UK’s years out of EU Horizon programme did ‘untold damage’, say scientists

For the past few years UK scientists have faced uncertaintly over key research funding. Photograph: Robbie Shone/Alamy

Britain may have rescued its scientific fortunes with a last-minute decision to rejoin the EU’s Horizon research programme – but the move should not be treated as a cause for jubilation, scientists have warned.

The sluggish pace at which the agreement was reached has had too severe an impact on UK research for widespread elation, say many British researchers, who believe that science in this country suffered a major blow after being locked out of the £82bn programme for almost three years since Brexit. Putting it right has taken far too long, they argue.