UK share of Horizon 2020 funds dropped £1.5bn since Brexit vote
By 
Jamie Durrani2021-06-28T08:30:00
Five years of uncertainty has cost British scientists dearly, campaign group’s analysis finds
The UK’s scientists have missed out on £1.5 billion in Horizon 2020 funds since the country voted to leave the EU in 2016. Campaigners say that the figures reveal the extent to which Brexit uncertainty damaged collaborations between UK researchers and their colleagues across Europe.
Before the Brexit vote in June 2016, the UK was the joint-most successful nation in terms of winning European research grants alongside Germany. But over the last five years the UK’s share has plummeted, with the country’s researchers receiving around €400 million (£345 million) less in 2020 than in 2016, according to an analysis by the campaign group Scientists for EU. That puts the UK in fifth place, behind France, Spain and Italy. Germany retains its top place, receiving €1.7 billion last year.