European research funding should be protected

Innovative Scottish projects may be threatened in the future if the UK Government fails to continue funding European research collaborations, Employment Minister Richard Lochhead has warned.

Mr Lochhead's concerns are for the future of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) grants which have been worth more than £72.5 million to Scottish projects since 2014.

Projects previously supported by the grants include a joint scheme between the University of Stirling, NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles to use video technology to help dementia patients stay at home rather than go into residential care and a project developing tools powered by zero emissions hydrogen.

Mr Lochhead has written to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove calling for UK investment in ETC programmes, which are due to end in 2023, to continue for a further four years.

Read Mr Lochhead's letter in full here.

Background:

The lead partner in the Hyatlantic project developing hydrogen-powered tools is based in Shetland. The project’s work is expected to develop innovative technology including a new reactor for hydrogen production and a hydrogen combustion engine.