European Research and Collaboration

The pivotal role of research, scholarship and innovation for the UK’s productivity and growth, as well as for its cultural and social well-being has been challenged by the result of the UK’s referendum on membership of the EU. Both UK universities and researchers based here now face an uncertain future. This uncertainty is unhelpful to the retention of the UK’s reputation for research excellence.

UK universities score highly in international rankings not least because they have been able to draw on an international talent pool in which EU programmes have played a crucial part. The loss of this talent pool risks causing great damage to the achievements of UK universities and research communities. At the same time, UK-based researchers have been remarkably successful in EU research competitions. The level of resources available from the EU, and the type of resources, such as the European Research Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, have to be continued, or where necessary replicated, to maintain the UK’s research excellence.

Our activities as part of this project examine the key role that EU frameworks play in supporting people, collaborations, resources and regulation, and aim to uncover how current opportunities for the UK research base can be maintained after Brexit. Through the All European Academies (ALLEA) European Research Area (ERA) Working Group, our work is also geared towards developing suggestions for the EU’s future research and innovation programmes. In particular, we are looking to ensure that Horizon Europe is developed with the interests of the Wissenschaft community in mind and in particular that the humanities and social sciences are fully represented.

Project Outcomes

• EU Higher Education Staff and Students in the UK (2021)
• Association to Erasmus: Challenges and Opportunities (2020)
• British Academy statement on the future of European Research Collaboration (2020)
• A Response to Professor Adrian Smith’s Call for Evidence on 'Future Frameworks for International Collaboration on Research and Innovation' (2019)
• A Statement on the Proposed Settled Status Scheme and European Temporary Leave to Remain for Higher Education and Research (2019)
• A Statement on the UK’s Future Immigration System for Higher Education and Research (2019)
• A Submission from The British Academy to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Inquiry on Brexit, Science and Innovation: Preparations for 'No Deal' (2019)
• A Submission from the British Academy to the Migration Advisory Committee Inquiry on the Impact of International Students (2018)
• A Submission from the British Academy to the Migration Advisory Committee Inquiry on EEA-Workers (2017)
• Living Together: Missions for Shaping the Future (2017)
• International Staff and Students in UK Higher Education (2017)
• Developing a Vision for Framework Programme 9 (2017)
• Higher Education, Research and Innovation: After Triggering Article 50 (2017)
• A Submission from the British Academy to the House of Commons Exiting the EU Committee Inquiry on the UK’s Negotiating Objectives for the Withdrawal from the EU (2016)
• Open for Business: a Nation of Global Researchers and Innovators (2016)
• A Submission from The British Academy to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science & Technology Inquiry on Leaving the EU: Implications and Opportunities for Science and Research (2016)
• A Submission from the British Academy to the House of Commons Education Select Committee Inquiry on the Impact of Exiting the European Union on Higher Education (2016)
• Research and Innovation: After the EU Referendum (2016)
• A British Academy Statement on the Proposed Regulation to Establish the European Fund for Strategic Investment (‘EFSI’) (2015)
• A Submission from the British Academy to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology on the Relationship Between EU Membership and the Effectiveness of Science, Research and Innovation in the UK (2015)

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 020 7969 5343