The Learned Society of Wales has welcomed the announcement that the UK will be rejoining the €95.5bn Horizon Europe science research funding scheme.

British researchers will be able to apply for grants and bid to be part of projects under the Horizon banner from today.

“This is tremendous news, “ said Professor Hywel Thomas, President of the LSW.

“The chance to work seamlessly with our European colleagues again will be a huge boost for science in Wales and the UK.

“The LSW made its position clear on this when membership of Horizon Europe was curtailed two years ago. We feared not simply the loss of funding, but the weakening of collaboration, the loss of influence and the threat of a brain drain of talented researchers away from Wales.

“Happily, the UK Government has listened to the arguments we and countless others made.”