Being in the EU gives Universities and commercial partners in the UK access to EU Horizon 2020 funds, some of the biggest of their kind in the world. The North West is one of Europe's largest beneficiaries of EU funding and the UK received the highest share of signed grant agreements (20%), ahead of Germany, Spain, Italy and France. The UK also occupies many prestigious coordination and leadership positions in EU science projects. It is possible we could buy our way back into EU science porgrammes if we leave, as Switzerland does, but we would almost certainly be unable to lead programmes as we do at present and we would be reduced to "hanging on the coat tails" of others who would define the future directions of EU scientific research.
• Since 2007, Universities in the North West have received over £386m in EU funds for research. They also benefit from Regional Development funding.
• Between 2007 and 2014, 8763 UK students from NW Universities benefitted from the EU’s ERASMUS programme to work and study in the EU. Grants for UK students are the highest in the EU and can be as much as €400 per month.
• Similarly, EU students have the ability to study in the UK. Manchester City Council estimates that in the Greater Manchester area, EU students spend £90m per annum.
Case studies
• £1.7m grant for research into the treatment of skin cancer in young people led by the University of Manchester (2016).
• In 2013, Manchester University received a £23m loan from the European Investment Bank to improve research and development facilities at the National Graphene Institute.
• 2x £2.8m grants for the High Growth Centre and Innovation Economy Centre at the University of Chester to encourage new business creation and the development of existing businesses.
• £2.4m grant for the North West Food and Research development Institute at the University of Chester
• £3.2m grant to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to lead a project into combatting mosquito-mediated transmission of malaria in Africa.
• £2.3m grant for the University of Salford’s Construction Knowledge Hub which helps NW construction SMEs to be more efficient and successful.
• 2x £1.9m grants, £5m grant and £1.7m grant for the North West Eco-Innovation Programme at Lancaster University
• £2.8m grant for Lancaster University to lead a project to improve the availability of high-speed internet and £9m grant for the University’s Collaborative Technology Access Programme which provides cutting-edge chemical research facilities for local businesses.
• £10.2m grant to fund the University of Liverpool’s high-tech Bio-Innovation centre.
• £2.2m grant for Liverpool Hope University’s Urban Innovation and Enterprise centre.
• £1.6m grant for the University of Liverpool to lead research into the control and storage of renewably generated energy.
