UK should foster scientific collaboration outside EU

National funders of research in European Union member states should be more involved in deciding the priorities of the European framework programme, the EU's €50bn (£34bn; $67bn) scheme for promoting cross border research in the EU, Colin Blakemore, head of the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), told MPs last week. But the UK should also be encouraging collaboration with researchers outside the EU, he said.

Giving evidence to the parliamentary science select committee's inquiry into the international policies and activities of the UK's research councils, Professor Blakemore said that he was “bemused” by the process of identifying the 10 thematic priority areas, which restrict funding to specified areas of EU interest. …