Talks on whether the UK will join the European Union¡¯s next research programme post-Brexit may be delayed until November, and work on ¡°strong domestic alternatives¡± to EU funding is needed, according to the nation¡¯s universities minister.

Chris Skidmore made the comments in evidence to MPs on the Science and Technology Committee after he was asked whether there was a ¡°risk of a hiatus¡± in the UK¡¯s participation in EU research programmes.

Mr Skidmore also reported that he had commissioned the government¡¯s chief scientific adviser to evaluate alternatives to the mooted ?30,000 salary threshold for skilled immigrants to enter the UK post-Brexit. The ?30,000 threshold ¨C Theresa May¡¯s preferred option ¨C ¡°can be seen as quite detrimental to the science community¡±, and alternatives could include a ¡°carve-out for science¡±, he added.

There is no certainty as to whether the UK will seek to, or be allowed to, associate to the EU¡¯s Horizon Europe research programme, which starts in January 2021.

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Mr Skidmore told the committee that he was ¡°keen to make sure we have an ambition to associate to Horizon Europe¡±, although this would include consideration of ¡°value for money circumstances¡±.

However, he continued, negotiations are ¡°going to take time¡± and there are ¡°barriers¡± ¨C highlighting the fact that European elections and the appointment of a new European Commission will take place later this year.

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¡°We¡¯re getting down into November before we can get back into the details of association for Horizon Europe,¡± he added.

Some have suggested that this schedule means that the UK will not be able to reach an association agreement in time for Horizon Europe¡¯s start.

Asked by committee chair Norman Lamb if there was a ¡°risk of a hiatus¡±, Mr Skidmore replied: ¡°I think that¡¯s why it¡¯s also important we are looking at strong domestic alternatives for funding. And that¡¯s as part of a case [going] into the spending review as well ¨C looking at potential international research funds.¡±

The minister also stressed that full-scale talks ¡°won¡¯t be possible¡± until the EU has agreed regulations ¨C including on association ¨C for Horizon Europe.

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And, until it is clear whether the UK has reached a withdrawal agreement with the EU, or will leave with no deal, the UK does ¡°not have the ability to negotiate with the commission at all¡±.

Mr Skidmore said the government had been in talks with the scientific societies to ¡°scope out¡± potential alternatives to the EU¡¯s European Research Council and its Marie Sk?odowska-Curie action grants for individual researchers ¨C with participants in these talks ¡°optimistic¡±.

A key issue would be how to secure ¡°prestige¡± for a domestic equivalent, he said, also highlighting the fact that the ERC is ¡°run by and for science, not run by politicians¡±.

The minister also said that ¡°letters have gone into the Treasury¡± asking it to extend the existing government underwrite on funding under the EU¡¯s existing programme, Horizon 2020 ¨C an underwrite that would apply in the event of a no-deal Brexit ¨C to all elements of the scheme. The UK government underwrite does not currently apply to grants under the ERC and MSCA parts of the programme.

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john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com