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Britain's science sector must take bold Brexit steps to protect global standing: report

Xinhua, December 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Bold steps are needed to ensure Britain's science sector has a prominent place in the global economy after Brexit, a report from Westminster said Tuesday.

Members of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee put the issue of science in the pre-Brexit era under the microscope.

Politicians from parliament's upper chamber said Britain needs to retain current scientific talent and attract even more of the world's leading scientists. They warned uncertainty over the future relationship between European Union and Britain is having a corrosive effect on Britain's research base.

"But the government has the power to mitigate many negative effects of Brexit and use it as a catalyst to address long standing underperformance in economic productivity," they add.

In their report, "A time for boldness: EU membership and UK science after the referendum", the committee says Britain should expand and enhance existing programs.

The report welcomed the major increase to science funding announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement, and recommends that, in addition, the science and research budget should be re-based at an early opportunity to compensate fully for any reduction of funding from Brussels.

"UK scientific leaders should not be consumed entirely with UK-EU negotiations and should explore scientific collaborations and shared protocols with the rest of the world, particularly where there is potential to build on existing relationships such as ones with the U.S.," the report added.

The committee said Britain should offer to host, in partnership with governments and funding bodies from other countries, one or more new, large-scale international research facilities, adding: "This would be a bold move to signal the UK's global standing in science".

The EU referendum result and mixed messages from the government could undermine the shared ambitions of the government and the research community to welcome talented scientists to Britain, added the report.

In its recommendations the committee calls for the government to distinguish between students holding Tier 4 visas and other immigrants, so that student numbers can be treated separately for immigration policy making purposes. Endit