Brexit, Science and Innovation report released today

Today, the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee published its report on Brexit, Science and Innovation. The report advocates for an early agreement on science and innovation as a ‘clear ‘win-win’ for both the UK and the EU.

The committee’s recommendations mirror many of the points that we made in our submission to the inquiry. Our Director of Science & Communities, Dr Jo Reynolds recently highlighted these points in an opinion piece, published to coincide with the summit meeting that formed part of this inquiry.

Jo comments: "We welcome the report, which makes a number of recommendations that echo our own asks to government. Clarity on how the UK is going to participate in the next framework programme and the UK’s future immigration regime is vital to maintain the UK’s hard-earned place in the global science community.

"However, the report omits a key issue that we highlighted in our response – agreeing a mechanism for continued UK-EU scientific collaboration on regulation. The transition agreement announced this week indicates the UK won’t be able to participate in the committees of scientific agencies during the proposed transition period, unless invited to do so.

"A hiatus in UK participation on key international regulatory committees could damage valuable scientific relations that have been built up over many years and benefit both the UK and the EU. We must find a way to maintain continuous links between UK and EU regulators in areas such as chemicals regulation, where cooperation supports the shared goal of protecting human health and the environment, whilst enabling trade and innovation."