‘A lot riding on’ Britain staying in the EU – scientifically speaking

Andrew Duff, a prominent Europhile from the UK region that includes Cambridge University, says the future of UK science and innovation is dependent on Britain staying in the EU – and, conversely, the rest of Europe needs the UK to make EU science stronger.

“There’s an awful lot riding on us staying in the EU,” said Duff in an interview with Science|Business. 

With a Conservative-led coalition government in power – elements of which have been hankering for a fight over Europe since the fall of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – Britain’s position in the EU has come under scrutiny. 

Duff, a long-time supporter of the UK in Europe, thinks Britain leaving the EU would “be a disaster” and would represent a substantial body blow for research and innovation within Britain.

However, Duff not only feels it would be bad for research and innovation in the UK if Britain left the EU, but it would also constitute a serious loss for the rest of Europe. The relative strength of the UK science base and its expertise in technology transfer and commercialisation means it has best practice to offer other EU researchers, especially in newer member states with less developed science and innovation infrastructures.

A Liberal Democrat MEP for Eastern England, Duff cited Cambridge University as a role model, with its high academic standards, world-leading science, and reputation for forming spin out companies.  The city of Cambridge is also one of the longest-established high tech clusters in Europe, and remains among the strongest in both information technology and biotechnology. 

A wider scholastic community

EU research funding is extremely important for the UK, and by the end of the 2007-2013 Framework Programme 7 the UK will have received around €7.5 billion in funding.  Its importance is highlighted clearly at Cambridge, with estimates indicating that 20 per cent of the work undertaken by its researchers is funded by EU grants. 

Instead he suggests it concerns the “cultural membership of a wider scholastic community – dating back to the Renaissance.” He sees this as a framework to grow global connections and a key reason why Britain should stay in the EU.

As well as having a new postgraduate school of public policy which is to open in October, Cambridge has been host to high profile guests such as Jose Manuel Barroso and Neelie Kroes, president and vice president of the European Commission – an example of the on-going, positive dialogue between Brussels and Cambridge and something, according to Duff, you “can’t put a price on”.

Duff is also keen to see the proposed EU/US trade agreement completed, saying it will be a boost to the world economy and create a transatlantic area of science and innovation. He predicts a protracted negotiation, but also feels the impact on services and sciences will be profound.

Whilst he’s strongly pro-European, Duff is also very aware of EU failings and is keen to update and modernise EU structures. He cites “a waste of money, duplication, and the poor quality of a lot of scientific research” within Europe as having stemmed from insufficient integration. A mutual recognition of qualifications, alongside a more meritocratic and streamlined system, is essential in helping the calibre of science within Europe across the board, Duff believes.

Britain maintaining its EU membership is vital if the integration Duff wants is to be achieved. “We need to be more permissive, to encourage scholastic exchange and immigration. To close the borders as some of my Tory colleagues seem to wish to do would be a great mistake – and I hope we’re not going to permit them to do that.”