F18: UK and European Collaborative Research and Erasmus

30 members and Liberal Youth

Conference reiterates the Liberal Democrat belief that research and development, academic sharing and the exchange of ideas is essential for the future prosperity of the UK.

The result following the 23rd June referendum has, at a stroke, potentially deprived the UK of its premier position in world-leading research.

Conference accordingly condemns the Conservative government for putting party before country and the Brexiteers for putting personal interest before country, putting at risk the opportunities for collaborative research, the world-leading status of our academic institutions and research centres and exchange programs, such as Erasmus, aimed to develop the strengths and abilities of our greatest young minds.

In light of the inequitable split in the referendum between young and old and the UK's main hubs for science, technology and learning, conference calls for a clear and unambiguous commitment to all undergraduates, all academia, all research institutions and all companies involved in innovation that the government will:

1. Make available funds to support all research activities that are in progress, however long these existing programs last.
2. Fund in full all EU funding mechanisms for company innovation, research and academia, such as Horizon 2020, FP8 and all other such structures.
3. Pay a fair share of the administrative costs associated with the running of these schemes.
4. The ongoing Erasmus program for student exchange.

Applicability: Federal.