ADS Welcomes UK Brexit Plans for Science and Innovation
ADS welcomed the Government’s announcement today that it will seek a closer partnership with the EU on science and innovation than any yet agreed with a non-EU country.
The Future Partnership Paper published today by the Government – “Collaboration on Science and Innovation” – set out proposals that will be welcomed by businesses in the UK aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.
Important commitments included for the UK to aim to retain participation in European R&D programmes, particularly in space and defence, and on making sure that research communities can continue to access the high-level skills that support innovation in science and technology.
ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said:
“Innovation lies at the heart of the UK’s economic success and for our sectors in particular it is vital to our global competitiveness that we reach an ambitious deal with the EU.
“The paper published by the Government today offers welcome recognition of the importance of the space and defence sectors in the UK, and the role that collaborative research and development programmes play in supporting their continued growth and success.
“There remains much work to do and relatively little time to agree the final deal between the UK and the EU, but today’s announcement is a good step forward in making sure the UK aerospace, defence, space and security industries will continue to access important European collaborative programmes after Brexit.”