To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of withdrawing from Horizon 2020 on higher education funding in the North East.
Answered on
15 October 2018
The Government is undertaking a wide range of analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would reveal our negotiating position
UK and EU negotiators are continuing to make progress towards finalising the draft Withdrawal Agreement. Once concluded, the Withdrawal Agreement would mean that UK entities would continue to have the right to participate in and bid for funding in current EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, and to receive EU funding for the lifetime of the projects.
In the event of a no deal scenario the Government’s underwrite guarantee will cover funding for successful competitive bids to Horizon 2020 submitted before exit day. In July 2018 the guarantee was extended to cover all successful competitive bids by UK entities to Horizon 2020 calls open to third country participation submitted between exit day and the end of 2020. The guarantee will apply for the lifetime of qualifying projects, even where this extends beyond 2020.