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Ole Petter Ottersen
Rector, University of Oslo
Chair of the Guild of European Research-Intensive
Universities
Former chair, ERC Advanced Grant Panel
Inside and outside
3
1972
Norway votes «No»
1994: Norway votes «No»
– again
4
but says «yes» to the EEA agreement
Consequently, Norway is..
..not an EU member, but greatly affected by EU policies
through the European Economic Area (EEA)
agreement.
• This is an agreement between EU member states
and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
countries Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• The agreement provides access to the internal
market and guarantees its four freedoms.
• The agreement does not give Norway any voting
rights in EU decision-making bodies
5 “The scope and depth of our relations may surprise you.”
Education and research
• The EEA Agreement secures
Norway’s full participation in
Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020
• Norway’s contribution to the
major EU programmes for
research, innovation and
education totals around EUR
2.7 billion in the period 2014-
2020
6
Near consensus: Cross-border mobility and cooperation help raise quality
and contribute to our competitiveness.
Erasmus students in Valencia ©Globex
7
Participation in the framework
programmes and in the European
Research Area is a core element in
Norwegian research policy.
A national alternative is not an option. For Norway H2020 is vital:
-to attract the best minds
-for collaboration and access to networks
-for effectiveness: easier to administer than bilateral research
schemes
BUT UNLIKE UK: NO POSITIVE ECONOMIC RETURN
8
But…. Can you stay in Horizon2020 and out
of the Single Market?
“I want this United Kingdom to emerge from this period of change stronger,
fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before. I want us
to be a secure, prosperous, tolerant country – a magnet for international
talent and a home to the pioneers and innovators who will shape the world
ahead.”
9
A buy-back into the programme as a full Associated Member would have
several major flaws:
• The largest player on the programme would have no political say about its
formation.
• Playing by the same rules as others means a 12% contribution of funds
for 16% gain of competitive funds – a very damaging ratio to the other
countries given the UK’s size, given also that it is no longer a net
contributor to an EU budget and therefore not supporting the R&I of other
EU countries.
• The threat of the UK changing its immigration policies at any stage offers
major disruption to the programme, which must respond according to the
precedent with Switzerland.
In conclusion, the UK acquiring full Associated Country status on Brexit is
not an option. The EU has already introduced and used the concept of
Partial Association with Switzerland and would do the same with the UK,
tailoring a deal to maximise its own interests. http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2015/12/05/debunking-the-myths-about-british-science-after-an-eu-exit/
Galsworthy and Davidson: Debunking the myths about British
science after an EU exit
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Projects won from Horizon 2020
© Dr Mike Galsworthy and Dr Rob Davidson
UK is truly an international player and
benefits from it
The UK may stand to lose a lot…
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©Dr Mike Galsworthy and Dr Rob Davidson
The stakes are high…
12 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldselect/ldsc
tech/127/127.pdf
Universities UK
The evidence is clear…
13
And the benefits are great..
14
© Erasmus Impact Study 2014
5 years after graduation the unemployment rate of Erasmus students
is 23 % lower than for non-mobile students
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On this basis, the Commission estimates that around one million babies
are likely to have been born to Erasmus couples since 1987 (Erasmus
Impact Study 2014).
Country Favorable Unfavorable Favorable Unfavorable
Morocco 11 88 90 08
Saudi Arabia 04 94 48 51
Jordan 15 78 83 13
Lebanon 20 69 52 46
UAE 14 73 84 12
From: Arab Views toward America, Zogby 2004
World Views of United States Science (% of population)
U.S. in general U.S. science & tech.
Science builds trust – an example
Going forward
• UK’s full participation in the EU’s research and innovation
programmes is crucial.
• It is critical to retain funding and support for student and staff
mobility under Erasmus Plus
• Effective UK participation in European Framework Programmes is
contingent on the freedom of ideas – and of movement for
researchers.
• It is critical to recognise the multiplicity of interests in UK higher
education as part of the negotiations.
• We welcome the British Prime Minister’s commitment to a ‘truly
global Britain’. However, this commitment will be hollow without firm
ties to Britain’s European neighbours.
19
Tony Judt, in Postwar (2005)
«Few would have predicted it sixty years before, but the
twenty-first century may yet belong to Europe»
There is only one
academy
- the global one
Thank you!
Are we moving away from the post-wall society?
