The UK rejoining Horizon: A welcome, grown-up step

Ian Bolland offers his reaction to the UK rejoining Horizon.

The first full week in September saw some very welcome news, in that the UK was rejoining the EU Horizon Programme. The UK’s absence from the programme had essentially been a consequence of the mishandling of the country’s withdrawal from bloc – where it not for the recently agreed Windsor Framework it would not have been possible for the EU to become a fully associate member. 

Joy and relief are two overriding emotions I would describe as the UK is re-entering Horizon, noting that science – and indeed the medical device and wider life sciences sector – has enjoyed great benefits with collaborating with near neighbours to develop new breakthroughs and life changing devices along with other participating nations outside of the EU.

The sentiment can probably be summed up nicely with this comment from Slyvia Smit, CEO and founder at mymonX, who said:

“We are thrilled that the UK has opened the door to innovation and rejoined the Horizon Europe association. Cross-border research is a crucial way to share ideas and collaborate with skilled talent to ultimately use science and technology as a force for good. Whether that’s sharing global trends, risks or attitudes, knowledge is undoubtedly power in this industry. Health is the most important thing in life, and the government have given the green light for companies to fully commit to improving lives. The UK is open for business with people at the heart.”

You can read further reaction here. 

The science, innovation and technology minister George Freeman MP took part in a Q&A on LinkedIn following the announcement, it was interesting to see the questions – and indeed answers – he gave.

I asked regarding any differences between the agreement prior to the UK’s initial withdrawal from Horizon to the one we have now and any effects they may have his reply, which can be read here along with the full Q&A, was:

“We've negotiated a bespoke deal in the UK’s national interest.

“This bespoke deal works for the UK by: 

✔Providing reductions in contributions to reflect the time we were not a member. 

✔Protecting our taxpayers through a new mechanism in case we don’t return to historical success rates.

“In line with the preferences of the UK fusion sector, the UK has decided to pursue a domestic fusion energy strategy instead of associating to the EU’s Euratom programme. This will involve close international collaboration, including with European partners, and a new, cutting-edge alternative programme, backed by up to £650 million to 2027. It will ensure UK taxpayer funding is spent in the UK’s best interests.”

There are other points that are made throughout the Q&A, including why did the UK leave in the first place, and why was a return to something that we had previously, but now under different circumstances, sold as a win.

Of course, politics is the answer to a lot of this. You may have read my columns quite a bit in Med-Tech Innovation News that haven’t been, let’s say, sympathetic towards the government. The handling of Brexit has been a disaster as far as I can see, and the UK’s withdrawal from Horizon in the first place was a consequence of trying to boil down its membership of the European Union into a binary choice without thinking of the other factors that had to be taken into account. 

This, at least, rights a wrong to a degree. I’m still working my way through the detail, and re-reading parts to ensure I understand everything as fully as possible. I would urge everyone else with a strong interest in the sector to do so as well.

With the Life Sciences Vision and Medical Technology Strategy that have been published in recent years, the approach from Whitehall is to put the sector at the heart of the economy and any industrial strategy. For those to thrive, being part of a gold-standard scientific research collaboration is essential for the sector to thrive. There has been at least a positional change in recent years from that just because it’s a European organisation we shouldn’t be part of it because of a narrow vote to realising that co-operation with others in multiple sectors is ultimately to the UK’s benefit. Some grown-ups appear to be operating in government again, and that’s only a good thing. In my view I hope that is spread across other government departments but that column might be for another day (and maybe for another publication if anyone wants to read them).

The reaction suggests that the UK’s medtech and healthtech sectors can continue to be a leader in the industry. I think it can be best summarised as said by chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell:

“There will be relief throughout the research community that the uncertainty of the last two and a half years has come to an end.”