Brexit row threatens £250m in UK research funding from EU

Dispute over Northern Ireland protocol puts associate membership of Horizon Europe scheme in doubt

British universities are facing a brain drain as the row over Brexit in Northern Ireland threatens 250m in research funding from the EU, it has emerged.

The European Research Council (ERC) has written to 98 scientists and academics who were recently approved for 172m (145m) in grants telling them that if the UK's associate membership of the 80bn Horizon Europe programme is not ratified they will not be eligible to draw down the money.