I’m doing research in the UK. How does Brexit affect me?
Following the ratification of the UK Withdrawal Agreement from the European Union, the rights to residence, work, studies and social security are maintained, provided that citizens of EU Member States are able to prove that they are legally resident in the UK prior to 31 December 2020.
The UK has put in place the EU Settlement Scheme for EU citizens who wish to continue living, working or studying in the UK, being able to obtain a permanent (“Settled Status”) or temporary (“Pre-settled Status”) residence permit.
Spanish investigators can contact the Embassy of Spain in the United Kingdom for any questions. The Association of Spanish Scientists in the United Kingdom is one of the agents with which this office continuously interacts to improve this communication.
What is the impact of Brexit on Spanish research groups participating in Horizon 2020 programmes?
UK entities will be able to continue to participate in Horizon 2020 until its completion, maintaining European Union funding and eligibility conditions for projects.
Does Brexit affect the functioning of large international research bodies?
In the case of international research bodies, such as CERN, EMBL, ESA, ESO, etc., no substantial changes have been noted, since they are not institutions belonging to the European Union.
Does Brexit affect the functioning of European research infrastructures (ESFRI)?
With regard to the EU research infrastructures contained in the ESFRI Roadmap (European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures), it remains to be defined whether the United Kingdom could be in the position of an associated country, equivalent to that currently held by Switzerland or Norway, among others; or as a third country, which would affect its chances of participating on an equal footing with the other countries of the European Union, especially in terms of the sharing of rights and obligations of the participating States, which will depend on the agreements established in the current negotiations.
What impact does Brexit have on the industrial return for Spanish companies in the specific programs of Research Infrastructures (fusion/fission, space)?
It is not foreseen that it will affect the industrial return of large International Research Agencies, especially in those agencies that are governed by “fair return” purchase rules, such as the European Space Agency (ESA).
Since Spanish companies are very well positioned in a wide range of R&D&I technologies, the level of industrial return for our country can be benefited by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, especially in the case of those ESFRI Infrastructures in whose purchasing policies preferential access to companies from their partner countries is facilitated, in the tenders of contracts for their construction or operation.
What impact will Brexit have on Britain’s participation in the next Horizon Europe Framework Programme?
In Horizon 2020, the UK is considered an associated country, which means maintaining the same rights as EU member countries: UK entities will be eligible for funding at the same rates and under the same conditions as other EU Member States. Entities, including universities, research centres, innovative companies and industry, will be fully entitled to participate in the first calls for proposals from Horizon Europe as soon as they are published on the European Commission's website.
