UK Researchers Fear Losing Access to Vital Resources Amid Horizon Programme Dispute

The Horizon programme has long been a lifeline for UK researchers, providing them with the resources they need to make groundbreaking discoveries and push the boundaries of scientific knowledge. But now, that access is under threat as a dispute between the UK and EU over funding arrangements threatens to cut off vital resources. As researchers across the country prepare for an uncertain future, many are speaking out about their fears and concerns – and what this could mean for the future of research in the UK. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at why this issue matters so much – and what steps can be taken to ensure that our scientists continue to have access to the support they need.

What is Horizon?

Horizon 2020 is a seven-year, €80 billion programme funded by the European Union to support research and innovation across the continent. The programme has come under fire from UK researchers recently, as they fear losing access to vital resources amid a dispute with the government over how it will be administered.

The UK Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MOSIU) announced in late March that it would no longer be administering Horizon 2020 programmes on behalf of the UK government. This means thatUK researchers will no longer receive funding from MOSIU in advance for their projects, and will have to apply directly for funding from the EU.

This decision has led to major concerns among UK researchers, as it could mean loss of access to vital resources and hindrance to their work. Researchers have described Horizon 2020 as a “crucial programme” that helps them carry out “cutting edge research”. They argue that without access to funds in advance, projects will be delayed or cancelled altogether.

The dispute between the UK government and MOSIU over Horizon 2020 has been ongoing for some time now. In early February,the government announcedthat it would not be renewing MOSIU’s role as administrator of the programme after its current term expires at the end of 2020. This left UK researchers unclear about how they would be able to access Horizon2020 funds moving forward.

EU officials have said that they are open to working with the UK government on a new arrangement

Why are UK Researchers Concerned about Losing Access to Vital Resources?

UK researchers are concerned about the possibility of losing access to vital resources amid a dispute over Horizon Programme funding. The Horizon Programme is a government-backed research fund that provides financial support for university researchers. Researchers fear that the dispute could lead to them losing access to the fund, which could severely limit their ability to carry out research. Horizon Programme funding is particularly important for UK researchers, as it accounts for a significant portion of their total budget. If they lose access to the fund, UK researchers may be forced to abandon projects or reduce their research output. This would result in decreased innovation and productivity in the UK sector, and could have a negative impact on economic growth overall. The dispute between the UK and EU over Horizon Programme funding has been ongoing for several months now, and there is no clear resolution yet.

UK researchers are lobbying government officials in an effort to save their access to Horizon Programme funding. They argue that the dispute should be resolved through negotiations instead of by reducing funding availability. They also argue that ending Horizon Programme funding would have disastrous consequences for the UK economy. In addition to lobbying officials, UK researchers are working with other groups in order to raise awareness about their plight and generate support for their cause. They hope that this will help persuade government officials to resolve the dispute quickly and avoid damaging consequences for the UK economy

What Can Be Done to Prevent This from Happening?

The United Kingdom’s Horizon 2020 research programme is in dispute, with researchers from five universities claiming that the government has not honored its commitments. Horizon 2020 is a €27.5 billion programme which was set to run until 2020. Researchers say that the disagreement over how funds will be allocated could mean that vital resources are lost access to. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “We want to ensure that the money goes where it’s most needed and this dispute about how funds should be allocated isn’t helpful.” Researchers at Cambridge, Dundee, Edinburgh, Lancaster and York made their complaint to the European Commission last week. They claim that they have not been given an opportunity to fully participate in the decision-making process over how funds will be spent. The universities involved in the dispute say that they have been working with government officials for months on proposals for how money should be allocated, but these claims have not been taken into account.

Conclusion

UK researchers are concerned about the future of vital research resources amid a dispute between Horizon 2020 and its major funding bodies. Officials from both organizations have been unable to agree on key terms of reference for the program, which could lead to the loss of access to some valuable data. If this disagreement cannot be resolved, it is possible that valuable research projects will not be able to move forward as planned. We urge officials from both organizations to find a resolution as soon as possible so that the UK can continue benefiting from important Horizon 2020 research investments.