The report’s key theme is that the Government needs to take action to remove uncertainty for the research community, and set out how it will address concerns such as regulation, collaboration, funding, people and facilities.
During their inquiry, the Committee interviewed a number of research charities, companies and Government ministers to find out what the biggest priorities of the science and research community were.
As a Charity, we responded to this inquiry through our submission to the AMRC, which represents medical research charities across the UK.
The Committee identified five key priorities for science and research during the negotiations for the UK to leave the EU:
• Funding – securing future access to EU research programmes for UK universities and researchers making applications;
• People – ensuring the UK is an attractive place to EU researchers as a place to live, study and work;
• Collaboration – for researchers to be part of multinational projects and continue influencing the EU’s research agenda;
• Regulation – this includes regulations about the licensing of medicines, with concerns Brexit could lead to delays in patients accessing new treatments;
• Facilities – the ability of UK researchers to continue accessing EU research facilities in other countries.
We support the report as addressing these issues early in the Brexit negotiations will allow the sector the stability needed to continue making progress.
You can read the report’s findings here.