Response to EU Referendum Result

Following a number of requests for information in light of Thursday’s EU-referendum result, I thought that it was prudent to send you Iconiq’s opinion on the status of ongoing UK participation within H2020.

The result of the referendum vote has not formally started the UKs withdraw from the EU, this will only be started if/when Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is invoked, unlikely to happen until October 2016 at the earliest. The UK will still remain part of the EU for a further two years at least whilst negotiations are concluded. Therefore during that period of time, H2020 opportunities remain the same for UK institutes and companies as they did prior to the referendum vote.

In the event that the UK does leave the European Union, it is highly likely that our ongoing participation within H2020 (and subsequent frameworks) is included in any negotiation. Iconiq are already working with Innovate UK NCP’s, AIRTO members and leading universities to lobby for ongoing participation through any future negotiated deal. It should be highlighted that EU partners would also be significantly weakened if British Academia and business were not allowed to continue to collaborate.

H2020 currently includes sixteen associated countries who actively participate within the programme without being part of the EU, including Norway, Israel, Switzerland and Iceland. Clear parallels may be drawn with the situation of Switzerland, who were full partners within FP7 until February 2014 when Swiss participation in H2020 was suspended (due to a vote to exclude freedom of movement). Importantly, all ongoing FP7 projects involving Swiss partners were not put at risk and were fully financed as outlined in the Grant agreement. Switzerland have subsequently gained associate country status and funds its participation directly from national government. Iconiq have worked very successfully in H2020 with Swiss partners in securing substantial funding opportunities.

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