To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has plans for Horizon 2020 funding in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

As a responsible Government we continue to prepare to support UK science in all scenarios.

In August 2016 the Government announced an underwrite guarantee. This is a commitment to underwrite Horizon 2020 funding for all successful UK bids submitted before Exit in the event of ‘no deal’.

In a no deal scenario, the UK would become a third country participant in Horizon 2020 after the UK leaves the EU. As a third country, UK researchers and businesses would, from the date of exit, be able to apply to and participate in all Horizon 2020 calls open to third country participants from the date of exit. Third country participation is a well-established part of Horizon 2020 – entities from third countries currently participate in and lead consortia in a wide range of collaborative programmes.

The Government announced an extension to the guarantee in July 2018 to cover successful UK bids to calls open to third country participation. This will cover funding for the lifetime of projects, even if they last beyond 2020.