The UK Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) on 23 May welcomed the government's intention to seek associate status to Euratom R&D programmes. Speaking at the Jodrell Bank Observatory on Science and the Modern Industrial Strategy, Prime Minister Theresa May said she wants the UK to have a "deep science partnership" with the European Union (EU), and to "spell out that commitment even more clearly".
"The United Kingdom would like the option to fully associate ourselves with the excellence-based European science and innovation programmes - including the successor to Horizon 2020 and Euratom R&T," May said.
"It is in the mutual interest of the UK and the EU that we should do so."
She added that such an association “would involve an appropriate UK financial contribution” in return for maintaining “a suitable level of influence in line with that contribution and the benefits we bring”.
NIA CEO Tom Greatrex noted, however, that research is just one part of the current Euratom framework, and progress in replicating other vital areas is still needed before the UK leaves the treaty in March 2019.
"There are thousands of skilled personnel working on the Euratom funded fusion R&D programme, many of whom have felt uncertain about the future of their jobs since the referendum,” said Greatrex.“That is why the UK civil nuclear industry has long called for an association between the UK and Euratom, so this important collaborative scientific research can continue in the UK."
The NIA represents some 260 companies including nuclear plant operators, new build developers and vendors, those engaged in decommissioning, waste management, all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, supply chain and consultancy companies.
