GoKawiilAn under-appreciated research powerhouse, Europe has a responsibility to champion democratic science that is accessible to all the world’s research talent.
Europe must be a beacon for free and open science.Credit: Getty
Ten years ago this week, many people around the world awoke to a shock: the United Kingdom had voted to leave the European Union. Overnight, a gigantic question mark appeared over four decades of research collaborations, access to grants, the right of researchers to move freely between the United Kingdom and EU and more. It also meant that the headquarters of EU institutions, such as the European Medicines Agency, would need to relocate from London.
Europe as science superpower: what it will take to rival the US and China
The United Kingdom has learnt hard lessons from Brexit, which formally took effect in January 2020. Today, its gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at 4–5% below where it would have been had it stayed in the EU. Opinion polling has consistently found that many who voted to leave are regretting their choice (see go.nature.com/4gvz44d).
Now, efforts are being made to realign UK science with the bloc. And as highlighted in a News feature, the United Kingdom is not alone. Accelerated by turmoil in US science, countries including Australia, India and Japan are also looking to build research collaborations with the EU through Horizon Europe, its research-funding programme.
Europe must seize these opportunities and build on its existing strengths to champion truly free and democratic science that is open to all researchers. By positioning themselves at the heart of a coalition of like-minded countries, Europe’s nations can create benefits that reverberate far beyond the continent.
Silent superpower
Europe is an under-appreciated research powerhouse. Either it or the EU takes first or second spot in the world on several indicators, including the volume of publications, research impact and numbers of PhD graduates. And whereas the United States and China are increasingly decoupling from each other in research, the EU is maintaining or building its collaborations with both, with all three rapidly growing their links with low- and middle-income countries.
The EU also has the world’s largest fund for international research cooperation. Although Horizon Europe represents only around 10% of the EU’s public spending on research and development (R&D), the fund greases the wheels for pan-European and global science cooperation.
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