Following the UK vote for 'Brexit' the Government has moved to reassure British businesses and universities that they will continue to receive support for Horizon 2020 and other EU-funded projects up to and beyond the date the UK leaves the EU.
The Government is also urging British businesses and universities to continue to bid for competitive EU funds while the UK remains a member of the EU.
Assurances set out by the Treasury include:
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all structural and investment fund projects, including agri-environment schemes, signed before the Autumn Statement will be fully funded, even when these projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.
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the Treasury will also put in place arrangements for assessing whether to guarantee funding for specific structural and investment fund projects that might be signed after the Autumn Statement, but while we remain a member of the EU. Further details will be provided ahead of the Autumn Statement.
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where UK organisations bid directly to the European Commission on a competitive basis for EU funding projects while we are still a member of the EU, for example universities participating in Horizon 2020, the Treasury will underwrite the payments of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, has also written to each devolved administration to confirm the same level of assurances offered to UK government departments in relation to programmes they administer but for which they are expected to rely on EU funding.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond said: "The UK will continue to have all of the rights, obligations and benefits that membership brings, including receiving European funding, up until the point we leave the EU.
"We recognise that many organisations across the UK which are in receipt of EU funding, or expect to start receiving funding, want reassurance about the flow of funding they will receive. That is why I am confirming that structural and investment funds projects signed before the Autumn Statement and Horizon research funding granted before we leave the EU will be guaranteed by the Treasury after we leave." T
Business and Energy Secretary, Greg Clark said: "The Government’s commitment to our world-leading science and research base remains steadfast."