Written evidence submitted by the University of Exeter (LEA0186)

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university that combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter has over 21,000 students and is one of the global top 100 universities according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16, positioned 93rd. Exeter is also ranked 7th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016, 9th in the Guardian University Guide 2016 and 10th in The Complete University Guide 2016. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the University ranked 16th nationally, with 98% of its research rated as being of international quality. Exeter was named The Times and The Sunday Times Sports University of the Year 2015-16, in recognition of excellence in performance, education and research.  Exeter was The Sunday Times University of the Year 2012-13.

Question 1: What the effect of the various models available for the UK’s future relationship with the EU will be on UK science and research, in terms of collaboration; free movement of researchers and students; access to funding; access to EU-funded research facilities, both in the UK and abroad; Intellectual property and commercialisation of research?

The University of Exeter believes the UK government must consider research and innovation, in collaboration with the EU, as a key pillar of the UK economy, central to our ability to solve significant global challenges and drive the productivity of the UK economy. In respect of the areas outlined the view of the University of Exeter is as follows:

Collaboration: Enabling scientific collaboration is essential to maintaining our world class research and societal and economic impacts. As identified by the Royal Society (The Royal Society, 2016), addressing complex and often interdisciplinary scientific questions requires the best and most appropriate researchers, wherever in the world they may be found.  Collaboration between researchers in the UK and the EU is therefore important for high quality, impact led UK research. For Exeter the impact of our publications is significantly increased by EU collaborators, (FWCI[1] rising from 2.23 (international) to 2.78 (EU), with 33% of our collaborative publications over the last 4 years involving at least one EU partner. We are particularly concerned that newer collaborations, previously enabled by EU mechanisms, may suffer disproportionately.

Free movement of researchers and students. The primacy of international movement of researchers for science and all forms of academic research is the hallmark for the quality of UK Research.  Restrictions on bidirectional researcher mobility for the UK hinders us in our collaborations; in our ability to attract the best researchers and thereby remain internationally competitive. The reputational aspects of restrictions compounds the effect on our international reputation as a country open for international research.  The University of Exeter’s growth of 32% in research awards and 41% in staff over the 2011/12-2015/16 period, and subsequent achievement in REF, where we rank 16th nationally for world-leading (4*) publications and 11th in the Russell Group, has been underpinned by this mobility. Currently, Exeter has 548 European staff (14%) and 1,328 European students (8%) working and studying here with 106 academic staff directly employed on EU awards, and an estimated further 140 research staff working on EU projects within research groups. Overall, EU funded research accounts for nearly 25% of our research portfolio. We are particularly concerned that, the recruitment environment is stable as itis essential for retention of very high-performing EU staff currently employed in UK universities and affects not only our research but the high quality of our teaching which is so crucially needed by the UK to address skills shortages for areas such as the high tech industries. Whilst the full impacts are yet unclear, we have already experienced reticence in recruitment to current positions in our strategic areas.

Access to funding: The levels and structure of funding is critical to the role of Exeter University for world class research and the place based economy. The value and structure of EU funding arrangements is critical to the UK; we are a net beneficiary of research funding streams such as the Horizon 2020 programme, standing at £8.8 billion to date for the UK and €31.6M/approx. £40M for Exeter. EU collaborative projects bring together project partners and consortia to create research synergies that are not possible within the funding resource or mechanisms that exist in the UK alone. Similarly, ERC funding schemes support ground breaking blue skies research projects, hence supporting leading researchers and their teams if required. RCUK currently cannot fund to such scale (in terms of project values and volume). For example Exeter’s astrophysics department currently has 8 ERC grantees. Finally, structural funds are critical to our role in the regional economy: our Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), supported by £23m of ERDF investment, is a world class centre of research in the environment and sustainability fields. The ESI focusses on knowledge transfer and the commercialisation of intellectual property, developing the priority, identified by the Cornwall Economic Partnership[2], environmental technologies sector to help grow the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by creating jobs and businesses.

Access to EU-funded research facilities. Exeter recognises the integral role of facilities in enabling research that can only be undertaken at critical mass. As a medium sized Russel Group University, we recognise the value of shared facilities. A reduction could have a severe long term impact as such facilities are only effective if shared on an international basis, enabling fundamental research at a scale that is un-fundable as a single entity. The long term and strategic nature, in relation to national investments, has also been highlighted by the Royal Society (The Royal Society, 2016).

Question 2: What the science and research priorities for the UK Government should be in negotiating a new relationship with the EU.

At this juncture, the University of Exeter believes that the UK Government should focus on counteracting uncertainty; securing access to future EU funding; and negotiating the UK’s ability to influence the shape and direction of programmes. HM Treasury has now clearly stated that where UK organisations bid directly to European Commission funds (e.g. Horizon 2020) the Treasury will underwrite the payments of such awards even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. This is an excellent step to reassuring our research community of the UK’s commitment to its critical research base for the future development and prosperity of the UK.

Now, pro-active steps to demonstrate that science is a critical part of the BREXIT negotiations is important to assure both UK and EU scientists that there will be continued ready access to critical funding mechanisms for research such as Horizon 2020 once the UK has left the EU. 

A key priority will be our ability to influence the shape and direction of programmes. If removed it will effectively side line UK science from international discussions and deliberations. This will inevitably also impact on UK science policy and associated investment areas, where the current shape of EU funding complements UK investment. Influencing the shape of the future programmes is fundamental and critical to STEMM research, but of equal importance to the fundamental research of our humanities and social sciences communities. Consider for example the need for the UK to input to climate change sciences but also to the understanding and direction of social science research in this area as global change is required both in terms of technological developments but also our societies and cultural ability to assimilate necessary change effectively.

Question 3: What science and technology-related legislation, regulations and projects will need to be reviewed in the run up to the UK leaving the EU.

The University of Exeter recognises national and regional concerns for innovation, patenting, export and existing projects. The University of Exeter’s portfolio of EU funded research, accounting for almost 25% of our research by value, is critical to our research competiveness and diversification of income as RCUK funding has become more constrained. Currently we have 131 live EU projects, where we lead 10 collaborative research and innovation projects. We currently hold 27 ERC awards, supporting disciplines exploring world leading exo-planet identification in Astrophysics to Amazonian Archaeology. The numbers demonstrate a raw value, but specific projects demonstrate the breadth. For example we lead key projects such as Helix (High-end Climate Impacts and Extremes) that will help industry and governments adapt to changes in climate under higher levels of global warming; and BlueHealth a multi-disciplinary consortium, across 28 countries, investigating how aquatic environments affect the health of Europe’s population.

We are extremely concerned that companies with whom we currently have good relationships with may find the UK a less attractive place to undertake R&D. Already a significant proportion of R&D expenditure by industry in the UK is undertaken by companies not based in the UK.  Without regional funding we doubt these companies will place their R&D centres in the UK. Without access to the H2020 SME programme the UK’s ability to support the growth of innovative SMEs using schemes for proof of concept and validation of ideas will be much reduced.  New programmes for innovation finance that are being proposed in the EU will also not be available to the start-ups in our incubators.  This could be a major blow to high performing incubators such as the SETsquared partnership of which we are a member.

At a practical level, it would add a significant burden if we had to support export control procedures for all EU countries as well as for our partners wider afield.  This is often required for collaborations that share materials for example. 

Our inability to use the planned European wide patent framework could well be a disadvantage to UK universities who work with businesses across Europe, we believe access to this framework should be negotiated.  Otherwise patenting for the UK in EU countries will be disproportionately high for the UK.

Question 4: The status of researchers, scientists and students working and studying in the UK when the UK leaves the EU, and what protections should be put in place for them.

Full rights are critical for existing residents and students. With 548 European staff and 1153 European students currently working and studying here, the University of Exeter urgently requires clarification on their rights (and those of their families) to stay and work in the UK, including their rights post retirement and the rights of students to work after their studies complete. In particular, we would urge the UK Government to issue unequivocal confirmation that individuals who have already acquired Permanent Residency will, after the UK leaves the UK, be treated exactly the same way as non-EEA nationals who have been granted indefinite leave to remain. We would also urge the UK Government to take early steps to reassure other individuals who are exercising their treaty rights working in the UK but who are unlikely to have acquired Permanent Residency by the time the UK leaves the EU that their position will be protected. Many of these individuals are engaged in academic activity which contributes to the UK’s knowledge economy and it is essential that the Government commits to protecting their right to live and work in the UK; without this reassurance there is a risk that these highly skilled individuals will be attracted to move to other countries outside the UK. This assurance is also necessary ensure that the HE sector can continue to attract new highly qualified academic staff to the UK in the interim period while the UK negotiates the terms of its exit from the EU. Post Brexit, we expect full consideration for the needs of both employees and employers and controls must be designed so as to minimise the disruption and volume of work required so that the UK remains “open for business” and able to attract the brightest and the best to work and study here.

Question 5: The opportunities that the UK’s exit presents for research collaboration and market access with non-EU countries, and how these might compare with existing EU arrangements.

The University of Exeter recognises the global nature of research collaboration and the opportunities for market access with non EU countries. Scientific excellence will continue to drive mobility and opportunities for further global collaborations may be an indirect result of Brexit, however the impact of legislation (visa’s, taxation) and the perceived “openness” of any country will play a significant part.. As such, we cannot determine the opportunities at this point. What is clear is through forging partnerships and mechanisms as part of the EU, we are more influential and cost effective than as a single entity.

What other measures the Government should undertake to keep UK science and research on a sound footing, with sufficient funding, after an EU exit.

The critical measure for a post Brexit funding environment is to enable collaboration with equitable levels of funding to international competitors. However consideration to the methodologies for calculating full economic cost (FEC) rates in the future may be appropriate.

August 2016

Appendix One – Exeter live EU Projects: FP7, Horizon 2020 and other schemes

Summary Table