On 31 January 2020 at 11 p.m., the UK has left the EU and has entered a transition period, which freezes its relationship with the European Union until 31 December 2020. Therefore, until 2021, nothing changes for science: scientists from UK can still apply to European research funding and take part in exchange scheme, and vice versa. Therefore, the UK remains a full member of Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020. What will mainly change is that now, negotiations between the EU and the UK starts regarding the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ as on 1 January 2021.

On the same day, 36 higher education and research organisations from across the UK and Europe have signed a joint statement calling for ‘a swift agreement’ on the UK’s full association to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe before the end of 2020 to national governments and the European Commission.  So far, there have been no terms agreed on UK’s participation to these programmes.

On 20 February, the UK will open the ‘Global Talent visa route’ to attract the world’s top scientists and researchers. The new fast-track visa scheme will aim to boost UK science.

In July 2017, EuChemS released a position paper on ‘Research and Education Without Borders After Brexit.’ You can read it here.