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UK scientists in EU funding limbo after Boris Johnson's resignation

The government says its plan to launch a new science funding scheme has not changed, but a new prime minister could bring a change of direction

By Jonathan O’Callaghan

12 July 2022

Scientist working in a lab

Leaving the Horizon scheme will limit UK scientists’ opportunities to collaborate with labs in the EU

Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff​

The UK government is still preparing to leave the European Union’s €100 billion Horizon research programme, the largest collaboration of scientists in the world, after Boris Johnson’s resignation as prime minister last week.

The UK’s participation in Horizon has been in doubt since it voted to leave the EU in 2016. Under the terms of the Brexit withdrawal agreement in 2020, it could still be included as an “associate member” like other nations,…

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