EU benefits without club tie

May 21, 2015

The UK’s universities indeed benefit from European research funding. But this funding is not dependent on membership of the European Union (“Universities UK to ramp up EU campaign”, 8 May).

Norway, for example, although not in the EU, benefits from EU framework programmes. The European Commission’s National Report on Joint and Open Programmes: Norway (2011) says: “In general Norwegian research policy is strongly dedicated to international collaboration and in particular the participation in EU initiatives. In the period 1996 to 2005, the share of the EU Framework programme increased from 12 to 34 per cent of the total RCN [Research Council of Norway] budget for international cooperation.”

Will Podmore
Wanstead

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Reader's comments (1)

The writer says “Norway, for example” as if this were one of numerous examples to choose from. But of course it is a very particular example arising because Norway is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and to all intents and purposes an EU member (and, hence, a very strange model to champion for those who wish to leave the EU). Those advocating UK exit from the EU rarely make it clear what they actually mean but if they mean complete exit then the consequence would indeed be that UK researchers would be unable to receive EU research funds.

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