK would welcome dialogue with the EU on the shape of a future science and innovation agreement, reflecting our joint interest in promoting continued close cooperation, for the benefit of UK and European prosperity.’
Commenting on the report, Prof John Womersley, director-general of the European Spallation Source, said: “The document says many positive things. The aspiration of achieving an ambitious science agreement between Britain and the EU is absolutely correct. But the paper is so lacking implementation details that it will probably disappoint most of the science community rather than reassure them. Having the right goals is a good start; but knowing how to get them is also essential.”
Also responding to the government paper, Scientists for EU said: “We find the position paper to be enthusiastic and impressive on documentation of the current state of UK-EU science. It is also good and entirely expected that the UK wishes to maintain the maximum possible relationship with the EU and European partners in science. However, the government’s paper is utterly devoid of any suggestions for bridging Brexit obstacles and developing this partnership into the future. Given the title of “A Future Partnership Paper” – this is ironic.”
In the 1980s the Japanese MITI published their global research on which people had contributed the most to create the modern world as it was. This little known research that has somehow been swept under the carpet determined that 53% of the fundamental thinking that had made the technological world what it is emanated from the minds of the British people. In the 1990s the Germans undertook a very similar global research study, but again is never cited. The German’s determined a very similar statistic and where this was 54%. Therefore research collaboration is more in the interests of the EU than the UK if truth be told. Indeed this is one of the great strengths that our politicians should use in their bargaining for a better BREXIT agreement. Unfortunately our astute politicians on both sides don’t appear to know this and why because of such lack of basic knowledge, things are as they are, where the EU in the long-term could definitely create more harm than good for itself. The UK on the other hand when it realises what a vast wealth creator it is sat on, just might forge a future dynamic economy and the envy of the world.
Why the ‘Innovation Chain’ is so Important for the Future World and Why things have to Change for Humanity – https://worldinnovationfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/why-innovation-chain-is-so-important.html
In my experience, and quite a lot of experiences, a significant element of R&D is performed in spite of the management and leadership? of seniors in any organisation -commercial or academic- NOT because of them. The idea of the junior individual, with fire in their belly! working away at a hunch, with inadequate facilities, little or no encouragement, indeed often active dissuasion, is surely a part of our scientific and technical heritage? Those who (sadly) control the purse strings know little or nothing about STEM: how and why would they. Most of their lives are spent looking backwards for precedent (mostly legal and financial -the manipulation of words and numbers) not forwards with inspiration. Change that and our future is assured. But clerks have never done so in the past: so why would they do so now?
“Therefore research collaboration is more in the interests of the EU than the UK if truth be told”
When has truth ever been told by a politician? Perfidious Albion -the description of our ‘leaders’ by Europeans is sadly the norm, not the exception. There is something quite absurd to me about having the same persons, who lied quite blatantly about the real reasons for Brexit (to shore up the stature of one ‘side’ of the adversarial rubbish which passes for our administration) having responsibility to extricate us from the largest trading club in the world.
53% of the fundamental thinking that had made the technological world what it is emanated from the minds of the British people. Two Nations, our own and Japan both over-crowed islands separated from the nearby continent by a narrow strip of water, have probably had greater overall influence than most others. Why? If their interference in political and other situations in the continent get too ‘hot’ we both have the benefit of simply retreating to our island and allowing the ‘storm’ to pass! We do not have to be involved in the wars, unless we wish to?