Brexit and UK science

Former President of the Royal Society Venki Ramakrishnan and lab group.

The Royal Society is working to ensure the best outcome for research and innovation following Brexit and support continuing relationships and build new ones across Europe and beyond.

Being an open and collaborative science nation will enable the UK to drive global action on challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss while attracting people and investment from all over the world.

Now that an agreement has been reached with the EU, we need to

Keep highly-skilled scientists working in the UK and ensure that talented people from around the world choose to come here and contribute to our globally competitive science
Keep access to money and networks that support the UK to work with scientists around the world, including through association to the EU’s Horizon Europe programme
Maintain regulation that supports access to new medicines, technologies and constructive collaborations

Find out more about the Society's work to build and maintain relations with the European and international science community

Find out more about the Society's wider work on research and innovation.

Information on the Brexit trade deal

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement allows for the UK to participate in Horizon Europe as an associated country with access to the European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, grants from the European Innovation Council and other key schemes.

Read our Q&As for further information

Key information

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Q&A for researchers: Access to research funding

Frequently asked questions for researchers on the UK's participation in EU programmes including Horizon Europe.
Read the Q&A
Q&A for researchers: Working in the EU and UK

Frequently asked questions for researchers on visas and immigration issues and regulations affecting science.
Read the Q&A
The value of applying for EU research funding: case studies

Case studies demonstrating the value of applying for EU research funding.
Find out more
What does the UK-EU deal mean for science?

Sir Richard Catlow FRS, Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, looks at the implications of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Read the blog
Global Talent visa

The Global Talent visa allows applicants to work in the UK on a flexible basis with fewer restrictions and costs than other immigration categories. Researchers are encouraged to consider this option when applying for a visa.
Find out more
Research and innovation

Research helps us to understand our world better and we can use this knowledge to create innovations that improve people's lives. The Royal Society is working to create a strong and healthy research and innovation system in the UK that can benefit us all.
Find out more