Digital Science MD, Daniel Hook, to Speak at the Public Policy Exchange #BrexitScience

What is the Public Policy Exchange?

Public Policy Exchange provides a platform for policy discussion, debate and networking. By hosting events with a broad appeal, local practitioners, civil servants and other stakeholders are able to gain valuable insights into trends surrounding current policy thinking.

The Event 

Following the historical British vote to leave the European Union (EU), universities are navigating through uncertain waters. In May 2016, the consultancy team at Digital Science found that between 2006 and 2015, the UK was awarded the second largest share of research funding from the European Research Council and European Commission – almost £8billion (16%). A predicted loss of £1 billion in science funding each year is also a possibility if the government does not make up the shortfall in EU-linked research funds.

The report has been – and continues to be – widely cited by major publications like The Guardian, Times Higher Education (£$), and the Financial Times (£$). The Public Policy Exchange is hosting an event to tackle some of the issues raised in Digital Science’s report, and Daniel Hook, Digital Science’s MD, has been invited to deliver a keynote speech discussing the consequences of Brexit on higher education research funding.

Daniel Hook intends to focus on the ill informed rhetoric heard from the “Leave” campaign and argues that the response from the “Remain” candidates was weak and did not actively contend with the incorrect statistical data quoted by “Leave” campaigners. The country was left confused with little idea of the immediate economic consequences that were to come.

“The government’s continued statement that “Brexit means Brexit”, is unenlightening, simplistic and is not calming the fears of researchers here in the UK and our research partners around the world. While the government has made the move to underwrite Horizons 2020 funding, they must act quickly to repair the damage of recent weeks and ensure that the UK continues to be a place that colleagues from around the world see as a place where they want to do research. This should include a strong commitment to strategic funding that enables collaboration, as well as a firm statement that researchers, and those seeking an education in the UK, will be allowed freedom of movement between the UK and the EU without a cumbersome and inappropriate visa system. The funding commitment should be in addition to existing funding and the Horizons 2020 commitment.” Daniel Hook, Digital Science Managing Director

Daniel is due to speak on the first panel from 10:15-10:30.

Why Attend? (According to the Public Policy Exchange)

• Discuss the main challenges facing the higher education sector in continuing to provide opportunities for word-leading research and teaching and maintaining a global impact
• Debate the consequences of Brexit on higher education research funding, both in the short and long term
• Gain insights into approaches to secure access to future Horizon 2020 funding: the importance of safeguarding free movement and access to the single market
• Examine different ways to continue to effectively recruit and collaborate with high-quality researchers from across and outside the EU
• Explore ways in which the government and the higher education sector can work together to ensure continued access to funding opportunities and research networks
• Hear from colleagues within the sector on shaping future UK research policy and the role of UK funding and research councils
• Develop strategies to respond to the uncertainty caused by Brexit in the context of continuing to make research applications and collaborate with research across the EU
• Communicate and share ideas on how to mitigate the impact of Brexit on higher education funding over the longer term

When: Wednesday 7th September 2016 from 10:15am — 4:30pm

Where: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

Have something to say about Brexit? Use #BrexitScience to get your message across.

A taste of things to come:

Credit 2 images: publicpolicyexchange