EU Funding Of UK Research Projects May Stall In Case Of No-Deal Brexit - Universities

Faizan Hashmi Published March 19, 2019 | 04:13 PM

Universities UK, an organization representing universities from across the United Kingdom, warned the government on Tuesday that the country's vital research programs could be deprived of potentially millions of dollars in European Research Council (ERC) grants if London leaves the European Union without a deal

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th March, 2019) Universities UK, an organization representing universities from across the United Kingdom, warned the government on Tuesday that the country's vital research programs could be deprived of potentially millions of Dollars in European Research Council (ERC) grants if London leaves the European Union without a deal.

According to the association's statement, the UK government has not put forward any back-up plan to replace the existing funding system in case of a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, UK researchers have been awarded 155 million Euros ($176 million) in the last round of funding.

"Researchers at UK universities doing life-changing work remain in the dark over what will happen to their current ERC applications or where they will go in future for funding, if there is no-deal. Without clarity very soon vital research could be disrupted which would be hugely damaging to people's lives," Professor Dame Janet Beer, the president of Universities UK, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Current applicants are expected to find out whether they have been awarded grants by April 8, and in late May the next application process is expected to launch, Universities UK said.

"The UK is leaving the EU on 29 March 2019 without a deal unless all the EU leaders agree to delay Brexit or a deal is agreed by parliament. Universities UK is calling on UK government to clarify the situation immediately," the statement said.

Universities UK represents 136 universities from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Last week, UK lawmakers voted down the updated Brexit deal and rejected the idea of leaving the bloc without a withdrawal agreement. UK parliament then supported extending the withdrawal deadline until June 30 if the deal with Brussels was approved by March 20. The European Union has yet to endorse the Brexit extension.