Working together across geographic boundaries is crucial for advancement in R&I. This has never been more important than now, as the world faces serious global challenges from mitigating pandemics to tackling climate change. Hampering collaboration in science risks a long-lasting effect on our society.
The signatories of the ‘Stick to Science’ campaign urge the European Council, Parliament, Commission, as well as European Union (EU) Member States, and the governments of the UK and Switzerland, to rapidly realise the UK’s and Switzerland’s association agreements to Horizon Europe. It is imperative for the success of the programme, and for European science as a whole, that the two countries can contribute fully to Horizon Europe. This would give Horizon Europe unprecedented scale and scientific quality, underlining its ambition to be truly ‘open to the world’.
Jan Palmowski, Secretary-General of The Guild, emphasised: "If UK and Swiss association do not happen imminently, we all lose: Scientific collaboration will be fundamentally weakened, Horizon Europe will lose a significant part of its global appeal, and Europe will lose its scientific edge on a world stage."
8 February 2022
Watch below the full testimonials from the rectors of our member universities. Join the call and sign the initiative at https://stick-to-science.eu/
The unity of Europe’s research ecosystem has been core to The Guild’s advocacy since its foundation. Catch up on our activities, including initiatives to support the UK and Swiss association, since 2016 here.