James Tooze, Campaign for Science and Engineering

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.112.12

To scientists, it is no secret that collaboration facilitates the exchange of knowledge, ideas and ultimately, progress. The European Union has been a tremendous vehicle in allowing scientists and researchers to move freely and collaborate on international projects, and the UK has successfully received over €4.6bn of Horizon 2020 funding since 2014. International collaboration is key to research; 72% of UK-based researchers were internationally mobile between 1992 and 2015. Many of the freedoms currently enjoyed will be subject to change post-Brexit, posing obstacles to the UK’s collaboration with EU partners. There have been warm words from both the UK and EU with regards to scientific collaboration after Brexit; most consider it a ‘win-win’ to continue to have a close bond. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has consistently insisted that the UK will agree a comprehensive science agreement with the EU, while the European Commission have left the door open for the UK to participate in Horizon 2020’s successor, Horizon Europe, and other R&D programmes.

The UK Government appears to understand that science is truly international. Discoveries do not respect borders, and the UK will need to continue to attract some of the finest minds from across the world to cement its position as a scientific superpower. We categorically hear that the UK has been an attractive destination for R&D-intensive organisations because of the strength of academia, ease of access to talent, and the depth of collaborative research between academia, industry and charity organisations. Worryingly for science and innovation, the biggest threat of Brexit is that the flow of people and ideas from across the world that has been crucial to the UK’s success in research could become more difficult. Restrictive migration policy, divergence in regulatory frameworks from EU standards and changes in the ease of movement of goods and services are all threats to UK science.

At Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), of which The Physiological Society is a member, we work on behalf of the sector to ensure that the UK environment enables science and innovation to thrive. CaSE have been working hard to represent the voices across our diverse membership on Brexit in Westminster and Whitehall. CaSE has a seat on the Science Minister’s High-Level Brexit working group, which brings together key organisations from across the research sector and is attended by ministers from the Department for Business and the Department for Exiting the EU. We produced a dossier for this group on the interaction different parts of the sector have with EU regulatory frameworks. CaSE also takes part in an equivalent working group with senior civil servants in the Department for Business. In recent months, CaSE has also presented oral evidence in front of two Parliamentary committees on Brexit and science. Alongside this engagement, we hold meetings with parliamentarians and a vast array of civil servants on a regular basis to inform their work on immigration, research collaboration and the future of scientific prosperity in the UK.

Our political engagement is informed by our policy work. Ahead of the Brexit referendum in 2016, CaSE produced a report setting out what’s at stake for science and engineering in the event of the UK leaving the EU. In addition, we sought the views of researchers through a survey. Since, we have listened to members such as The Physiological Society and set out the sector’s priorities, concerns and proposals in consultations, proactive meetings and calls for evidence. These are all brought together in our recent Brexit policy review with recommendations focusing on two key areas: 1) the UK securing an ambitious agreement on research & innovation with the EU and 2) coordinating Government efforts to unleash the potential of UK science and engineering.

CaSE has developed as a respected, informed voice on immigration, and our Brexit work shows that current policies, including the arbitrary numerical cap on skilled workers from outside the EU, undermine warm words from Government on being an international science hub. Since December this cap has been reached preventing organisations from recruiting the engineers, doctors and professionals they need, damaging productivity and the UK’s reputation. After a long campaign led by CaSE that garnered support across the UK, the Government announced a policy change to halt the recruitment crisis facing employers.

The Government’s Brexit white paper, which is the Government’s proposals for the UK’s future relationship with the EU, demonstrates that the voice of science has been heard by the Government as the collaborative nature of science is well referenced and it sets out a desire to align with EU partners on several fronts. However, many concerns remain, not least that there is a lot of detailed work needed if there is to be a top-level agreement and science ‘pact’ by October – when it is expected that the withdrawal agreement will be finalised in order for the UK to leave the EU in March 2019 – and there is no confirmation that the positions set out will be viewed as tenable by EU negotiators or the UK Parliament. As negotiations rumble on and circumstances change, CaSE will continue to ensure the needs of science and engineering are well heard.