To mark the anniversary of the triggering of article 50 on 29th
March 2017, CaSE has today published a new Brexit report with
policy asks from the science and engineering sector on people,
funding and regulation.
Commenting, CaSE Executive Director Dr Sarah Main said:
"Science is a success story in our relationship with the
EU. But Brexit uncertainty is beginning to bite.
In our comprehensive survey of the sector, research
organisations report falls in application rates from EU
nationals and candidates turning down prestigious research
positions citing Brexit uncertainty as a key factor.
Science is a significant and successful feature of the
UK-EU relationship. It is critical that the Government acts
swiftly to secure the good will on both sides of the
channel for an ambitious agreement on research and
innovation. We want to see UK participation in EU research
programmes, frictionless movement of science and
engineering professionals, and harmonisation of regulation
with the ability to influence.
In addition, the Government can take decisive action to
unleash UK science and engineering potential. To do this,
Government should promote the UK as a global research and
innovation hub with an international engagement strategy
and a visa regime to match; transform recruitment and
retention of science teachers; set a course to increase UK
public investment in R&D to 0.7% of GDP by 2022; and
prepare to lead the world in innovative, ethical regulation
of rapidly evolving areas of science.
These actions will send a signal that the UK is intent on
remaining a global leader and partner of choice in science
and innovation."
These asks are based on evidence CaSE has gathered of impacts
of Brexit on research organisations over the last year (on
recruitment, relocation, income etc), including data and
quotes. Our membership organisations, which have provided this
data, represent 380,000 people employed in the U.K. and global
R&D investment of £43 billion a year. The briefing
makes a series of recommendations to Government under two
headings:
1.Secure an ambitious agreement on research and
innovation with the EU
- Reciprocal frictionless movement for science and
engineering professionals
- Secure full UK participation in Framework Programme 9
- Prioritise stability and harmonisation of regulation in
established areas
- Seek influence on regulation that impacts on UK science
and engineering
2.Coordinate Government efforts to unleash UK science
and engineering potential
- Take radical action to deliver diversity in STEM
- Transform recruitment and retention of teachers
- Equip providers with sustainable resources to deliver
high-quality STEM education
- Abolish the Tier 2 (General) cap
- Permit research activity overseas in Indefinite Leave
to Remain rules
- Promote the UK as a place to learn, earn and contribute
- Create an immigration system that supports the
retention, access and movement of those who lead, undertake
and support research and innovation
- Assess and mitigate impact of likely EU funding changes
- Increase public investment in R&D to 0.7% of GDP by
2022
- Create a cross-government international research and
innovation strategy
- Lead the world in regulation of emerging areas of
science and innovation
- Access and use scientific and technical expertise and
advice
This Brexit briefing is the third and final policy review to be
published by CaSE this spring, each with recommendations for
government. The first policy briefing was on diversity and
inclusion in STEM, and the second was on immigration.
- CaSE is the leading independent advocate for science and
engineering. Find out more at www.sciencecampaign.org.uk
- An embargoed copy of the report is attached and will
be found at: www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/resource/brexit2018.html from
00.01am on Wednesday 28th March.
- Our 2018 Diversity Review can be found
here: http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/resource/diversity2018.html
- Our 2018 Immigration Review can be found
here: http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/resource/immigration2018.html
- A fortnight ago CaSE published a letter calling on the
Prime Minister to exempt roles on the Government's Shortage
Occupation List and PhD level roles from the Tier 2 visa cap.
The letter was supported by over 45 organisations from across
business, universities, professional institutes, and research
charities: http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/news-media/press-releases/case-calls-on-pm-to-revise-visa-restrictions.html
- CaSE’s evidence base on Brexit, including details of all
the reports cited in the briefing, can be found
here: www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/engaging-with-policy/evidence-base/evidence-base-brexit.html
- CaSE has also compiled a facts and figures digest on the
impact Brexit is already having on people and funding:
People: Impact so far
- 70% of respondents said they are thinking of leaving
the UK because of Brexit in a Prospect member survey of
650 EU nationals working in the UK.
- 47% of British Heart Foundation funded researchers
are ‘more likely’ to take up a post outside the UK than
before the vote to leave the EU, rising to 80% for non-UK
EU nationals .
- Organisations have started to see a decline in the
flow of talent from the EU to the UK, noting that the
best candidates are harder to attract.
• In 2017, the proportion of EEA researchers applying
to Wellcome’s early career research schemes fell by
14%.
• UCL had no applications from the EU in 2017 for their
Life and Medical Sciences research excellence
fellowships that offer three years’ salary and £50,000
of research funds. In previous years, EU nationals made
up approximately a third of applicants.
• Major science funders, including Wellcome Trust,
British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK, report
instances of candidates for prestigious research
fellowships and funding turning down the opportunity
citing uncertainty due to Brexit as a key factor.
Funding: Impact so far
- Until 2016 the UK had the highest number of
Horizon2020 project leads and the highest value
associated with those projects. The UK now has dropped to
second behind Germany on the value of Horizon 2020
projects it leads, having lead until 2016.
- Since September 2016, UK businesses’ share in Horizon
2020 funding has fallen from 12.4% of total business
investment to 11.1% in September 2017, meaning UK
business dropped from the second highest recipients,
behind Germany, to the fifth highest .
Background information
People
- 86% of the British public want to increase or maintain
levels of immigration of scientists and engineers. Only 18%
of Leave-voters want migration of scientists and engineers
to decrease .
- 28% of academic staff in UK universities are non-UK
nationals (16% EU and 12% non-EU)
- International movement is a feature of academic
researchers’ careers - 72% of UK-based scientists spent
time at non-UK institutions between 1996 and 2015 .
- In London, 20% of workers in Tech are EEA nationals and
30% of digital technology start-up founders were born
overseas
Funding
- The UK Government has committed to a long-term target
of combined public and private investment in R&D
reaching 3% of GDP, with an initial target of 2.4% by
2027
- GERD 2016: public and private R&D spend is 1.67% of
GDP on R&D (£33.1bn), OECD average is 2.35% (UK public
expenditure is 0.46% of GDP compared to EU15 average of
0.66%)
- Horizon 2020 is the current EU framework programme (FP)
for research and innovation (2014-2020). Government has
confirmed continued UK participation until its closure. FPs
enable organisations across Europe and wider (inc.
businesses and universities) to apply for funding and work
together under agreed terms. FP7 ran from 2007-13 and FP9
(2021-27) being developed.
- Nearly a fifth of all EU money received by the UK is
for R&D.
- The UK is a net contributor to the EU, but it is a net
receiver of EU funding for research. In FP7, the UK was a
net beneficiary of EU research funding, paying in €5.4bn
and receiving €8.8bn between 2007-2013 – a net gain of
€3.4bn over the period . Only £3.5bn has been allocated to
non-member states in the last decade .
- Some areas of the UK are more dependent than others on
EU funding i.e. the South West, North West, Scotland and
Wales .
- UK-based researchers most frequently collaborate with
scientists from the US, with EU countries making up the
rest of the top five .
- 60% of the UK’s internationally co-authored papers are
with EU partners.
