UK exit from the EU (Brexit)

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Information for researchers

Brexit: what does it mean for research and researchers at the University?

The University of Exeter strongly supports academics continuing to apply to the Horizon 2020 Research and innovation programme which we are able to do until the Brexit date.

 The current situation with eligibility for UK applicants in connection with BREXIT is as follows:

  •  We remain eligible to apply until Brexit day as we are still a Member State until that date.

  • The EU Withdrawal Agreement contains provisions for the UK to continue to bid for and participate in Horizon 2020 projects until the close of the programme on 31 December 2020, after we leave the EU. So if the Agreement is signed, we will continue to be eligible to apply and be funded throughout the programme period completely as normal.

  • In the event that a Withdrawal Agreement is not signed and we leave with ‘no deal’, the UK government has agreed to underwrite the cost of our participation in all existing Horizon 2020 projects and in any applications made up to the deadline for which the result is not yet known. To support this, UKRI are collating data and preparing systems on all current live EU projects so that this can be achieved.
  • In a ‘no deal’ scenario, the UK Government has also confirmed that it would provide domestic funds for our continued participation in Horizon 2020 projects where this is legally possible. This would mean that we can continue to apply as partners in collaborative projects, and we would bring our own UK Government funds to an application, receiving no money directly from Horizon 2020. UK organisations would not be able to apply for ERC or Marie Curie funds. The UK Government has tasked Sir Adrian Smith with proposing alternative domestic funding programmes to replace these schemes. No detail is yet available on these.

 

Further information and support

If you have queries, please do not hesitate to contact our EU/International team lead

Sarah Hill: 01392 726206

 

The EU/International team can be contacted through euresearch@exeter.ac.uk and will be pleased to support you with any Horizon 2020 applications.