This may include advertisements from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Science Minister George Freeman has been drafting up a plan B after Britain was excluded from the EU's 80 billion research and innovation project over Brexit disputes. Britain was to join the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement TCA, which contributed 15 billion over seven years so the science community could access those funds and help form long-term fellowships and international industrial collaborations for UK universities and researchers.
Ms Truss has been urged to reach a deal with the EU and resolve issues such as fishing licences and the Northern Ireland protocol so that the UK can re-join. Although he has a Plan B, the Science Minister does not seem to be pushing for the UK to gain Horizon Europe and will be hoping Ms Truss can get a deal. He wrote on Twitter: I am back to work for a crucial year for UK Science, Research Innovation's core mission: Science Innovation, Innovation Nation. He added that one of his New Year priorities is Horizon: continue to push for UK association alongside a bold Global Britain Plan B. But much of the science community in Britain has argued that joining Horizon Europe is vital and don't seem too keen on a Plan B. Julian Hitchcock, who specialises in EU and life science law, responded: We don't want Plan B. If Truss fails to secure Horizon Europe, many UK researchers will have an incentive to join EU research establishments. Key UK researchers could be targeted by those establishments. Plan B can't compete, however you spin it. Simon Tucker, founder of Zinc and trustee at The Charter Schools Educational Trust, wrote: UK innovation priorities. The rest amounts to very little if we don't get into Horizon. Others seemed relieved that Mr Freeman had not given up hope in Britain joining Horizon Europe. READ MORE: Putin's spy rocket is set to crash back to Earth this week.