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<p>The Government has committed to guarantee funding for all successful eligible UK
bids to Horizon 2020 that are submitted before the end of 2020, for the lifetime of
projects. We have also guaranteed funding for participation in all Horizon 2020 projects
open to third countries after exit, which are collaborative projects. The Science
Minister has written to his counterparts across the EU to set this out.</p><p> </p><p>UK
researchers and innovators have continued to be successful in securing European Research
Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funding, with the UK consistently
ranking first in both areas since the beginning of Horizon 2020 in 2014.</p><p> </p><p>In
addition, the Government has committed to ensuring that all UK bids to mono-beneficiary
ERC, MSCA and SMEi (now known as European Innovation Council Accelerator) calls that
are submitted to Horizon 2020 before Exit are evaluated in all scenarios. This means
researchers and innovators can continue to submit proposals to Horizon 2020 with confidence,
right up to the point of exit, knowing that the best proposals will be funded – regardless
of how we leave the EU.</p><p> </p><p>Looking ahead, we have also affirmed our commitment
to increasing R&D investment to at least 2.4% of GDP and will be setting our plans
to reach this later this Autumn, providing long-term certainty to the scientific community.
Additionally, the Government remains committed to ensuring that world leading talent
is attracted to and retained within the UK. On 8 August, the Prime Minister announced
a new fast-track immigration scheme aimed at enabling a wider pool of scientific talent
to come to the UK. This scheme will ensure that those with specialist skills in STEM
(science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects can come to the UK and make
an important contribution to our leading science and research sectors, significantly
enhancing the intellectual and knowledge base of the UK.</p>
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