In response to the agreement reached on a future relationship between the UK and EU, Professor Hywel Thomas, President of the Society said: 

“The Learned Society of Wales welcomes the announcement of an agreement between the UK and the EU. It will enable both to enter negotiations on association to EU programmes.  

“We wish to encourage the UK and the EU to build on the agreement by moving forward with discussions on Horizon Europe association. This will enable Wales’s research and innovation community to engage with these programmes and to continue to work with their partners to build on the over 4,000 international collaborations funded by the programme to date.   

“We are disappointed, however, that the UK Government has chosen not to participate in the Erasmus+ programme.  

“The Society has previously highlighted the value of Erasmus+ to schools, students, academics and universities in Wales. We maintain the view that Wales should be involved in this programme.  

“In the meantime, we look forward to engaging with the Welsh Government and UK Department of Education and contributing to the development of the proposed Turing scheme to ensure that it works for learners in Wales.”