Today, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee published a new report, Leaving the EU: implications and opportunities for science and research, calling on the government to reduce the uncertainty cause by Brexit in the science sector.
Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences commented:
The Science and Technology Committee's report could not be more timely in reminding Government how crucial it is to make Brexit work for the research sector. We very much hope this will be reflected in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement next week.
This report chimes with concerns felt across the scientific community, including with Open for Business – a joint call from the four National Academies which sets out the bold actions needed to keep the UK a leading destination for global research.
In our statement, we share the Committee's recommendation for R&D spending to move towards 3% of GDP and for a clear vision for research from Government – setting out intentions around funding, the research workforce, international collaborations and relevant regulations. We strongly endorse the Committee’s call to clarify the status of EU researchers within the UK, as we have called for previously.