‘The US is next!’ Britain prepares for frenzy of post-Brexit deals after bitter EU snub

But by forming multilateral partnerships, or in other words, forming a collaborative group with multiple countries, Mr Freeman is hoping that the UK research community will be convinced by his plan. 

He said: “You could have three, four or five countries in each of these programmes. We can target some specific areas around the world where we have got real science and technology expertise and convening power, like in polar research for example.”

While Mr Freeman may be gearing up to roll out the alternative plan, leading academics have repeatedly urged the EU to let Britain back into Horizon Europe. The Stick to Science campaign, for instance, has collected over 5,500 signatures from 76+ countries, with signatories from research funders and academies, to university alliances and international research centres.

A spokesperson for Universities UK International said: “If not associated to EU programmes, the UK and Switzerland (also blocked) will have to redirect their international collaborations with other parts of the world.”

The Government has also constantly urged the EU to reconsider, arguing that the bloc has “weaponised” science by dragging researchers needlessly into a Brexit feud with which they have nothing to do with. The EU is still withholding the fund promised to the UK’s top brains, even telling some that they can only keep their grants if they move to the EU or a Horizon-associated country. 

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1713466/brexit-news-uk-eu-horizon-europe-us-deal-george-freeman