In response to today's [Tuesday 5 November] publication of the Smith-Reid report, Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci, President of The Academy of Medical Sciences, said:
“As our relationship with the EU changes, it is right to think carefully about how the UK can maintain and extend our European and global networks. I continue to believe that the best way to protect our leading role in collaborative international research is to achieve the closest possible association to Horizon Europe.
“One fear about a post-Brexit UK is that we will miss out on valuable relationships with our continental neighbours so I am pleased that the Smith-Reid report emphasises the need to protect and sustain research networks with Europe, our most frequent and fastest growing collaborator. The biomedical sciences sector has sent a clear and consistent message that associating to Horizon Europe would be the best way to do this. The Government should therefore act swiftly to make funds available to achieve this goal, providing reassurance to the sector as well as giving patients and the public access to the best outcomes from scientific research.
“The Smith-Reid review provides some additional creative ideas about how to strengthen the UK’s international research collaboration and I look forward to working with Government and the research community to consider how these recommendations should be taken forward to enhance the global position for the UK.”
ENDS
See here for the Academy's Response to the Smith Review into future frameworks for international collaboration on research and innovation